About this tag
A cold install refers to performing a fresh installation of an operating system on a computer that has no prior OS or where the existing OS is completely replaced. On WindowsForum.com, discussions about cold install often involve upgrading from an older version like Windows 7 to Windows 10. Users question whether backups created under Windows 7 remain usable after a cold install of Windows 10, as the new installation does not carry over previous system settings or backup utilities. The term highlights the clean-slate nature of the process, where no upgrade path is taken, and all data must be restored from external sources.
  1. J

    Windows 10 Windows 7 backup; can I use it under win 10??

    It occurred to me that my idea of using a backup from Windows 7 may not be useful if I cold install windows 10. From what I've read about Windows 10 so far, I see no mention of windows backup. So is a windows 7 backup useless under windows 10?
  2. P

    Windows 10 Windows 7 backup; can I use it under win 10?

    It occurred to me that my idea of using a backup from Windows 7 may not be useful if I cold install windows 10. From what I've read about Windows 10 so far, I see no mention of windows backup. So is a windows 7 backup useless under windows 10?