Everything You'll Need to Know about Windows 10

[jaymes_e06]

With W10 coming out in just a few days and me trying it out for my job and doing a test run. Ask me anything about it and I will tell no lies.

 

[<(o_o)>]

Is it worth upgrading to immediately? Since my internet connection is too slow to download it directly on my Windows 8 computer & it costs $119 to buy in store anyways I was just going to put that extra money towards a new Windows 10 computer instead but choices of brands available with Windows 10 already installed is very slim.

 

[Lily Adler]

You have an entire year to upgrade.

 

[jaymes_e06]

Is it worth upgrading to immediately? Since my internet connection is too slow to download it directly on my Windows 8 computer & it costs $119 to buy in store anyways I was just going to put that extra money towards a new Windows 10 computer instead but choices of brands available with Windows 10 already installed is very slim.

Do you have W8 and do you like it? Windows 8.1 is made to look like a tablet or smartphone in it's interface W10 goes back to what you are used to with the "tiles" being taken out and now the desktop is back for a more traditional setup experience.

So if you dislike the W8.1 which quite a few do hence why W10 was made then I would suggest moving up as it is free.

 

[wobbly]

Is it worth upgrading to immediately? Since my internet connection is too slow to download it directly on my Windows 8 computer & it costs $119 to buy in store anyways I was just going to put that extra money towards a new Windows 10 computer instead but choices of brands available with Windows 10 already installed is very slim.

I'd give it a month or so before taking the plunge (should give Microsoft time to iron out the worst of the inevitable bugs, as well as time for drivers for all the various PC bits to be updated adequately). You do need a fast connection though so if you can get access to one before going for it that would be advisable.

If you get an update error trying through Windows update you can download the 'mediacreationtool' from MS and use that for the free in place upgrade (will still need to download all the files so a fast connection still needed). you can also use that tool to create install media (USB or DVD) but I'm not sure if you can use that for the free upgrade.

One thing to make sure of if you can: Back up your current install prior to upgrade (I use Paragon to image my OS drive to external drive, and the in built Windows 7 tool for a system backup to my secondary drive). If you don't like Win 10 you can revert easy enough then.

I'm still on Windows 7 btw. Never liked the look of 8, but I will give 10 a try in a few weeks.

 

[<(o_o)>]

Do you have W8 and do you like it? Windows 8.1 is made to look like a tablet or smartphone in it's interface W10 goes back to what you are used to with the "tiles" being taken out and now the desktop is back for a more traditional setup experience.

So if you dislike the W8.1 which quite a few do hence why W10 was made then I would suggest moving up as it is free.

Finally got Windows 10 downloaded & its just not running as smoothly for me as my Windows 8.1 did. Since upgrading to Windows 10 all webpages seem to have become much slower & I have to keep refreshing them just to get them to load sometimes but hopefully an update will correct that.

 

[Lily Adler]

Did you create a backup system image to rollback to 8.1?

EDIT: If you want to rollback, there's an option in settings to rollback to the previous version of Windows you had before.

 

[<(o_o)>]

Did you create a backup system image to rollback to 8.1?

EDIT: If you want to rollback, there's an option in settings to rollback to the previous version of Windows you had before.

No I didn't create a system image but if the computer keeps it up I will be rolling it back to Windows 8.1 before the time limit of a month is over.

 

[Lily Adler]

I'm not sure if rolling back via system settings gives you the option to keep your files, though.

 

[wobbly]

Well, I thought I'd give Win 10 test run on my laptop (smaller drive so faster to backup).

Upgrade took quite a while (Win 7 clean install is quicker) but was up and running after about an hour, so took it for a spin.

Pros: well, it seems to work ok. Bug with the sleep mode (goes for a full hibernate for some reason) and doesn't seem to recognise I already have Skype, but seems responsive enough. Regarding web use, I changed to Firefox rather than that 'Edge' thing and that works as normal far as I can tell (niggle being changing default apps requires going into settings rather than just setting it when opening the preferred one).

Certainly seems nippy enough to work with (imo).

Cons: Default games like Soliataire or Chess etc that came with win 7? Gone.
And this is the deal breaker for me personally: The UI is pants imo. It's plain all white square edged boring windows. You can make the task bar and start menu have some color and transparency but that's about all it will allow. Boring as hell imo after enjoying the subtleties of Aero Glass themes from Win 7.

The Start menu has a tabbed metro style side thing. Useful I suppose if you use those things but I prefer the older menus.

So...personal opinion. If you are on Windows 7, and especially enjoy the aesthetics of Windows 7 with Aero glass themes, don't bother with Windows 10. It's a step back there in every regard. Performance may well be better under synthetic tests, but in practical use I can't say I noticed anything (even boot time was about the same as before).

No wonder MS are giving it away...

I'm not sure if rolling back via system settings gives you the option to keep your files, though.

I'll give the roll back a try tomorrow and see if if does do a full restore or not. if not I have my backup I can use.

Sorry Microsoft, I loved the upgrade from XP to 7 (skipped Vista), but 10 is just not for me at this time.

 

[jaymes_e06]

Finally got Windows 10 downloaded & its just not running as smoothly for me as my Windows 8.1 did. Since upgrading to Windows 10 all webpages seem to have become much slower & I have to keep refreshing them just to get them to load sometimes but hopefully an update will correct that.

I have noticed this on the demos of our computers in the Best Buy I work at. I feel like some of the cooler features quad-split-screen for instance are made less user friendly and more cumbersome to operate than in 8.1. I like the idea of it but in application it just feels off as a whole. Overall I think I will keep 8.1 until they work the bugs out quite a bit.

 

[MrSharigan]

If only I knew that removing Windows 8 files with System Cleanup would corrupt my User Profile... :P

 

[the dmg]

I upgraded my work PC as a test run before upgrading my gaming laptop. Things run slower than 8.1 and I had no sound for about a week during the initial rollout. I'm slowly toying with it, but right now, it's not worth the upgrade and I'll wait until all the kinks are ironed out before upgrading at home.

 

[Lily Adler]

Incompatible drivers?

 

[GokuGt25]

I have a few security and privacy questions:

1) Is it true that you can't copy + [aste like before?
2) Cortana watches over everything you input and relays it back to Microsoft?
3) That if you are downloading something Win10 will stop you from doing so?

Thanks

 

[Rena Wesley]

This is very helpful. Thank you!

 

[the dmg]

Incompatible drivers?

Yup. Downloaded a whole bunch of drivers to supposedly fix it and then ended up uninstalling for it to re-download and it worked. Didn't work like that in the first week though when I tried it.

My laptop has a Nvidia card ad there's a whole heap of issues right now with that, so I'm not going to risk it and be unable to run games.

There's a full year to upgrade, so I'll wait until the issues are ironed out.

 

[the dmg]

I have a few security and privacy questions:

1) Is it true that you can't copy + [aste like before?
2) Cortana watches over everything you input and relays it back to Microsoft?
3) That if you are downloading something Win10 will stop you from doing so?

Thanks

1) Copy and paste works fine.
2) Cortana is like Google Now/Siri, and works the same way. I don't have it activated because I don't use it. It doesn't necessarily relay it back to M$, but it is a learning program that uses your typing/speaking patterns in order to better serve your needs.

FAQ to better understand Cortana here.
3) I haven't had issues with incompatible items, but then again, I'm not all in on the ecosystem and not using the app store and things like that.

 

[wobbly]

If anyone is concerned about privacy with Windows 10 (by default there isn't much) info on how to preserve that can be seen here:

http://arstechnica.com/information-...-much-privacy-by-default-heres-how-to-fix-it/

Personally, I took my laptop back to Windows 7 for now (if MS introduces true glass themes I might give it another go. But as is I saw no benefit in performance, and dislike the UI intensely).

 

[the dmg]

If anyone is concerned about privacy with Windows 10 (by default there isn't much) info on how to preserve that can be seen here:

http://arstechnica.com/information-...-much-privacy-by-default-heres-how-to-fix-it/

Personally, I took my laptop back to Windows 7 for now (if MS introduces true glass themes I might give it another go. But as is I saw no benefit in performance, and dislike the UI intensely).

That's why you do custom installation over express. This stuff is front and center as opposed to hidden. Mostly everything can be shut off, although there are some things that can't, which is really annoying. And something to opt out of online. Here. It's really not as bad as reports made it seem, but there is still some concern about many of the features.

The only really truly annoying part at the moment is auto updates. If you uninstall certain programs that come with Windows 10 or have certain drivers you removed due to compatibility, Windows will continue to reinstall them.

These are things that need to be fixed.

 

[MrSharigan]

If anyone is concerned about privacy with Windows 10 (by default there isn't much) info on how to preserve that can be seen here:

http://arstechnica.com/information-...-much-privacy-by-default-heres-how-to-fix-it/

Thanks for this! Exactly what I was looking for... Silly me to do an express install...