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

[DustyDisks]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Be careful or eschwartz will taunt you again Englishman!

Take no prisoners ..!

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

At over 1700 posts, we almost need an index in the first post.

Or a separate tips-n-tricks thread.

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Or a separate tips-n-tricks thread.

I was almost ready to install Windows 10 on at least one of my machines, but reading the recent posts about the issues with graphic drivers I'm inclined to hold off for a while. That and maybe some points about why it is even worth while to switch to Windows 10 from Windows 7. What is really gained?

[wodin]

That's why I'm holding off on my Win7 desktop. Since I got my Surface Pro 3 I don't use it as much anymore, and I really don't want to register it to my Microsoft account. I know I can run it in local mode, but I really haven't heard much about what I lose by doing that. Soooo... I believe I'll just wait.

[Rbneader]

Originally Posted by Hamlet53

I was almost ready to install Windows 10 on at least one of my machines, but reading the recent posts about the issues with graphic drivers I'm inclined to hold off for a while. That and maybe some points about why it is even worth while to switch to Windows 10 from Windows 7. What is really gained?

Honestly, not much. Multiple desktops are really the only major feature 7 is missing. Only useful for people who are using really a lot of productivity software. The required specs are a bit lower, but there are mixed reports on whether it really speeds things up or not. Depends heavily on the hardware in question.

I'm not upgrading either at home or at work - it just doesn't seem like I'd get much value for the time and hassle spent.

[ApK]

I don't use a MS account on either of my win 10 laptops and I've turned off Cortana and as much online MS stuff as I can find. I use Google for mail and such, so I haven't found myself hobbled yet, as far as I've noticed.

On the other hand I have noticed no speed or performance improvements of any kind. And both systems seem to restart slower then in their previous 7/8.1 configurations.

[Rbneader]

Originally Posted by wodin

That's why I'm holding off on my Win7 desktop. Since I got my Surface Pro 3 I don't use it as much anymore, and I really don't want to register it to my Microsoft account. I know I can run it in local mode, but I really haven't heard much about what I lose by doing that. Soooo... I believe I'll just wait.

You don't lose much.

MS Accounts give:

1) Settings that transfer across devices. That begs the question of why you'd want your tablet and desktop PC to behave the same way, but I suppose for some people this could be useful.

2) Buying apps from the Windows Store. Since there's practically nothing there, this is not a big deal.

3) Smug thoughts for being an early adopter? I'm having a hard time coming up with anything else.

MS accounts do take away any pretence of privacy on your PC. Worse than Google by default, and a lot of the keylogging / etc can't be turned off. It scans your software and files too apparently.

It's one thing when a $200 phone tracks usage - I don't bank on my phone, and that's relatively easy to replace. Most people do a lot more on their PCs, and having an MS account means that controlling where your personal info goes is a lot harder. YMMV on how much this matters.


Honestly, it seems like Windows 10 just isn't that big a leap from 7, and there are potential downsides that matter a lot to some people.

[CWatkinsNash]

I did notice performance improvements on my desktop, but I built it for gaming and it's got fairly recent hardware that received Win 10-specific driver updates. Also, as a gamer, I'm looking forward to seeing DX12 implemented in more games, so that's huge for me.

I also upgraded because I sometimes do desktop support on the side so I need to be very familiar with it. I got lucky on 8, I had one little hybrid running it "just in case" but rarely ran into it in the wild. 10 is already more popular, possibly (definitely) in part to Microsoft bugging people to upgrade.

[Josieb1]

After I had problems with crashing when I upgraded my W7 to W10 I rolled back and I've no plans to try again. I now have a Surface 3 so my laptop is mainly for iTunes and storage, it will be supported until 2020 anyway and by then I'll need a new one.

[HarryT]

Moderator Notice
Now that Windows 10 has been released, we kindly request that people post items not directly related to this thread in our excellent Windows Forum, which awaits your pleasure.

Thank you

[kennyc]

I've not heard of anyone having this happen, but apparently it is possible per the 'usage agreement'

"...The doomsday scenario is Windows 10 starts looking for your pirated copies of Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Call of Duty and shutting them down. Perhaps then passing on your details to their outraged creators who take you to court with irrefutable evidence...."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonke...ware-searches/

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I've not heard of anyone having this happen, but apparently it is possible per the 'usage agreement'

"...The doomsday scenario is Windows 10 starts looking for your pirated copies of Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Call of Duty and shutting them down. Perhaps then passing on your details to their outraged creators who take you to court with irrefutable evidence...."

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonke...ware-searches/

That particular part of the agreement pertains to MS services, and is referring to counterfeit versions of MS software and games. It also refers to counterfeit controllers, presumably due to people using modified hardware to get around cheat checks in online games. I certainly don't have a problem with MS going after pirated versions of their own software. They've been incredibly "generous" in the past, what with people happily running pirated Windows for years, despite MS knowing about it.

Similarly, the oft-loudly-cited section regarding access to all of your files pertains to using the OneDrive feature that allows you to remotely access all of your files, rather than just those in the cloud.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by CWatkinsNash

That particular part of the agreement pertains to MS services, and is referring to counterfeit versions of MS software and games. It also refers to counterfeit controllers, presumably due to people using modified hardware to get around cheat checks in online games. I certainly don't have a problem with MS going after pirated versions of their own software. They've been incredibly "generous" in the past, what with people happily running pirated Windows for years, despite MS knowing about it.

Similarly, the oft-loudly-cited section regarding access to all of your files pertains to using the OneDrive feature that allows you to remotely access all of your files, rather than just those in the cloud.

The way I heard it, it relates to XBOX hacking, which requires a PC to carry out in many cases.

[kennyc]

"Microsoft won't provide full release notes for most Windows 10 updates
Only major patches will get full-fledged release notes, according to Microsoft."

http://www.pcworld.com/article/29746...0-updates.html

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by wodin

Process to enable God Mode in Windows 10

You can also right-click the Start-button, and select "Control Panel" from the menu