Win 7 Pro - Win 8 Pro - Offers only "Keep Nothing Option"

PC Pilot

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Hi,

I have come up against an issue when attempting an in-place upgrade install from Windows 7 Pro X64 to Windows 8 Pro X64. Following Shawn's excellent tutorial I was expecting to see the three standard data save options at step 8 and was shocked to see that ONLY "Keep Nothing" was available.

My original question on the tutorial itself has been unable to suggest a fix (and hence suggested a post be raised here :)) however we have at least determined that it is due to my non standard customization of Win 7.

The Windows 7 setup was clean installed in Audit mode (following Kari's excellent tutorial) with the C:\Users folder relocated to D:\Users with the various user documents folders (Pictures, Music etc.) relocated to custom locations from the 'location' tab in each folder's properties. It has performed flawlessly and been rock steady throughout.

As this customized setup meets with my needs perfectly and is 100% stable I would prefer to avoid another clean install with all the re-customisation that will be entailed, a point widely promoted by Microsoft I should add.:(

Can anyone suggest a solution OR a valid workaround which will preserve the customised folder locations, apps, settings and personal files during the upgrade from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 8 Pro??

Many thanks in anticipation of your suggestions:)

PC Pilot
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    I7 920
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T7 WS SuperComputer with U3S6 Controller Card
    Memory
    6GB Corsair Dominator (3 X 2G) PC3 15000 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 560 Ti DirectCU II - ENGTX560 Ti DCII2DI1GD5
Im not sure if this would work but Ill suggest it anyway. Make a new user that uses all the default paths and start the setup from there and see if the setup will let you continue. The users setting should be preserved and work once the upgrade is complete.

If not change the there users paths via the registry (Quicker) and change them back after. Might take sometime to change them back but better than a fresh install.

Ive never tried this as I prefer fresh installs but it might be worth a try. Do a backup first though!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Thanks for the responses guys much appreciated.....

NiFu

I think I understand what you mean......if correct you mean browse the DVD for the 'Sources' folder and run setup.exe from in there?? Now I'm curious :confused: how does the setup initiation process differ when launched from within the 'Sources' folder on the DVD??

I have also copied the DVD contents to the Hard Drive (separate partition) is there any advantage of launching setup from in their there??
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Omnislash, I see your point here, make the installer behave as default system...only thing is, reason why the original Win 7 Clean install was performed in the first place was to avoid tinkering with the registry by using Audit Mode to complete the settings. I guess if all else fails might be worth a try though...thanks :)

PC Pilot
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    I7 920
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T7 WS SuperComputer with U3S6 Controller Card
    Memory
    6GB Corsair Dominator (3 X 2G) PC3 15000 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 560 Ti DirectCU II - ENGTX560 Ti DCII2DI1GD5
how does the setup initiation process differ when launched from within the 'Sources' folder on the DVD??
I only recognises in another situation (downgrade from "Windows 8 Enterprise" to "Windows 8 Pro") that the "setup.exe" from root of DVD offers only the "Keep Nothing" function, but the "setup.exe" from "/sources" folder of DVD offers also the "Keep all" function.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
As I recall, that is correct in general. But, I don't see how this approach would deal with the OP's "non standard customization of Win 7"--assuming that is his problem.

OP, whatever you try you need to be well backed up, but you seem like you would know that.
 

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System One

  • OS
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Thanks for the further comments...

I haven't tried the 'sources' suggestion as yet but it suddenly occurred to me :tip:that in a partially related issue (on another PC running Windows 8 currently and a User Profile NOT located in the "Users" directory with other profiles) we have been looking at symbolic junction links (mklink /j)....

I was wondering if anyone with expertise in respect of these links could comment whether IF I were to create a junction link (mklink /j C:\Users D:\Users) that the installation would be 'tricked' into seeing the files present at D:\Users as if it were expecting to find them at its usual location of C:\Users?? ......and would this preserve the Users folder on D: once the Windows 8 installation has completed or put them on C: ???

Whilst on the subject of how to apply links.... in respect of the other installation (C:\Users moved to D:\Users on clean install via Kari's tutorial (User Profiles - Relocate to another Partition or Disk) AND then D:\Users\User1 moved to D:\User1 and redirected in registry) what should be the correct application of the symbolic junction links and the correct sequence to apply move, modify registry, make link and delete folders?? mklink /j C:\Users D:\Users mklink /j D:\Users\User1 D:\User1 ??

Grateful for your advice as I'm a total novice to symbolic links and how they work!

Thanks

PC Pilot
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    I7 920
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T7 WS SuperComputer with U3S6 Controller Card
    Memory
    6GB Corsair Dominator (3 X 2G) PC3 15000 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 560 Ti DirectCU II - ENGTX560 Ti DCII2DI1GD5
Further Information

Hi,

I have been doing some more digging on this one and have come across the following MS TechNet article Profiles Directory which outlines the required upgrade protocol and the known issues.

Under that heading, the issue is clarified thus: "You cannot perform edition upgrades. For example, if you use Windows 7 Home Premium with ProfilesDirectory set to D:\, you will not be able to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate or to Windows 8."

:think:It would appear that the ONLY way to do this is to:

1: Backup all data held on D:\Users

2: Perform an "In Place" location change for EACH user How to Change the Default Location of a User Profile in Windows 7 and Vista. If you wish to change an already existing account's user profile folder location (eg. D:\Users\User1) you will need to follow Method Two in OPTION ONE in this tutorialto change return it back to its default location of C:\Users\User1

3: Verify (using steps in the tutorial) that all profiles are functioning correctly.

4. Re-attempt the upgrade, proceeding as directed.


An alternate way forward might be:


1: Backup all data held on D:\Users

2: Perform a Windows 8 "Clean Install" using Kari's Tutorial How to Relocate User Profiles to another Partition or Disk in Windows 8 to relocate the appropriate folders on deployment.

3. Restore data to D:\Users as appropriate verifying all profiles (Users) are functioning correctly.

Hope that this helps anybody experiencing this issue:).

PC Pilot
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Build
    CPU
    I7 920
    Motherboard
    Asus P6T7 WS SuperComputer with U3S6 Controller Card
    Memory
    6GB Corsair Dominator (3 X 2G) PC3 15000 DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus GTX 560 Ti DirectCU II - ENGTX560 Ti DCII2DI1GD5
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