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

[PatNY]

Here's a useful article about customizing the look of the Start Menu in W10:

http://www.winbeta.org/news/windows-...enu-windows-10

How flexible this is will determine whether I keep Classic Shell on W10. I've been using Classic Shell on W8, but I'd like to give the new start menu a chance.

--Pat

[harakiri]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Thanks but is there anything we need to do before the upgrade to our laptop?

Just did the upgrade.

If you have done a backup of your current configuration you should be fine. I did the install on a Laptop upgrading from Windows 7.
After the upgrade I looked at the device manager and there were some devices without a proper driver.

So my advice would be to go to the website of your manufacturer and check out the latest drivers for your laptop. Download them to a USB stick (the Windows 8.1 versions are fine) so that you have them available in case you need them after the upgrade. This is especially handy in case Windows 10 doesn't have a driver for your network card ... then you could not reach the internet to search for drivers

Apart from that the upgrade is smooth.

[Blossom]

Thanks everyone! It's already 8.1 and I downloaded a patch from Samsung that's suppose to keep their stuff working with W10 . So now I wait...

[MikeB1972]

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's perhaps a question of wishing to delay upgrades until their support staff are trained in Windows 10.

That seems unlikely, since when were Sony support staff trained?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by MikeB1972

That seems unlikely, since when were Sony support staff trained?

I've found Sony' laptop support to be pretty good. Over the years I've had a couple of issues with Vaio laptops, and the support people I've spoken to have been knowledgeable and helpful.

Their Reader support, OTOH, was not good.

[WT Sharpe]

"Your PC will restart several times. Sit back and relax."

Now at 24% complete.

[Yolina]

Obviously I'm not waiting until November for Sony to tell me it's ok to upgrade... so off we go I have a full image backup and worse case if everything is really borked I'll have an excuse to go and buy a shiny new toy so win-win

[Josieb1]

I'm not planning to upgrade but I just went on Talktalk webmail and spotted a message saying they have issues with Microsoft Mail for anyone on Windows 10.

[HarryT]

Are they referring to Windows Live Mail (the program that used to be called Outlook Express)? I rely on that for email - it would be a real nuisance not to be able to run it on Windows 10.

[danwdoo]

I would consider the following for updating to 10:

1) Your computer came with Windows 8
Pretty much a no brainer as 10 is an improvement in almost every way. One possible exception is on a pure tablet where some prefer Windows 8 edge UI.

2) Your computer came with Windows 7 but Windows 8 drivers are available for it from the manufacturer.
The upgrade should be fine but you may need to download and install one or more Windows 8 drivers

3) Your computer only has Window Vista or 7 drivers.
Your upgrade will likely be okay but you may have some functions not work completely right. You should consider what benefit you are looking for from Windows 10 before updating. I have a Win 7 netbook that runs 10 okay, but has some small graphics issues and there are no newer drivers available. It might get better with future updates but it might not.

4) You have no idea about any of this and the thought of change makes you nervous.
Stick with what you have until you buy a new PC. The payoff is probably not worth any potential trouble.

Just what I'm recommending to those I know who ask.

[fjtorres]

Okay, first of all Ed Bot has an updated FAQ and it's juicy:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/windows...tag=TRE17cfd61

Will Microsoft make Windows 10 available as an ISO file?

Yes, you will be able to download Windows 10 as an ISO disk image and use it for clean installs or upgrades. The general public can download from here, beginning on July 29. Note that no product key is required if you are upgrading over a previously activated Windows 7 or 8.1 installation. If you are performing a clean install using the downloaded ISO, read this FAQ first!

Plan B:

So, you download the media creation tool and it downloads the update data for ISO or FLASH DRIVE installs.

Plan C:

I got a bit carried away when I read this and ran the link from my FireHD tablet.
It's downloading the iso.

I think I'll get both the ISO and Flash versions for 32 and 64 bits since I need both.

No waiting on WinUpdate.

Here's a preliminary review after one week of use:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/goodbye...tag=TRE17cfd61

[Yolina]

I was in the process of using the ISO with the media tool when I ran into a spot of bother No idea what went wrong, the lappy just crashed and died on me. Things were looking a tad bleak for a while because I really couldn't get it to do *anything* but after a fair bit of messing about I'm currently doing a system restore, though it does seem to take an awfully long time.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are they referring to Windows Live Mail (the program that used to be called Outlook Express)? I rely on that for email - it would be a real nuisance not to be able to run it on Windows 10.

This is the post

Email issues with Windows 10
Microsoft Mail Client Issue

If you've set up your TalkTalk Email in Microsoft Mail, you may find that when sending or deleting an email it is currently taking up to 24 hours for it to appear in the send or deleted folders.

We're sorry for any inconvenience these issues may be causing you, there's no need to call if you are affected, our engineers are working to resolve them as soon as possible.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by danwdoo

I would consider the following for updating to 10:

1) Your computer came with Windows 8
Pretty much a no brainer as 10 is an improvement in almost every way. One possible exception is on a pure tablet where some prefer Windows 8 edge UI.

2) Your computer came with Windows 7 but Windows 8 drivers are available for it from the manufacturer.
The upgrade should be fine but you may need to download and install one or more Windows 8 drivers

3) Your computer only has Window Vista or 7 drivers.
Your upgrade will likely be okay but you may have some functions not work completely right. You should consider what benefit you are looking for from Windows 10 before updating. I have a Win 7 netbook that runs 10 okay, but has some small graphics issues and there are no newer drivers available. It might get better with future updates but it might not.

4) You have no idea about any of this and the thought of change makes you nervous.
Stick with what you have until you buy a new PC. The payoff is probably not worth any potential trouble.

Just what I'm recommending to those I know who ask.

I'm number 4. my plan is to buy a new windows device once I can buy one with windows 10 pre installed.

[Jack Torrance]

Im just waiting for the magic to happen here in a day or so. For what ever reason W7 decided it didn't want to recognise my DVD player and I'm hoping the upgrade will fix it. If not its time to recipe and start over anyway no I have nothing to lose.