Windows 10 - free upgrade to those with PC using Windows 7 or 8

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by DustyDisks

Just got my notification earlier today and decided to go for it. Filled in my e-mail address and reserved a copy and got rid of the tray notification by jumping through hoops by deleting the update on my computer and at the windows update center!

I don't really mind that extra icon, to be honest.

They are supposed to send an e-mail when it happens, so I plan to do total disks images of my current setup and op system so I can recover or roll back in case of trouble or distaste.

There are a few things I don't like in Windows 8.1:
- The full screen start menu
- Full screen metro apps
- No drop shadows under windows

The one thing I don't like in Windows 7 is the too small start menu. I've always wanted to have the left side a bit wider.

Windows 10 solved the full screen start menu, full screen apps, and re-introduced drop shadows. If I can also make the left side of the start menu wider, it would be perfect.

The things I already hate in Windows 10 are Cortana (useless to me) and web search in the start menu (I either search the web, or my computer; never both at once). I hope these can both be disabled.

Running win 7 pro and do not want lose or have to spend days rebuilding my setup!

Disk images are a good idea; I'm making one every month or so, and before any big upgrades; upgrading the entire OS certainly qualifies.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

Windows 10 has a restore system built in where you can make it go back to an unmodified windows installation. So no need to reinstall unless you want to go back to win7.

I know, but what if my SSD explodes or something? It is not far fetched, because I've had a Crucial MX100 in my laptop go bad on me after about 3 years. (I did use the fracking hell out of it at that time though.)

There is always a need for external install media.

[fjtorres]

Here's the official FAQ:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-faq

And yes, Win8 Home users get the Home upgrade, Pro users get the pro. No downgrading.

[soulfuldog]

I've got Windows 7 Home Premium, and I've apparently got the relevant update installed (KB3035583) that should mean I get the Windows 10 upgrade icon, but so far nothing.

However, I'm in no rush to use Windows 10. I'm more than happy to wait and see what everyone else thinks of it before I'd consider upgrading anyway.

[DustyDisks]

Think the rollout will be in July.

[fjtorres]

How to check for potential compatibility issues:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/will-yo...tag=TRE17cfd61

The Get Windows 10 app, which is being delivered as a Recommended (automatic) update to Windows 8.1 and an Optional update for Windows 7, does a compatibility check and should notify you if you have any devices, apps, or compatibility issues that will prevent a successful upgrade.

But just because you've registered for the upgrade doesn't mean you're completely free of potential problems. In my experiments with the Get Windows 10 app, I've discovered that it didn't notify me after it found some apparently minor issues with a couple of upgrades.

If you want to check your own Windows 10 upgrade report, follow these steps.

Step 1: Right-click the Get Windows 10 icon (on the right side of the taskbar) and then click "Check your upgrade status."

[JoHunt]

If I upgrade and then decide that I hate Win 10 and want to revert to Win 7, is reformatting my only option?

[WT Sharpe]

I didn't see any reservation icon, but when I clicked on Windows Update a few minutes ago I was given the option to reserve the Windows 10 upgrade. I clicked on it, and now it says, "Windows 10 upgrade reserved. We'll let you know when the upgrade is ready to be installed on this PC."

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by JoHunt

If I upgrade and then decide that I hate Win 10 and want to revert to Win 7, is reformatting my only option?

Probably. It would be better to look into an imaging program such as CloneZilla, to create an image of your drive. Then you can just put the image back again without re-installing.

I'm assuming the Windows 7 serial is not going to be deactivated when upgrading but you may need to call Microsoft to know that for sure.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Media Player doesn't seem to be going.
Media *center* has been gone since Win8.

Media Center was available for Windows 8 (and 8.1) as an extra purchase.

But that's a good point. There was one pc I was thinking of updating automatically, but I don't think I will. It runs 8.1 with media center. I'll only upgrade to 10 if I can find a good alternative that will work with our current recorded shows and our CI+ module for cable TV.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The sole benefit is that it's then done, and you'll get Windows 10 automatically when it's released.

Well, the icon appeared on my Windows 7 computer at work and I find it very annoying.
Over the years I got to strongly dislike icons [that I did not explicitly asked for] appearing at the system tray, because it usually means that there is something unwanted running in background eating up precious resources at my computer.
Everybody and his brother thinks that his little program is the most indispensable piece of software ever written and that users want it running on their computer in the background 24/7, or at least a quick-start icon or update notification service. One little thing in the background is not a big deal but some computers I service occasionally have dozens of unwanted and/or unneeded programs eating resources.

So ... I do not plan to update in a foreseeable future and my very first reaction was. How the [censored expletive] I remove that BLOODY thing from my systray?
I have hidden the icon yesterday and today it was in my systray again. Sigh ...

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Media Center was available for Windows 8 (and 8.1) as an extra purchase.

But that's a good point. There was one pc I was thinking of updating automatically, but I don't think I will. It runs 8.1 with media center. I'll only upgrade to 10 if I can find a good alternative that will work with our current recorded shows and our CI+ module for cable TV.

Look into Kodi (renamed XBMC).
http://kodi.tv/

It does a lot of what Media Center does.
It reminds me a lot of Calibre; there is an entire ecosystem of plugins that extend it into a lot of areas. (Not all strictly legal in all regions.)
Here's an example of the kind of stuff those folks are doing:

http://kodi.tv/kodi-community-may-2015/

I'm using it as a media player for my Phone and FireTV stick but on PCs it does what XBMC set out to do: serve as an alternative to WMC.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Look into Kodi (renamed XBMC).
http://kodi.tv/

It does a lot of what Media Center does.
It reminds me a lot of Calibre; there is an entire ecosystem of plugins that extend it into a lot of areas. (Not all strictly legal in all regions.)
Here's an example of the kind of stuff those folks are doing:

http://kodi.tv/kodi-community-may-2015/

I'm using it as a media player for my Phone and FireTV stick but on PCs it does what XBMC set out to do: serve as an alternative to WMC.

I know XBMC had some problems with our AnySee (which is the device that lets us watch cable TV on the PC). If it were only a matter of video library, even our TV itself has a decent one. It's the recording from cable that is the reason we bought Media Center back then (that PC was upgraded from a XP Media Center Edition, we even have the remote!)

[fjtorres]

Well, cablecard solutions do exist for Kodi.
Dunno if they would work with your existing hardware.

I kinda lost interest in cablecard over the years, starting with my Philips component video input DVD recorder, the Hauppauge HD capture boards, and more recently Hulu and Netflix. I have the XBOX extender kit still lying around but these days my viewing habits rely very little on cable. I'm keeping an eye on Dish's Sling TV. If they add a few of the right channels in standalone packages I might switch to them. Or whoever lets me ala carte the five channels I watch often enough to justify the cost.

If your primary use for that PC is as an MCE box then upgrading is definitely not a good idea.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Well, cablecard solutions do exist for Kodi.
Dunno if they would work with your existing hardware.

I kinda lost interest in cablecard over the years, starting with my Philips component video input DVD recorder, the Hauppauge HD capture boards, and more recently Hulu and Netflix.

If your primary use for that PC is as an MCE box then upgrading is definitely not a good idea.

If there had been a decent alternative, I might not be bothered with cable tv either. But even Netflix has barely any good stuff here...

So, we'll most likely keep on working on that Windows 8.1 system. Maybe by the time that machine needs upgrading, the rights problem for films and series world wide has been solved (yeah, right... )