upgrading to Win10 while on dual boot

[HuginnMuninn]

Hi,
I have linux and windows (dual boot)
and I want to upgrade my windows.
Can I do it the usual way > plug USB then proceeding with upgrade?
or are there any precautions I should consider?

[Pierre]

Sure - - just plug in your usb dongle,
& then goto settings - Update & Security - Windows Updates . .

NB: do be aware that there is an High Chance that the Windows Update could mess with your LinuxMint System . .
and that your may have to repair the Linux Grub Boot Loader & it's Grub Menu, too.

sometimes, you do get lucky & the Windows Update doesn't change any of the Linux Settings.

[HuginnMuninn]

Sure - - just plug in your usb dongle,
& then goto settings - Update & Security - Windows Updates . .

NB: do be aware that there is an High Chance that the Windows Update could mess with your LinuxMint System . .
and that your may have to repair the Linux Grub Boot Loader & it's Grub Menu, too.

sometimes, you do get lucky & the Windows Update doesn't change any of the Linux Settings.

Does the grub repair erase the HDD or delete files stored? Is it easy? Could you please point me to some guides to read/study about the grub repair?

[edit]
Sorry, I might have not been as clear as I meant to be, sorry my mistake. I have windows 7 and I want to upgrade to windows 10 by formatting C....I don't know the "Windows Updates" method...

I'd like a clean install of a windows 10...Can this method be applied?

[Pierre]

sure - - you can simply download the win-10 ISO.
and write that to an usb stick & then boot from that.
then use it's Installer to overwrite the existing win-7 system,
you would also need the product key from the existing win-7 system,
to plug into the new win-10 system, when required.

the Linux Grub Repair Tool simply restores the missing / broken Grub Boot Loader,
back to your LinuxMint System , , it doesn't do anything else.

[linux-rox]

or are there any precautions I should consider?

You should backup the Mint system some how. At a minimum, save a Timeshift snapshot to flash drive, so you can "restore" it if you end up having to reinstall. Timeshift isn't really a backup app, though, so there will be some rough edges. Do you have a proper system backup already? If so, Timeshift will be the backup-backup, but cheap insurance.

[deepakdeshp]

I use Clonezilla to clone the partition's. It's very reliable.

[HuginnMuninn]

sure - - you can simply download the win-10 ISO.
and write that to an usb stick & then boot from that.
then use it's Installer to overwrite the existing win-7 system,
you would also need the product key from the existing win-7 system,
to plug into the new win-10 system, when required.

the Linux Grub Repair Tool simply restores the missing / broken Grub Boot Loader,
back to your LinuxMint System , , it doesn't do anything else.

Thank you, Pierre. Your posts have always been helpful.
I have a question though. I'm sorry English isn't my first language, so I apologize if I repeat myself. I'm just trying to understand.

Here's my situation:

I have old windows 7 + old linux mint as well (18.3)

and I want to upgrade both.

What is the better route to take (without having to copy my whole HDD on an external one and deleting everything - I always have to do that)?

my question is specially about the order of the upgrade (which OS first - to avoid breaking grub) and also about not risking erasing the whole drive. I really (really) cannot afford having my files deleted by mistake at the moment, it will ruin my professional life.

What's your advice?

[HuginnMuninn]

or are there any precautions I should consider?

You should backup the Mint system some how. At a minimum, save a Timeshift snapshot to flash drive, so you can "restore" it if you end up having to reinstall. Timeshift isn't really a backup app, though, so there will be some rough edges. Do you have a proper system backup already? If so, Timeshift will be the backup-backup, but cheap insurance.

Definitely helpful, thank you. I didn't know about Timeshift. My present copy of Mint doesn't have that much of valuable files so it's ok for me. All I'm concerned about is the risk of having my whole HDD erased or grub to break that the only way to fix it is to erase and start all over again. I've been through it once and it is not a good experience when you don't have an external backup for your files regardless of the OSs themselves. I'm worried about the files on the HDD, you know.....

[HuginnMuninn]

I use Clonezilla to clone the partition's. It's very reliable.

Thank you I'll check it out for sure. I'll google more about it.

[Pierre]

I have old windows 7 + old linux mint as well (18.3)

and I want to upgrade both.

what is commonly referred to as an "Clean Installation" - - would be the best solution.


thus, you would Copy all of your Files ( photos, documents, etc )
- over to an external usb drive.

you really need Two usb sticks, actually,
- one for each system, with the correct & updated ISO written to each one.
you can use the existing windows system, to create those two usb sticks . .
https://rufus.ie/en/
is the suggested program, to use.

then it's an matter of deciding, just what size partition, that you want for each system, to be.
& thus pre-partitioning the existing drive, depending on it's actual size, obviously,
to what you would think, is suitable to use
- - erasing all of the existing partition, in the process, of course.

then, booting each usb stick, in turn, and Installing each New System.
- windows 10 first off
- the LinuxMint 20 system, then Installed afterwards.
booting into each system, after it's been Installed, to check that it actually does work

you can use the Gparted program, on your New LinuxMint Live Media,
to Erase the existing partitions, and then re-create some New Partitions, on that drive,
- - booting into the LinuxMint Live system, of course . .

then Install each New System, in turn .. windows first.
& boot into each system, in turn, to re-check that it's working okay.

[deepakdeshp]

Sure - - just plug in your usb dongle,
& then goto settings - Update & Security - Windows Updates . .

NB: do be aware that there is an High Chance that the Windows Update could mess with your LinuxMint System . .
and that your may have to repair the Linux Grub Boot Loader & it's Grub Menu, too.

sometimes, you do get lucky & the Windows Update doesn't change any of the Linux Settings.

in my case I upgraded from Win 7 to Win 10 and there was no problem with the dual boot. I didn't have to repair any boot loader. But that's not the rule. YMMV. Do the upgrade, but be prepared for a fresh install of Windows and Mint. Back up, Back up data to your external drive.

[linux-rox]

I've been through it once and it is not a good experience when you don't have an external backup for your files ...

Do you have backups now? At least your data files(documents, pictures, etc.) should be backed up ALWAYS. The HDD can fail, you know.

As for the rest, I agree with Pierre. If you want/need to upgrade Mint 18.3, do a clean install. There's no simple upgrade option from 18.3 to 20.1 (the current version). Rather, you would have to do it in five stages, two of which are particularly susceptible to having something go wrong. For an idea how complicated that can be, look at this demonstration karlchen wrote for upgrading from 17.3 to 19. Karl is a guru. If he found the process that difficult, imagine how difficult it will be for you. Instead, do a clean install. Take careful notes of all the steps (what settings you change, what apps you install, etc.), so you can do it easier and quicker next time.

So, to recap. here's the plan.* Backup data files to USB drive (if not already). Upgrade Windows. Reinstall Mint. Good luck.

* Withdrawing my earlier advice, don't bother with Timeshift (or any other system backup), as you're going to need to do a clean install anyway. If you want to backup the system in future, Clonezilla is an option but has a substantial learning curve. Instead, I recommend FoxClone, which is more user friendly.

[HuginnMuninn]

I've been through it once and it is not a good experience when you don't have an external backup for your files ...

Do you have backups now? At least your data files(documents, pictures, etc.) should be backed up ALWAYS. The HDD can fail, you know.

As for the rest, I agree with Pierre. If you want/need to upgrade Mint 18.3, do a clean install. There's no simple upgrade option from 18.3 to 20.1 (the current version). Rather, you would have to do it in five stages, two of which are particularly susceptible to having something go wrong. For an idea how complicated that can be, look at this demonstration karlchen wrote for upgrading from 17.3 to 19. Karl is a guru. If he found the process that difficult, imagine how difficult it will be for you. Instead, do a clean install. Take careful notes of all the steps (what settings you change, what apps you install, etc.), so you can do it easier and quicker next time.

So, to recap. here's the plan.* Backup data files to USB drive (if not already). Upgrade Windows. Reinstall Mint. Good luck.

* Withdrawing my earlier advice, don't bother with Timeshift (or any other system backup), as you're going to need to do a clean install anyway. If you want to backup the system in future, Clonezilla is an option but has a substantial learning curve. Instead, I recommend FoxClone, which is more user friendly.

Thanks so much, linux-rox I never had an "always-backup" mentality even though I have an external HDD but I always treated it as an extra gadget just sitting there...hehe

Okay, Clean Install. Here I come!

[HuginnMuninn]

I have old windows 7 + old linux mint as well (18.3)

and I want to upgrade both.

what is commonly referred to as an "Clean Installation" - - would be the best solution.


thus, you would Copy all of your Files ( photos, documents, etc )
- over to an external usb drive.

you really need Two usb sticks, actually,
- one for each system, with the correct & updated ISO written to each one.
you can use the existing windows system, to create those two usb sticks . .
https://rufus.ie/en/
is the suggested program, to use.

then it's an matter of deciding, just what size partition, that you want for each system, to be.
& thus pre-partitioning the existing drive, depending on it's actual size, obviously,
to what you would think, is suitable to use
- - erasing all of the existing partition, in the process, of course.

then, booting each usb stick, in turn, and Installing each New System.
- windows 10 first off
- the LinuxMint 20 system, then Installed afterwards.
booting into each system, after it's been Installed, to check that it actually does work

you can use the Gparted program, on your New LinuxMint Live Media,
to Erase the existing partitions, and then re-create some New Partitions, on that drive,
- - booting into the LinuxMint Live system, of course . .

then Install each New System, in turn .. windows first.
& boot into each system, in turn, to re-check that it's working okay.

Ok, got it.

One last question. (hopefully hehe )

I remember last time I did the clean install (years ago)

I formatted the whole HDD and then installed windows first >> I remember I deliberately left a certain amount of GBs unformatted at all so I can shape it the way I want when I install linux. Is this still the same procedure or should I do it differently?

[linux-rox]

One last question. (hopefully hehe )

I remember last time I did the clean install (years ago)

I formatted the whole HDD and then installed windows first >> I remember I deliberately left a certain amount of GBs unformatted at all so I can shape it the way I want when I install linux. Is this still the same procedure or should I do it differently?

That will work, but I'd try what Pierre said earlier, i.e., have Win10 upgrade into the existing Win7 space, so you won't have to shrink it. As for Mint, be aware the current version wants more space than the old one (isn't that always the way?) and you no longer need a swap partition.

What size drive is this, anyway? What's the current allocation of space? Where are data files located?