Free upgrade to Windows 10

[towny44]

Has anyone else noticed that Microsoft are offering a free upgrade to their new Windows 10 OS, for current users of 7 and 8, when it is issued at the end of July?
What is the forum consensus, will it be worthwhile or should we wait for all the bugs to be sorted out before taking them up on this offer?
By the way was there ever a windows 9?

[david63]

You have probably already got the start of it on your computer if you install updates.

Some say Win 8.1 should have/is considered to be Win 9

[Silver_Shiney]

I'm in two minds about this. I "upgraded" from XP to 7 only because XP was obsolete and I was told it couldn't handle the next generation of web addresses. I've got used to 7 (Pro at work, Home at home).

Windows 8 is an abortion that should never have been released and my mum, who isn't computer literate at all, couldn't cope with it at all. Fortunately my SIL found a free third-party patch to make it look more like Win 7.

As far as 10 is concerned, I understand that it is a rewrite from the ground up, using a Unix kernel (like Apple) instead of DOS. This should make it a lot faster to boot up. My concern, though, is with legacy software. I've lost my favourite game (Pharaoh/Cleopatra) because it won't run on Win 7, but that's only a game. What about the "serious" software I've got, like Office 2003, or the two different database applications we use at work and I sometime have to tap into from home?

I think Microsoft are doing the right thing in making it free, given that they've charged an arm and a leg over the years for their bloatware. As for waiting for the bugs undocumented features to be ironed out, sensible idea but is the "free" offer time limited?

[Manoverboard]

My PC, Win 7 / 64, is still under warranty re hardware and installed software ... my plan therefore is to ask them given that they will have to sort it out if it goes pear shaped. Failing that I will stick with v 7.

[david63]

Windows 8 is an abortion that should never have been released and my mum, who isn't computer literate at all, couldn't cope with it at all. Fortunately my SIL found a free third-party patch to make it look more like Win 7.

I agree that Win8 was "not very good" but Win8.1 did mange to correct the missing bits. The whole point of Win8/8.1 is that they are designed for touch screens and if you have such a device then it is, in my opinion, a good operating system.

Incidentally Win 8/8.1 is essentially Win7 with an updated gui.

My concern, though, is with legacy software.

I will be surprised if any "reputable" software does not work with Win10 - especially if it works with Win8

[towny44]

My concern, though, is with legacy software.

I will be surprised if any "reputable" software does not work with Win10 - especially if it works with Win8

David, I did the check for my PC on the windows FAQ page from this message, and it said my Norton virus software won't run on the new Windows 10, which seems odd unless Microsoft are trying to squeeze them out.

[Mervyn and Trish]

David, I did the check for my PC on the windows FAQ page from this message, and it said my Norton virus software won't run on the new Windows 10, which seems odd unless Microsoft are trying to squeeze them out.

I guess the answer might be how old the software is and which version of windows it was originally written for. When I was forced to move to 8.1, which I've now got used to, some of my XP compatible software no longer worked whereas 7 compatible stuff did. If I'm forced to change to 10 hopefully the 8.1 compatible replacements will be okay.

[Stephen]

Unless it becomes obsolete I'll stick with what I have and am familiar with (Win7 64 bit). But then I'm a sucker for my favourite word FREE

I might download it anyway, but no doubt there will be a time limit to activate it.

Here's the link

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/ ... n10upgrade

[towny44]

Unless it becomes obsolete I'll stick with what I have and am familiar with (Win7 64 bit). But then I'm a sucker for my favourite word FREE

I might download it anyway, but no doubt there will be a time limit to activate it.

Here's the link

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/ ... n10upgrade

I think I read that the Win 10 free upgrade will be available for 12 months.
Also reading more about the new features it says it comes with an all new browser, which might mean I have to say goodbye to Firefox. There were other drawbacks I noticed as well, losing a lot of your current add ons and games and I don't think I like the sound of the new Windows store where you can buy great content including apps, possibly the free ones you just lost.
However my pc has been running slow on Firefox and taking a long time to load, so I might just be tempted to try Win 10.

[Stephen]

No Windows icon on my task bar, so either my system can't handle it, although going by their criteria and my system spec it should (Windows 7 SP1 - 64 bit) or all the updates haven't been rolled out yet.

[Silver_Shiney]

Unless it becomes obsolete I'll stick with what I have and am familiar with (Win7 64 bit). But then I'm a sucker for my favourite word FREE

I might download it anyway, but no doubt there will be a time limit to activate it.

Here's the link

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/ ... n10upgrade

I think I read that the Win 10 free upgrade will be available for 12 months.
Also reading more about the new features it says it comes with an all new browser, which might mean I have to say goodbye to Firefox. There were other drawbacks I noticed as well, losing a lot of your current add ons and games and I don't think I like the sound of the new Windows store where you can buy great content including apps, possibly the free ones you just lost.
However my pc has been running slow on Firefox and taking a long time to load, so I might just be tempted to try Win 10.

Running Win 7, my installation of Firefox was becoming ever more unstable, both here and at work. I've now changed both machines over the Chrome.

On my mother's laptop (Win 8) I noticed there were no games and I had heck of a job finding a free version that didn't have adverts embedded.

I've noticed in the past that, where a third party produce a superior product, Microsoft generally try to buy it out and ditch it - Quicken (they didn't succeed that time), Autoroute, FoxPro and a couple of others, who's names escape me at the moment.

[Not so ancient mariner]

Which version of Windows 10 is it? I was discussing this with one of the Tech guys at Currys/PC world a week or two ago, and he informed me that the store was running a trial version of Windows 10.8 (Which froze shortly after he told me that!)

[Gill W]

I have the little icon in my task bar, but I'm leaving it alone.

I'm quite happy with my Windows 7 and it works fine.

If it ain't broke don't fix it is my motto

[Silver_Shiney]

If it ain't broke don't fix it is my motto

You'd best turn Auto-Update off then!!

[Stephen]

I have the little icon in my task bar, but I'm leaving it alone.

I'm quite happy with my Windows 7 and it works fine.

If it ain't broke don't fix it is my motto

Can you send it to me Gill

[towny44]

I have signed up for it but since my Norton 360 will not be usable with Win 10 I will probably delay loading it until my current license expires in Oct., when I was going to drop it in favour of AVG anyway.
My current laptop has been running intermittently slowly over the past few weeks/months so I am going to see if Win 10 improves it, otherwise it may need a visit to Currys.

[Not so ancient mariner]

A good curry generally has the effect of getting things moving!

[Gill W]

If it ain't broke don't fix it is my motto

You'd best turn Auto-Update off then!!

I feel very anxious each month when the windows updates are being done

[Stephen]

OK, after a bit of further investigation I have found out why I couldn't see the Windows 10 update icon.

I'm not sure about Windows 8 users, but for Windows 7 SP1 users who have the latest updates installed do the following.

1. Lower right of your screen click on the little arrow that reads 'Show Hidden Icons'
2. With the 'Hidden Icon Box' open click on 'Customize'
3. In the 'Customize' box click on 'Restore Default Icon Behaviours'
4. Click OK

Now when you open the 'Show Hidden Icons' box it should show the Window 10 App (looks like a clear box with a cross in it). Either click on it or right click on it and follow the instruction should you wish to go ahead and reserve your free copy.

Done

[Silver_Shiney]

Hmm, tried that but the only box with a cross is for the Synaptics pointing device...

[Manoverboard]

I have a little white Window in the bottom rhs tray ... " Get Windows 10 " it says ... " Sod off " says I.

[Onelife]

Hi gfw....bumped this thread up for you, the contents of which may help with your question ......