Windows 10

[kaiserphil]

Anyone using Windows 7 downloaded Windows 10?

If so, how did you get on?

[Cally]

There was a long thread about this when it 1st came out, I tried once & it ran for over 12 hours before I shut it down, I suspect it was down to overload. I ran it again about 10 days later & it downloaded in about an hour & half. Since then the people I bought laptop from (last year) have emailed that the standard privacy settings are very low & I followed their instructions to upgrade them. I am a dinosaur re IT & have had no other problems but then I don't look too deeply into anything.

[Groucho]

I've been using it on a desktop PC and a laptop without any real problems - i.e. any glitches have either been fixed by subsequent automatic updates or by action by me to rectify incorrect settings.

In essence I think it's really very good... a marked improvement on Windows 7 and what Windows 8 should have been...

Noticeable increase in speeds at shut-down and startup are a bonus.

[MikeK]

I Downloaded it with no problems, I used it for a day, was impressed with the format but on the second day it kept coming up with "fatal error",it said it will be ok after rebooting. I tried a dozen times or more but "fatal error" kept reappearing. I looked on the internet for remedies, it was mentioned that this error was commonplace and for most , it would not go away despite trying "repairs" to it. As the remedies were somewhat longwinded, I did not bother with them.

The panic then began as to how to reload windows 7 back up again.
When the "fatal error" message came up, I could not navigate any further and the laptop was effectively locked up I was unable to do anything.

Bizarrely it was only my account (as administrator) that was locked, other account users on the laptop were ok!
I trawled the internet to find how to get windows 7 back and more by luck than my PC skills I got it back.Panic over. I will not be trying it again!!

[mrsgee]

I downloaded it as soon as it became available, it has been fine and I think is an improvement windows 7. A few differences in the screens, etc, especially photos, but fine once you get used to it, which doesn't take long as it is not vastly different. Agree, start up and shut down quicker. Very happy with it.

[kaiserphil]

Thanks for all of your responses. On balance I think I shall leave it, for now at least.

[sophie]

I'm on Windows 7 and am being bombarded with messages to upgrade to 10. I shall refrain until and unless I have no option. That day will come I'm sure.

[kaiserphil]

I'm on Windows 7 and am being bombarded with messages to upgrade to 10. I shall refrain until and unless I have no option. That day will come I'm sure.

Yes, I keep getting those messages. I guess what will happen is that eventually they will stop supporting Windows 7.

Windows 10 is supposed to be a free download, but I read somewhere that they will charge after one year, and if you don't pay up you will not receive any more updates.

[dippersgirl]

I changed as I was on windows 8 and really hated it. I think 10 is fine, except that there suddenly was no space on my laptop, less than 3gb out of more than 900gb. I got a message straight away, telling me I had run out of space. I tidied up and this gained me about 14gb. I can't remember what it was before but never a problem. It asks me if I'm happy or if I want to go back to windows 7. Since I was on windows 8 I don't know why I get that message!!!

[trueblue]

Went from 7 to 10 by downloading from Windows website, no problems at all, neither in the beginning nor after about one and a half months using it daily. Yesterday I did the first big update of W 10, again no problems. In my opinion, after I having used XP and 7, it is definitely better than these, like it very much.
The laptop I used is a few years old but was rather unused, not many programs etc on it. I am not really a computer expert. I can not imagine that they will ask for money later on.

[CatalkoyChris]

Windows 10 is fine

However, internet explorer (now under a different name) is really bloated so make sure you use Chrome or Firefox to browse the web.

[greengate]

If you decide to upgrade to W10 - your original version of windows will be placed into a directory named 'windows.old' - which will allow you restore your old version of windows.

After a year - this directory will automatically be removed according to Microsoft. So if your feel that you want to return to your old system after this time restriction - rename the directory to avoid it being removed, and change it back to its original name when you want to restore.

[kaiserphil]

Thanks for the info Greengate.

[dippersgirl]

Yes....greengate, except in my case it is offering me Window 7, when I actually had Windows 8(which was rubbish). Does this file Windows old take up lots of space????

[greengate]

Dippersgirl

A lot depends on your old version of windows, and how you had it set up - but in general the 'windows.old' folder can take up between 12Gb-20Gb - that is a large chunk of space on some of the older PC/laptops. To find out exactly - 'right click' on the folder - and select 'properties', this should tell you.

For information - Windows10 takes up about 15Gb+ once all the 'applications' have been loaded.

As for being offered 'to restore to W7' - i would take that option rather than W8 (which was pretty bad)

[greengate]

My apologies to one and all - duff information...

Apparently - following a recent upgrade in W10 - the windows.old folder is now removed after about 30 days.

[Groucho]

It was always 30 days - earlier threads (before the recent big update) stated this and that is what the W10 installation process stated at the time of the free download and installation...

I think there is some confusion over Windows 10 free installation, this is how I took it -

You can download it for free and it will be automatically updated as a service type installation - i.e. you can't easily pick and choose what updates you will/won't take. This reduces Microsoft support costs considerably as at present there are literally thousands of different installation combinations that have to be maintained, with W10, there are in essence only two 32 and 64 bit. I have installed both and they are both fine.

If you choose not to take W10 during the free period - you will be left behind and W7/W8 updates will cease after 1 year - leaving you further behind unless you pay for a commercial W10 installation. i.e. you are virtually a hostage to fortune...

I can see no reason not to upgrade given that W10 is stable and better than W7/W8.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2926086/ ... ifies.html

This article explains that no charges for W10 will follow free installation...