Upgraded to Windows 10

Finally bit the bullet and upgraded Desktop

[IanCP]

Firing up the Desktop this morning I'm met with a purple ribbon across the Desktop telling me about upgrading. Being in a cavalier mood this fine, sunny late winter morning in Sydney area I thought "Yeah, why not"?

Fun, Fun, Fun...

First drama? During the installation phase [drivers] I get the BSD. This one is the "Black Screen of Death". Oh dear! Been there, done that when I upgraded from Win 8 Pro to Win 8.1 Pro - it was not a happy experience [long story]. Based upon that unhappy experience, and with fingers crossed? I switched the TV from the morning news service over to HDMI No. 2 input [PC].

Yep there's my Monitor in all its glory - the real PC Monitor is DEAD. Grrr... So I leave it to go along happily by itself, and after the driver phase is finished, the monitor comes to life. Phew eventually fixed itself with the right drivers.

Next I declined "Express Settings", and went for "Customise" - be aware that's hiding in subdued small print bottom left hand side.

Away we go again. It now tells me my Microsoft Media Centre will be disabled in Windows 10. Whoa! Accept or throw a spanner in the works? I'll bite the bullet and accept.

Anyway from then on it was plain sailing. End result when it did its final restart? The difference from say yesterday?

Same Desktop PC, apart from a minor keyboard glitch I'm aware of and can fix later...

You wouldn't even know it was Windows 10 Pro unless I told you so.

There are minor differences in File Explorer which I'm familiar with on the Win 10 Laptop. I can live with that. It substituted "The Edge" for IE 11 - I killed that off. All I have left to do is find out how to remove the pointless "Search the Web and Windows" panel consuming valuable space on my Task Bar.

IE11, FF 39.03, PaintShop Pro, Mailwasher, NoteTab Pro, Microsoft Movie Maker - they all still work - same settings, same history, same everything...

And I'm a Happy Chappy! - I'm on very good terms with myself, and I'll now update FF to 40.

I hope others enjoy my relatively painless experience.

[netmeg]

Finally made it where desktop users can use all the apps which should have been in Win 8 and the amount of potential lost revenue for app writers that sell their wares in the Store because of that is incalculable, but probably significant.

Seriously - who was the genius at Microsoft who thought the full screen calculator app in Windows 8 was a good idea? Now I can stop reaching for my phone when I need to do some figuring.

I reset all the ipconfig stuff and flushed the DNS and got my WIFI back; apparently it's some kind of known issue. Hope it doesn't come back before there's a fix.

[keyplyr]

I had to run a couple tools to fix Windows Update (didn't know it was broke) then stop Windows Update, then delete the previous download files, then restart Windows Update, then restart machine. It had probably been a month or two since I had restarted Windows. Keep forgetting to do that since I normally just put it to sleep.

Download/install was quicker than I was led to believe. The whole process was about 20 minutes. Must have been at a time when my cable connection was fast.

Not crazy about the ads sliding over from the right side trying to sell me M$ Office, etc. The only reason I updated from Win7 was to stay current with the security updates, otherwise I really liked 7. Had it just the way I wanted it :)

[keyplyr]

All I have left to do is find out how to remove the pointless "Search the Web and Windows" panel consuming valuable space on my Task Bar.

Right-click, hidden
The Show Task Panel can also be removed, as can the App Store icon.

[IanCP]

@keyplr:

Keep forgetting to do that since I normally just put it to sleep.

I've always wanted to know about that. Why not simply Shutdown? Is it because there is a need for it to do something over night?

Not crazy about the ads sliding over from the right side trying to sell me M$ Office, etc.

Did you do express install or customised? I always elect to go customise on everything, and I haven't seen anything annoying at all - not since I gave OneDrive the deep six months ago on the Laptop. The absence of OneDrive nagging me on the Desktop leads me to believe the Microsoft engineers actually listened to our fiery feedback on the forums. I really can't believe that because months ago their attitude was outright arrogance IMHO.

I recommend everyone go through Settings, item by item, and drill down to ensure only what you want is on. If you come across something you are unsure about? Cleverly Google it, then decide.

The only reason I updated from Win7 was to stay current with the security updates, otherwise I really liked 7. Had it just the way I wanted it :)

When I went from XP to Win 8 Pro I used Classic Shell to customise it to my liking. Update to 8.1 didn't alter anything, and now Update to Windows 10 Pro hasn't really altered anything much - a cuppla things I'll change later.

For all intents and purposes? My set up isn't significantly different from the XP days.

[keyplyr]

@IanCP

IMO there are several advantages to just putting the machine to sleep rather than shutting down and restarting Windows every time:
• Since I am often working on at least one (sometimes several) web sites, I can keep my HTTP & SFTP connections open. No need to re-launch this software and have it connect with the remote servers again.
• I maintain the local file order of the last several used programs.
• No need for the OS system to load each time. It's already loaded and wakes-up quickly to where I left off.
• I can keep programs open.
• Much faster.

I think I started doing this back in the day of Windows 98 blue screen. About 1 in 10 chance that Windows would not load properly.

I also did a custom install. The only setting I left to the default was location permission for the Apps.

[edited by: keyplyr at 3:14 am (utc) on Aug 16, 2015]

[IanCP]

Yes I understand. In my case I simply fire up the PC around 5.00 am and close it down around 7.30 pm

During the day I have heaps of programs running, you wouldn't believe my Task Bar. FF can also have 30+ Tabs open, ditto for IE 11 etc. etc.

It all comes down to what works best for yourself. The two best investments I ever made in Hardware were:

a) Doubling RAM to 16GB
b) Having a small removable 1TB backup drive with all critical data etc from which I can laboriously rebuild in the event of a catastrophe.

I learned from folks in my district who lost everything in a flash bushfire. Less than 5 minutes warning to get out, they lost everything. What money/insurance could never replace was four generations of digitised photographs. The actual photographs themselves went up in the fire. That was all they were heart broken about - everything else was replaceable.

A backup drive to quickly slip into the pocket is essential in a similar emergency.

[keyplyr]

I gave OneDrive the deep six months ago on the Laptop.

How did you get rid of it?

[incrediBILL]

A backup drive to quickly slip into the pocket is essential in a similar emergency

Or simply have it stored offsite on OneDrive, then you never have to worry about it in the first place.

I have some of my critical files in my phone, tablet and keychain even so the odds of me running out without at least one or more of those is pretty slim. Plus tons of stuff stored online since I'm a pretty mobile guy to start with.

[keyplyr]

Again, how do you get rid of OneDrive? It keeps making copies of my files. Then when I try to open this huge file, M$ tries to sell me an one of its apps :)

[bhukkel]

Again, how do you get rid of OneDrive?

I used this one:

Disable OneDrive Everywhere in Windows and Apps Completely

Press Win + R keyboard accelerator to open Run dialog box.
Type GPedit.msc and hit Enter or OK to open Local Group Policy Editor.
Navigate to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> OneDrive.
In the right pane, double click on policy named Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage.
Select the Enabled radio button.

Here you find more tips to remove it completely [techjourney.net...]

[IanCP]

How did you get rid of it?

A tiny utility called:

OneDrive uninstaller V0.4.cmd - Yep, 1Kb size

Google it, Microsoft deleted the link from the Windows 10 Preview Forums. Any difficulty, I have a copy it's freeware. Sticky me.

[ADDED] That was on the Laptop. With the Desktop upgrade it hasn't bothered me.

No, I don't believe in entrusting my data to third parties when I can avoid it, much less than pay them.

[keyplyr]

@bhukkel - seemed too complicated but that link has some helpful info, thanks.

@IanCP - worked great, thanks

I also use a 3TB pocket size external flash drive and do weekly back-ups. I've had to use them more than once. I live in a tall condo building that has periodic fire alarm drills where everyone gets out of the building quickly. Not once have I remembered to grab that drive!

[graeme_p]

What about the privacy issues

Even when told not to, Windows 10 just can’t stop talking to Microsoft [arstechnica.com]

@mcneely do you mean Win 10 with ddefault settings looks like Mint?

[incrediBILL]

If you don't want Windows to talk to MS, then don't get Windows.
That's why they built Linux.

No, I don't believe in entrusting my data to third parties when I can avoid it, much less than pay them.

Good offsite storage is never free, but you can hit the free limits of Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.

I don't see trust as an issue, only system stability and whether my data is there when I look for it. You can upload encrypted zips if you fear prying eyes. Considering how much MS chatters with Windows, if trust is an issue even using Windows is a trust issue as your data could easily be scanned, they do that for the search, and anything of interest transferred. Maybe it already happened! Who knows, anything is possible so if you trust them to be your OS provider you might as well trust them to hold your data elsewhere as well.

Besides, unless you're the accountant for the drug cartel what do you have to worry about? :)

The fallacy people have with the backup to a small drive that they'll get out with during an emergency all revolves around actually being close to the drive when the emergency happens.

If you're out of the house or on vacation, without the drive, when the fire, flood, tornado, earthquake, etc, reduces your house to rubbish, that little backup drive is right there with it unless you always keep it on your person when you leave, which most don't. To date I've maintained redundancies on my portable devices always with me so it's not much of an issue.

For that reason alone, I finally gave up as the shared online drive makes life so much easier with phones, tablets, laptops, desktops so I can get anything from anywhere I need. Plus I no longer have to be concerned about that emergency backup drive and toting it around. It's all taken care of once and for all.

However, I'm not keen on how MS, Google and Amazon automatically attempt to copy my music files without my permission. I had to hack Google music to stop it from doing that but MS at least appears to have stopped.

They're taking lots of liberties these days and it's starting to step over the line.

[IanCP]

Considering how much MS chatters with Windows, if trust is an issue even using Windows is a trust issue as your data could easily be scanned, they do that for the search, and anything of interest transferred. Maybe it already happened!

Bill, you just raised a most interesting peripheral issue for an Australian.

Australian privacy laws are likely vastly different from other countries, as are our consumer laws.

It could well be that those things you mentioned are in breach of Australian privacy laws, those laws cannot be over ridden by any terms you may agree to with Microsoft or anyone else.

[13Cube13]

Upgraded and hated it.

Windows 10 is very slow and clunky.
Not least, I disliked the new look and much prefer the 'old school' style. Same with sites, don't like the new modern type look. Software I use did not work on Windows 10 either.
Definately don't want to buy new expensive software.

Found out I could revert back to Windows 7 and stay without being forced to upgrade in the future. Someone with a brain worked this feature in.
You can do this revert back within 30 days of upgrade for anyone else who's interested.

[IanCP]

I find all of that is wholly inconsistent with my personal experiences. Others might offer differing views.

Oh, and none of my old programs [some going back a long time] fail to work.

[keyplyr]

Windows 10 is very slow and clunky.

I find Win10 to be much faster & streamlined than any previous version. This is what I read from most other users as well.

I disliked the new look and much prefer the 'old school' style.

Probably a personal preference, but like most new things, it may take a little while to adjust.

Same with sites, don't like the new modern type look.

The "look" of sites is controlled by the site mark-up not what version of Windows used. Various browsers may give a slightly different presentation in the surrounding "chrome" but if the web page mark-up is standards compliant, there should not be much of a change at all.

Software I use did not work on Windows 10 either.

That's strange since your existing software was validated to work on Windows 10 prior to the upgrade. If any software was not supported, you should have received a notice. Either way, you would go into this knowing.

Definately don't want to buy new expensive software.

Besides what's been said above, if you are hanging on to older, out-dated software you should consider updating to newer, more secure applications. Older software is one of the vulnerabilities that is abused by hackers & viruses.

[lawman]

My 10 experience so far - had some weird glitch on my desktop where I had to reboot a couple of times a day when I left Outlook open. If I used it and closed it the problem did not manifest. Don't know how, but that issue has resolved and I leave Outlook open all the time again. 10 is definitely faster and so far all programs work. I loved 7 but will not be going back within the 30 rollback period.

[keyplyr]

Speaking of glitches, the only one so far is that no matter what timer setting I change, Windows will go to sleep after several minutes of inactivity. I've tried Never, 1 hour and 5 hours... still, if I leave my desk and come back a few minutes later, Windows is sleeping. Not a big issue, it wakes-up fast enough with a couple key strokes, just strange.

Could be the Power setting. I have it on Balanced. If this glitch continues, I may play around with a custom power setting.

[elguiri]

keyplyr, I'm playing with that too. If I find out, I'll let you know.

[IanCP]

Interesting about those settings. As far as I can tell Windows 10 simply adopted all my 8.1 settings. The minor glitches I have so far are all the identical ones I had when going from Win 8 Pro to 8.1 which I find rather curious it repeats.

[ogletree]

I have updated several computers now.

1. Maingear Pulse 17 Laptop with Win 7. I did upgrade then reset to clean install. Only problem is that Maingear does not have any drivers. Everything seems to work except the sd card reader. I was able to find the driver on the Realtech website.

2. I have 8 pcs for a training room and I was hoping to clone them and MS does not allow this. So now I have to install Windows 8 back on each machine and then manually upgrade each one to Windows 10. On the good side inactivated Windows 10 has few limitations. So far it seems you just can't personalize it. Does anybody else know other limitations.

3. Alienware machine that had Windows 10 Beta on it. That was the easiest upgrade.

4. My nephew had a gaming pc that a friend made with a ASROCK MB. Found all the drivers I needed and it was a perfect upgrade.

[keyplyr]

I moved from 7 pro which AFAIK did not have an auto-sleep setting. Still can't figure out how to deactivate it, starting to "bug" me. It disconnects from my internet connection too. Then sometimes I have to reset my router to get connected again.

As Gilda Radner said "it's always somethin'."

[ogletree]

One of the nice things about Windows 10 and probably was in 8 too is that the search box on the bottom of the screen will find anything you need. Just type sleep and it will be the first thing that comes up.

[IanCP]

One of the nice things about Windows 10 and probably was in 8 too is that the search box on the bottom of the screen will find anything you need

I'll disagree. The few times I've used it, all it wants to do is search the internet. Mostly so far it has produced obscure files on the PC. I have better programs to search my PC.

It did work for your "sleep" though, that is the only time I've had it work. I simply content myself with using the Google Toolbar in IE11. That works as well also.

[IanCP]

Here is the most common response I get from search. A new tab opens in Firefox [default browser] to Bing:

[bing.com ]

[keyplyr]

I know where "sleep" is ogletree.

[netmeg]

I haven't noticed any speed issues except opening Office programs (but then, the first thing I do when I get computer is replace the drive with an SSD drive. Makes a big difference)

My essential files are stored on two cloud services, and once a week I clone all the hard drives with Acronis. As I've trashed many many many drives over the years (magnetic personality, don't you know) I've discovered that cloning is easier than backing up, so I don't have to reinstall all the software over and over. When I upgrade to a new OS or a new laptop, I buy a new backup drive; they're less than $50 now.

[IanCP]

@netmeg:

once a week I clone all the hard drives with Acronis

Now that's an interesting concept mate. Can you briefly share with us the physical hardware set up?