How to Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 [The Quick and Easy Way]

The launch of Windows 10 was a great success, with many people upgrading quickly from Windows 8, thanks to its improved and snappy interface. But most were still on Windows 7.

As such, trying to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 requires knowing how to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10. This is so they won't lose any of their previous data, documents, and files stored in Windows 7, including settings and configurations. So, let's delve deeper into how to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10.

[1] Why Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10

There are many benefits to cloning Windows to a new version. It can speed up your computer and give it a fresh feel when you do a clean install of a new version of Windows. However, this also has some drawbacks, such as:

• You need to reinstall each driver;
• You need to reinstall important software;
• You need to reconfigure Windows/System settings;
• You copy and move files from the C drive, such as AppData, Documents, Downloads, and so on.

These are some of the common issues you may encounter when installing a fresh copy of Windows. However, there will still be times when you need to install a new version of Windows. So, why clone Windows 7 to Windows 10? Here are the reasons:

• Official support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020 (End of Life);
• There is no technical assistance, driver updates, or upgrades from Microsoft or other manufacturers;
• No antivirus updates mean your computer is at risk from malicious content;
• Even the Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows 7 will cease in January 2023.

These are some of the key reasons why you need to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10. So, you have no option but to upgrade right now and shift to Windows 10.

[[2]](#2)Preparing to Clone from Windows 7 to Windows 10

Before starting the cloning process, it's crucial to save any important files. This is just in case something goes wrong with the cloning. So, you'll want to back up your data beforehand. How might you do that? Here are a few suggestions:

• Copy the contents of the Documents folder to another location
• Copy the Downloads folder and any other important folders from the C drive
• Backup any other necessary data, such as critical applications, settings, configurations, etc.
• Create a system image to revert to Windows 7 if needed

That way, if the cloning process fails, you have a complete backup. Also, before you upgrade to Windows 10, you should download a few things:

• Download drivers for your hardware that work with Windows 10
• Download any new apps you need (32-bit or 64-bit versions)
• Synchronize your browser with your accounts (Firefox, Chrome, etc.)

Once that's done, you're ready to proceed with the clone.

[3 Easy Ways] to Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 Without Losing Data

Now that you have created a backup, you are ready to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10. You can do this in several ways, including the classic backup and restore method. However, we will discuss three specific methods to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 without losing data.

• Method 1: Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 with Disk Cloning Tool
• Method 2: Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 with Windows Easy Transfer
• Method 3: Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 with Backup and Restore

Each has its strengths, and may be more appropriate for different users. So let's start with the best:

Method 1: Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 with Disk Clone Tool

One way is to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 (or 11) using a reliable third-party tool. We use the Disk Copy Tool for this, as it's one of the best cloning software options available today.

Before we dive into the simple and quick cloning process, let's give you a few reasons to choose this tool over other software or methods presented in various articles:

• Easily upgrade from one hardware to another, for example, to a new system, cloning HDD to SSD, and so on.
• A straightforward way to move your entire system from one computer to another.
• Migrate Windows 7 to 10 or 10 to 11 without losing any data.
• Clone an old hardware-based PC to a new one without any hiccups.

These are some of the reasons why you should opt for this tool/method to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 without losing data and time. Download it and use it to clone Windows 7 to Windows 10.

Here are the steps to clone using a disk cloning tool:

Use the Disk Copy utility for a smooth disk duplication or cloning process.

1. Download, install, and run Disk Copy on your computer.
Click the Disk Mode, select the source disk that you want to copy or clone, then click Next.

2. Select the target disk where you want to clone/copy the old hard drive, then click "Next" to proceed. If prompted, confirm that you want to erase the data on the target disk.

3. Check and edit the disk layout, you can choose "Auto-resize partitions", "Keep as source" or "Customize disk layout".
It is recommended to select "Auto-resize partitions".

• Selecting "Copy as source" will copy cloning the partition layout of the source disk to the target disk. • "Edit Disk Layout" allows you to manually adjust the partition size or move partitions on the target disk. • If your target disk is an SSD drive, make sure to check "Select this option if the target is an SSD."

Click Continue to start the disk clone or disk copy process immediately.

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Method 2: Clone Windows 7 to Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant

The second method is to use Microsoft's own Windows Easy Transfer – a tool built into Windows 7 that lets you transfer files between PCs. However, you'll need a USB or external drive for this. So, once you have one or can borrow one, connect it to your PC.

On the Windows 7 operating system

Step 1: Click the Start button, and then type Windows Easy Transfer.

Step 2. On the next screen, click Next.

Step 3: Click External hard drive or USB flash drive.

Step 4: In the next option, choose This is my old computer.

Step 5: Let it scan your computer.

Step 6: Select all the files you want to copy.

Step 7: Save the file to your USB drive/external hard drive and wait for the transfer to complete.

Step 9: When you see the notification "Open Windows Update on your new PC", click Next.

On Windows 10

Once the computer is off, install Windows 10 and wait until you reach the desktop. From there, you'll repeat this process in Windows 10, as outlined below:

Step 1. Open the Windows Update Assistant on your Windows 10 computer.

Step 2: Connect the external hard drive or USB.

Step 3: Choose the same options as before.

Step 4. In the next option, choose This is my new computer.

Step 5: When prompted, select “Yes,” and then wait for the transfer to complete.

That way, you can transfer your files to the new computer without having to reinstall everything.

Method 3: Upgrade from a Clone of Windows 7 to Windows 10 Using Backup and Restore

The third option is to use the Backup and Restore feature in Windows 7 to clone your files to the new computer. For this, you will also need an external/additional hard drive where the backup can be stored for later recovery. Here are the steps to create the backup:

Step 1. Open the Start menu, and search for Backup and Restore (Windows 7).

Step 2. Tap on the Backup & Reset option.

Step 3: Choose the external or internal drive where you want to store your backup.

Step 4: Choose what you want to back up, then tap “Next” to begin the copy process and wait for it to finish.

The next step is to restore those files to your Windows 10 computer. To do that, you'll need to:

Step 1. Open the Control Panel and look for Backup and Restore (in Windows 7).

Step 2. Click on Choose another backup to restore your files from.

Step 3. Find your backup file.

Step 4: Select the option to restore All Files from This Backup.

Step 5: Choose the location where you want to save the recovered files, and wait for the recovery process to finish.

This will allow you to easily copy and restore your files from Windows 7. Be careful at each step so that you save all the files you need.

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Bottom line

That's how you back up and restore files on a Windows 10 PC. It's important to save your important stuff when you clone Windows 7 to Windows 10, since you'll need to reinstall certain software, like drivers.

However, to avoid all these hassles, we recommend using a disk cloning tool. This utility will make sure your important files are backed up and restored on Windows 10 without the need for complicated procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cloning Windows 7 to Windows 10

If you still have questions, you can find answers in this section.

How do I transfer everything from my old Windows 7 computer to my new Windows 10 one?

You can do this in three ways. First, you can use the Windows 7 built-in tool called Easy Transfer. With this utility, you would copy your files to an external USB drive and then transfer them to your Windows 10 machine.

Another way is to use backup and restore, but the easiest is with a disk-cloning tool, which avoids the hassle of copying files from one machine to another.

2. Can I upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 without losing my data?

No, you cannot. While it was possible to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 within the system, this is no longer a reliable option since Microsoft no longer supports Windows 7. It's recommended to back up all your data from Windows 7 and perform a clean installation of Windows 10 instead.

Can I wipe Windows 7 and install Windows 10?

Yes, you can, but it is recommended to back up all important data before doing so.