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

[EowynCarter]

Yeah, not worse than what apple or Google are doing.

The only thing you might reproach is communication and making all these stuff clear.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

I never expected to GAIN a touchscreen, I just didn't know if it was a requirement as I saw a screen shot of a windows check screen that had a tick next to the 'screen is touch' ready box.

I still would rather buy a new PC than upgrade but I'm really on the fence now as I can't actually afford a new PC.

Are you using Windows 7 on your laptop at the moment? If so, I'd suggest waiting a couple of months, to allow driver/application compatibility issues to be resolved, and then upgrading to Windows 10. There's really no point in upgrading now unless you have an irresistible urge to be an "early adopter".

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

Thanks Harry and Kenny, I'm still petrified mind you but thanks

I'm very pleased so far....playing around with it on my Dell Laptop right now...
Other than getting the install going it was completely seamless/painless.

Everything transferred and is working fine as best I can tell (including all the drivers and weird stuff - passwords, browser stuff etc). Wifi connected right up, Internet, Wireless printer working. File Transfer/Compare/Backup (I use Beyond Compare) working fine. Network accessibility between computers working (I've always had trouble with that!!)

The only thing I really had issues with was that it does not have Windows Media Center but I knew that going in and it removed my Norton Security Suite (free from Comcast) cause it has 'Windows Defender' and I had issues trying to reinstall Norton...for now I'm relying on Windows Defender....not sure I totally trust that though so may try reinstalling Norton again (some say it will work on the second install attempt).

I'm playing around with Kingsoft Office at the moment to see if it will work for me in place of MS Word/Office....

I say go for the upgrade I'm a total skeptic and jaded about software/OS upgrades after some 30+ years in the business, but I'm very pleased with this upgrade (at least for now - I've still got a few major applications to test - Photoshop, Sonar, etc. etc.)

[fjtorres]

For those interested in clean installs, CNET shows three ways, with screenshots galore:
http://www.cnet.com/news/clean-install-windows-10/

It also confirms that boot media installs won't work on blank drives, only on systems with Windows already installed. (Well, it *is* an upgrade.)

Short version: while upgrading an existing installation, the media creation tool version asks if you want to delete data and apps, which gives a clean install if you agred. You can even have it scrub the drive if you really want a CLEAN install and can wait long enough.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are you using Windows 7 on your laptop at the moment? If so, I'd suggest waiting a couple of months, to allow driver/application compatibility issues to be resolved, and then upgrading to Windows 10. There's really no point in upgrading now unless you have an irresistible urge to be an "early adopter".

I have no need to upgrade, in fact exactly the opposite I can't afford to risk my PC. I just want to play.

I've hankered after a windows tablet for ages but I don't want to buy a small cheap one as I do want it to last a few years, so just sitting on my hands now and ideally waiting to see what comes out next in the Surface line. I am tempted with the Surface 3, the 4GB one, but the hard drive isn't big enough to replace my laptop and I'm not really sure about the processor.

[Atunah]

I went ahead last night and used that media tool thingy to upgrade my netbook. Its an asus with touch screen, keyboard does not come off.

It already had W8 on it before so I thought its a good one to try out. My main computer is a desktop running 7 which is also eligible for free upgrade.

Since I am not super well versed in the language of computers, I was a tad bit nervous. . Overall it worked fairly seamless. Its so much better than 8 for me. I always hated that flipping back and forth with the weird tile thingies. I don't use the touch screen often as its kind of weird when you have a keyboard attached at all times. This works better and it feels more intigrated now rather than 2 different systems on my computer. I don't know how to explain it better.

Its like 7 but with some added useful functions.

I did have one annoying issue with my Asus smart gesture touchpad. I have a big pad so I use that, no mouse. It usually has the 2 finger scroll to go around pages and none of that worked, I didn't even have my option thingy in the bar. Googling showed someone going into programs and repairing the smart gesture thing, but that did not work. I uninstalled the thing, restarted and then the build in asus install thingy brought it up to install new. After a gazillion reboots I am back in business with the scrolling and other gestures.

Everything I had on the netbook still works as it did before. Now given, I don't have a bunch on here, its not my main computer.

I need to wait to update my main computer because I use a really old scanner and older printer on it and I don't even know if there are drivers for those. I'll have to figure out where to go to find out if there are drivers.

I have plenty of time to think about it on that unit. Its a few years old, I already had a hard drive changed out and some other parts like power cord and fan. My husband does that stuff. There might also be some issue with the graphic card I think. That was also put in at some point.

I think though for a windows 8 device its a huge improvement to go to 10.

If I can do it, anyone can.

[kennyc]

Excellent!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

For anybody concerned about Win10's new WiFi sense feature: don't be.
The FUD is strong around it. Needlessly:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/no-wind...tag=TRE17cfd61

I already have enough troubles with my internet connection (<700kbps instead of 120Mbps), I don't need my OS to hog the few strands of connection that I still have.

[JoHunt]

I upgraded my laptop (Toshiba) and am really pleased with the results. The laptop was never slow or sluggish, but it appears to run faster and is more responsive under Win 10.

My PC is still on Win 7 - I have a while yet to decide if to also upgrade.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I already have enough troubles with my internet connection (<700kbps instead of 120Mbps), I don't need my OS to hog the few strands of connection that I still have.

It doesn't actually do anything unless you go out of your way to tell it to.
That's what's so funny about the handwringing.

The new default is the same as the old default.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I ended up uninstalling (not without a battle - had to download a Norton Uninstall Tool) Norton Security Suite (it is free for me from Comcast). Windows Claims it is unneeded because of Windows Defender which is part of Win 10....not sure I trust that though....may try reinstalling Norton again....I think I had to do that on Win 7 and someone on line said they removed and reinstalled and it all worked. (LiveUpdate was not working).

Yup, me too. Actually when I ran the MCT it told me I had to instead of just+- giving me a cryptic error number. I'm still unhappy with Symantec. They KNEW... for MONTHS... that their crap was going to break it. And didn't do a damned thing about it! They didn't even warn their customers. I'm done with Symantec, even though I get it free from my employer. I'll just run Windows Defender until I find something better.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by wodin

Yup, me too. Actually when I ran the MCT it told me I had to instead of just+- giving me a cryptic error number. I'm still unhappy with Symantec. They KNEW... for MONTHS... that their crap was going to break it. And didn't do a damned thing about it! They didn't even warn their customers. I'm done with Symantec, even though I get it free from my employer. I'll just run Windows Defender until I find something better.

[wodin]

Originally Posted by jhowell

I may have this wrong, but my understanding is that product keys for older versions of Windows are not valid for installing Windows 10. The free upgrade requires an existing installed and activated copy of Windows 7 or 8.1. The installer upgrades to Windows 10 and sends a snapshot of your hardware configuration to Microsoft. They store that and use it to verify your license during activation if you ever need to do a clean install of Windows 10 on the same PC in the future.

Any other installation of Windows 10 requires a new, paid for, Windows 10 license. It is not transferable to new hardware.

You also have to watch the version your installing. I downloaded and created USB media for 64 bit Professional on my Surface Pro 3, then tried to install that on Susie's HP Pavilion touch 15 (Home Premium). It wanted and rejected the key. So I went back to the MCT page and downloaded 64 bit Home version and it installed without issue, except of course the aforementioned Symantec BS.

[John F]

I just upgraded and it went nice and smooth, except...

I unchecked all the options for "sharing" (my location, my contacts, ...), and the first time Edge comes with MobileRead I get a local ad.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by John F

I just upgraded and it went nice and smooth, except...

I unchecked all the options for "sharing" (my location, my contacts, ...), and the first time Edge comes with MobileRead I get a local ad.

That's cause you have to log in to avoid the forum advertisements. Same thing happened to me.

Adblock works great too! (haven't tried to install it on The Edge yet).

Ya think there's gonna be a Lawsuit from U2 against Microsoft.