Author Topic: Windows 10 Upgrade - Should I do it? (Read 1598 times)

Cheryl Watson · « **on:** July 25, 2016, 01:28:16 PM »

I have 4 days left to decide whether to Upgrade from Windows 8.1 (64bit) to Windows 10.

What should I do?
What bugs, glitches should I expect?
<not sure how much I can deal with right now.... :) >

Any other things to 'look out for' .... ?

Corinne Wetzel · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2016, 02:36:35 PM »

I just upgraded a month ago. I'm still deciding how I feel about it.

Pros: the display is more traditional and less app-like. The screens seem more under control. I can easily find the shut down/restart button, for example, when I need it. I don't have to swipe in from the side, which I had found irritating. Accessing different programs seems more like the process I had been familiar with when I had Windows 7 and before. I didn't like the photo app in Windows 8. I haven't done much work with photos in Windows 10, but so far it seems more intuitive and accessible.

Cons: I've had so much trouble figuring out "Edge" (the new Internet Explorer), that I'm just using Google Chrome as my browser. There's also an annoying "assistant" called Cortana that is supposed to help you organize everything, but I don't feel like taking the time to learn. I just turned it off.

The main glitch I ran into was in how my mouse interacts with Windows 10. Suddenly I had to right click instead of left click, and couldn't scroll properly. I had similar problems with the laptop touchpad. However, I went into settings and changed the wacky defaults, and now this clicking/scrolling issue seems to be under control.

So, I guess I'm glad I upgraded since it seemed inevitable anyway that I would need to do it. I figured if I went back to Windows 7, I would eventually have compatibility issues with other programs. But I had the luxury of upgrading the day after my last teacher workday for the summer, so I knew I'd have a couple of months of less stressful time to tackle whatever went wrong.

I will be interested to hear what others have to say on this thread, as I'm still in the early stages of this myself.

Corey

Tom Neitzel · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2016, 06:06:50 PM »

I would definitely turn off Cortana. It is invasive and obnoxious.

Also, when installing, you will get many screens asking you to share stuff. I pretty much feel conformable saying no them.

Pretty decent otherwise. Hate the search function just to the right of the start button. Found the old style search at the center right of Windows Explorer (what you get when you click the folder icon.

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #3 on:** July 25, 2016, 10:24:32 PM »

Hmmm... since I already have Windows 8.1, 64 bit, I wonder if there is really a lot to gain...?.

I pretty much learned to override some of the crapola in Windows 8.1, although it still bugs me that I can't access my Programs list without going out of the classic view. Hmmm....

Paul Okarma · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2016, 09:41:50 AM »

My wife and I went to Windows 10 a little while ago. Been a seamless transition. Probably helped that we waited until the bugs were addressed.

The only think I had to do was upgrade to a current version of Quicken since it wouldn't open with Windows 10. It was time to do that anyway since I think I was running Quicken 2009.

Stuart Lowery · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2016, 04:15:38 PM »

I went from Windows 7 pro and spent a couple of hours making sure almost everything was turned off ;)... and tweaking a few other settings. Everything still works, no issues at all.
I thought there would be headaches and "adjustments" to make... not so, very easy transition.

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2016, 05:06:21 PM »

What my fear has been ...
Given the Black Cloud hovering over my head recently that says "Everything that Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong", It just might...

So I thought it wise to get a whole lotta Feedback first! ;D ;D

I definitely waited for Debugging to occur also.

Now if I understand correctly, Internet Explorer does not exist anymore??

Mark R. Smith · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2016, 01:47:43 PM »

If you can do a complete backup of your hard drive And also have a way of restoring the drive from the backup before you upgrade.

Mark R. Smith · « **Reply #8 on:** July 27, 2016, 03:10:35 PM »

Also in other news in the Windows 10 anniversary release due out next week you can't turn off Cortana

http://m.slashdot.org/story/314209

Jonathan Sutton · « **Reply #9 on:** July 27, 2016, 09:39:45 PM »

Frankly, I'm staying away from Win 10. MS has been very heavy handed in pushing this on users, and there is no way of *really* turning off the data collection. You can check the tick boxes to turn stuff off, but security experts still detect Win 10 computers phoning home to Redmond. That scares me because MS refuses to detail what exactly they're collecting. I've also seen news reports that MS is starting to display ads on the start screen.

I just don't trust MS to do what is right. They have a long history of playing hard ball and dirty business, and it looks like they are trying to gradually take over users' computers and turn Windows and Office into a subscription service so you don't actually own your computer anymore.

I'll stick with Win 7 on my wife's computers until her hardware dies (I personally run Debian GNU/Linux). (Do note, though, that most of the worst of the data collection has been backported to Win 7 and 8; I've turned off Windows updates to prevent this in the future.)

You can do what you like, but consider if you really want to 'upgrade' to an OS that MS can start charging a monthly fee for as they try to migrate to a subscription model to keep making money now that the desktop/laptop computer market is mature and most people only upgrade when hardware dies (hardware has been 'fast enough' for most people for 5-10 years now!). I'll skip that and stick to owning my machine and doing what I like with it. Also consider if you really need MS Windows, or if Linux or Mac OS will do what you need (even a tablet might do, depending on your needs).

If anyone needs/wants help moving to Linux, let me know, and I'll be happy to help.

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #10 on:** July 28, 2016, 08:01:31 AM »

Quote

I'll stick with Win 7 on my wife's computers until her hardware dies

I am still running Windows XP and I refuse to upgrade until I absolutely have to, I have a laptop with Windows 8 on it but my desktop is still running XP and even though MS stopped support for it and Chrome stopped updating I really have no desire to get rid of it until I absolutely must, I was still running Windows 98 years after that was obsolete and only upgraded to XP when the motherboard went, I refuse to spend a lot on money on a computer when it is not absolutely necessary.

Jeff Friend · « **Reply #11 on:** July 28, 2016, 10:52:52 AM »

Valerie, I hear you. I ran XP until my computer finally bit the dust after about 14 years. I got the new machine with 7 professional and it has continuously pestered me to upgrade to 10 almost since it was new. I always rejected the offer for the "free" upgrade. All of my clients use 7 and I assume they have a bunch of reasons to not go with 10. Then, late one night, about a month ago, my computer decided for itself to upgrade to 10. When I logged on in the morning, I was pi$$ed off. Uninstalled it right away, but some things don't work they way they used to. For example, I used to be able to hit a key on the keyboard and the computer would wake up from hibernating. Not any more . . . you have to press the start button. Not a big deal, but I did not ask for Microsoft to come along and mess with my stuff.

Valerie Johnson · « **Reply #12 on:** July 28, 2016, 11:12:25 AM »

Quote

Then, late one night, about a month ago, my computer decided for itself to upgrade to 10.

One of the reasons I shut my computer down completely every night and start up in morning and that I choose to select which update/upgrades I install.

I am still using an HP DeskJet 810C printer for black and white printing, I set the printer to black/draft and I can print hundreds of labels/documents with a single print cartridge, HP made replacement cartridges very expensive for these old printers in an effort to obsolete them but I buy remanufactured cartridges for $6.99 apiece with Free Shipping and have never had a problem with them, My other printer is an HP J5780 and I have continual problems, every time I would get an update the printer would uninstall...I like simplicity...I guess that is why cast iron cookware works so well for me

Jeff Friend · « **Reply #13 on:** July 28, 2016, 09:51:03 PM »

I have an HP LaserJet 4050N that I bought used from the engineering firm where I used to work. That thing had probably spit out nearly a billion sheets of paper before I got it, so I figured it was proven technology. Just like my No. 9 slant "ERIE" skillet. ;D

Which makes me wonder . . .

How many pounds of bacon have been through the aforementioned No. 9 skillet? How many dozen eggs?

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #14 on:** July 29, 2016, 12:56:59 AM »

Well, I have been working all day to just try to update my hardware drivers, and other software (AVG), etc. Ran a back up of my machine, but still haven't created any boot disk.

My current OS is Windows 8.1, 64 bit.

My other desktop is Windows 7 Professional 32 Bit (not eligible for the upgrade), and glitching all to heck over the backlog of Windows updates that have piled up in the past year.

My Son's Laptop is Windows 7, 64 bit.

Don't think I can cope with upgrading 2 machines in the next 24 hours.

REPEAT, but it continues...
The black cloud of doom has been hovering over my head for 10 days and counting (otherwise known as,,,, IF it CAN go WRONG... IT WILL). Which is why I haven't been around online much. Even my danged hardwired wall phone broke. Sigh. Every delivery in the past week has arrived either broken or defective (online shopping orders)... that is the tip of the iceberg.
Probably best if I don't tempt fate right now... ::)

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2016, 01:39:11 AM »

After reading the link Mark posted above, and a little bit of other information, I decided to NOT do any upgrading. Thank you Mark, you saved my derriere... 8-)

Thanks for the input to everyone! (including the emails!)

It would appear that the new Windows 10 upgrade releasing today, will take away the ability to stop Cortana from doing what it wants.

More alarming, is the that the standard Windows Updates will remove your ability to disable quite a few "processes" which I have currently blocked in Windows 7 & 8. No wonder folks are starting to see pop up ads from the Windows Store. (sigh)

In the process of updating the seldom used desktop with Windows 7 (a 48 hour process), suddenly that desktop now qualifies for a Windows 10 Free Update ?? AFTER July 29? Nooo... make it stop... :D

And... I just discovered (because of constant IE 11 crashes requiring me to use Task Manager to end processes), that some things are running on Windows 8.1 that should NOT be. arghhhh...

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2016, 01:45:20 AM »

Jonathan Sutton... I suspect you work in the industry... When the Heat Wave stops, and my brain is not cooked daily,,, maybe I will try to learn Linix/unix, and all that stuff... ::)

It might just be easier to pull the plug out of the wall for a bit. :o

And I have been so proud that I have learned how to write html code lately... :P

Well.. back to the BOLO oven that is my steel garage... I will prevail and be able to park at least ONE car in the 2 car garage by... October?... maybe... :-[

Claudia Killebrew · « **Reply #17 on:** July 30, 2016, 12:45:20 PM »

I want to thank everyone also. I had the same problem as Cheryl. Should I or shouldn't I? And like Cheryl, if anything can go wrong, it will for me. I just don't need the hassle.

Mark R. Smith · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2016, 08:40:37 PM »

Claudia and Cheryl when you both start feeling brave you might want to check this out

http://www.tecmint.com/best-alternative-linux-distributions-for-windows-users/

I have used computers since 1981 with my first Apple][. I done Mac OS the original. Windows was an MCP and discovered what trash is was. Then to various types of Linux. Finally back to Apple with the UNIX kernel Now running MacOS 10 beta now. Tried all the thre variations of OS and if I wasn't running Macs I would run Linux.

Cheryl Watson · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2016, 10:16:29 PM »

Unfortunately, I am poor and seriously doubt I will be able to afford a MAC.

I will keep the Linux in mind. Just too much other stuff to do right now. :)

Now, that the July 29 deadline has passed for Windows 10, and the creepy software that was installed to NAG us to death with reminders and attempts to force us to install the danged thing.

I have now gotten rid of the GWX crap to get it out of my system tray.

Go to Programs..." View Installed updates"and search for KB3035583, and remove/delete it!

I deleted this update this morning, and got rid of what I will now call the "Microsoft Freaking Spyware".

Since deleting, guess what???

I have not had the constant Internet Explorer Browser crashes, which had been forcing me to use Firefox. Makes one wonder, doesn't it??? ::) ::)

News:

Author Topic: Windows 10 Upgrade - Should I do it? (Read 1598 times)