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The final days have come! At least that is the feeling users of older Windows version get when they see the Windows 10 countdown. With a little flair for the dramatic, Microsoft uses it to signal that the free Windows 10 upgrade will soon be history. But the question is: Who's really running out of time here since many users (including many of you!) vehemently refuse to upgrade - often with good reason? Maybe the "anniversary update" is reason enough to upgrade at the last minute?
Nothing tastes good if it's force fed
The release of Windows 10 caused a huge uproar and your comments in this blog, among other things, hinted at the various issues that came with it. In early spring, Microsoft disgruntled their user base by having Windows PCs download the upgrade automatically in the background by masking it as an automatic update. Since then, things have quieted down again. Whether this was due to resignation or late insight that this was an inadvisable course of action I cannot say. Today's situation: A meager 360 million devices (includes PCs, tables, cell phones and gaming consoles) are running the new Windows, that figure is way below initial expectations (Microsoft was originally aiming for 1 billion devices). On top of that, there are now a number of programs designed to prevent the installation of Windows 10 at all cost - yes, users were that desperate!
Your horoscope for today: black screen
Many issues still persist and Microsoft isn't solely to blame for that. Various hardware manufacturers have so far been unwilling to update their drivers to comply with Windows 10. This forces many users to either stick to Windows 7 / 8 or buy new hardware. For many older devices (especially notebooks), this is simply not possible or economical. Many programs (including professional applications) are also still incompatible with Windows 10, a core reason why many businesses and government institutions have not made the switch. So the question is no only whether you're willing to upgrade but whether you actually can! The system analysis tool provided by Microsoft proved to be as reliable as a horoscope or a fortune cookie. It essentially comes down to a trial and error approach if you're willing. That wouldn't be so bad if you could easily revert back to your previous system but there have been numerous issues reported concerning the rollback mechanism. Users that didn't perform a system backup prior to their installation attempts where left in the rain with a non-functional system.
The privacy policy hurdle
Aside from the aforementioned issues, the new privacy policy made for emotional discussions. New features such as Cortana led to Windows "phoning home" a lot more, sharing user and privacy-related data with Microsoft. The company must have heard the outcries yet has done very little to sway skeptics. More options for better privacy would have been a surefire hit. Windows 10 itself isn't all that bad (it's been running smoothly for many users) but Microsoft had more than a year to iron out the kinks. Maybe this would have persuaded some users to overlook the missing Media Center, the occasionally annoying Windows Defender or the modified handling. And this time, users cannot simply skip this iteration of Windows since there will be no successor version in the foreseeable future and support for Windows 7 will end in 2020. A three year deadline that many older PCs won't survive anyway, so why switch at all?
Happy birthday!
Microsoft congratulates itself and promises to deliver a big update. We don't know all the details yet but here's what we know so far:
Visuals:
Windows now features a dark skin with bright letters. It looks cool and reminds me of the ill-fated Windows Phone. The start menu has once again seen changes with the list of apps being featured more prominently and slightly shrunken shut down, restart and log off controls. A few fonts have also been modified to make everything appear cleaner. There are now additional settings for more fine-grained control over the look and feel of Windows. Users can apply color accents to individual interface elements such as the window bar instead of the entire window, task bar, start menu or action center.
Features:
Finally, Windows no longer shuts down uncontrollably after updates. This will save you nerves and high-pitched screams. You can now specify an operating time during which the system won't be automatically restarted. A little less patronizing, feels good! If you have the desire and the equipment (digital pen), you can now also paint and write on the screen to your heart's delight. Microsoft has greatly improved support for their Ink technology allowing you to create hand-written notes and paintings in a dedicated working space with ease. The task bar will receive additional features to display action center notifications and the number of pending messages. Once you click the date, you will not only see the traditional calendar but also all scheduled appointments for the day. Notification settings now include the message type (email, Twitter etc.) to filter out unwanted notifications. Nice!
Another enhancement gives me cause for concern: Windows Defender. In the past and even when deactivated, Microsoft's gate keeper service often collided with Kaspersky and other security suites. Now, it is supposed to turn itself on at regular intervals and scan your machine for malware even when other antivirus software is present and active. Time will tell whether this will contribute to more protection or trouble. At least Defender will now be able to launch Windows in a dedicated repair environment to scan for malware more effectively. We'll see.
If you like Messenger, you'll like the new emojis. What leaves me cold may send some users into a frenzy. Cortan a will also be more versatile. If you like talking to your PC, you'll now be able to use her as a DJ, have her search through all of your documents or tell you what's happening on your Windows Phone (if you happen to have one). She will also listen to voice commands on the lock screen - that might irritate a few privacy groups since the system is supposed to be locked. Microsoft Edge will finally be able to do what other browser have been able to do since 2010 - support extensions such as ad blockers or password managers. Welcome to the new decade!
Programs that act up can now be reset to their original post-installation states. That sounds a lot like Android and may turn out to be quite useful. Shame: This only works with Windows Store apps. Another feature known from other systems that has finally arrived on Windows 10: You can now see a detailed view of all past program updates from the Windows Store. Nobody can tell why that feature was missing but now it's coming. Are you a developer? Then and only then will you love the integrated Bash (Bourne-again shell) that has been around on Unix and Linux computers for ages. Microsoft appreciates their nerds!
That and a lot more is in store for you. Convinced? Who of you will upgrade to Windows 10 in the final days of the countdown?
I upgraded my 3 PC's to WIN 10. And wow, is that ever the worst interface and the worst functioning piece of rubbish I've ever seen. When I say "upgraded" I mean: backed up my OS, upgraded, backed up WIN10 and restored my old OS after 5 minutes0.
Of course, being a useless piece of rubbish, I couldn't restore my old OS as the programme didn't work, I had to reverse WIN 10 then restore (based on a certainty the WIN 10 restore would destroy my system).
In my main PC I reinstalled WIN 7 and drivers only, new, pristine, it took WIN10 over 6 hours to upgrade. The fastest i7 chip on the market & 32GB of Hyper X gaming RAM. My two i5 fully loaded with programmes PC's upgraded in 2 hours. That told me something about the quality of WIN10's upgrade system.
As I commented to Microdumb, the WIN OS has needed a complete re-write since WIN 3.1but they chose to try to hide it's failures with patches and fixes finally reaching the stage of hiding settings in a convoluted fashion in Vista which they kept increasing every WIN itteration after. WIN10 is the pinacle, an attempt to totally disorientate the user, further hide and complicate settings and kill programmes it can't handle. The result is WIN10 has finally achieved: "Not even for free" status.
Mind you I will be missing out on Cortana. Who needs an anti-virus programme when the OS comes pre-installed with spyware. (Not to mention the EULA which allows Microdumb to record eveything you do on the PC right down to key stokes and mouse positions. Sure, you can delude yourself into thinking you've turned it off in settings but the EULA allows them to take the information whether you turn it off or not and apparently tests show, they do.)
Thank you for an excellent blog. I am writing this on my i7 laptop that came with WIN8. I never achieved the laptop's speed until I ditched WIN8.1 and installed WIN7. I installed WIN 10 on my older i5 laptop that came with WIN7. I have had the same problems with WIN10 upgrades that i had with WIN8.1. The 'free' WIN10 upgrade included 6 GB of downloads before WIN10 was even downloaded. I have had 11 downloads of KB3149135, 13 of KB3162593, and so on. Weather app is not integrated with my other settings like temperature. It just looks like a mess. I am not going to update my i7 laptop to WIN10 ever. I do not expect WIN10 to be stable enough for at least another year when the i7 laptop will be 5 years old. I lost 18 months of use with WIN8/8.1. Maybe the WIN8 problems are the manufacturer's fault. I do not know. I do know I have the full speed of the SSD/HD installation with WIN7 on my i7 laptop. I am wondering whether to revert to WIN7 with the i5 laptop or just leave it as it is. I hardly use it now. I may even dump Windows and install Linux.
Hi Sven,
An error in my comment, (due to a client interruption)
"I have three computers, one desktop and two lap-tops running Windows 10."
Please change Windows 10 to Windows 7.
Thank you :)
You´re welcome. :)
As a Microsoft Insider I have been running Win7 and Win10 side by side for over a year. Win7 is reliable and does most things that my company needs, including running older Apps (whatever happened to the word "programmes"?). Win10 addresses some of the security and other issues but is more like an "eye candy" version aimed at the "younger viewers" groomed on Mobile technology.
For me, as a developer, the loss of control over MY computer and privacy are major concerns. Microsoft has decided that Microsoft will decide what -is and is not- good/available to me. When win7 came out, my company lost the ability to search within daily Report/Log files for specific text strings. That was because Microsoft decided that they would only index/search within Office and TXT files. We had to create all sorts of workarounds to copy/rename files in Batches just to achieve something that had previously worked in Windows. Likewise, Win10 has removed many existing working processes. If anyone can give me a logical reason why Freecell (and other such persuits) should no longer be supported I will be amazed ! Perhaps there was a perceived threat from users playing Freecell in their lunch breaks ?
And so there will always be a thriving "Aftermarket" of products to replace/fix those things that Microsoft deem to be no longer important.
And so, I will continue to use Win7 daily whilst I keep a watching brief on Win10 in the hope that I will, once more, be given the opportunity to make my OWN decisions on what goes into MY PC.
As a final passing shot - I am SO SO grateful that someone actually killed off those WIN8 "Charms" that we Insiders told MS were just a high tech nonsense...amen
I have a motor car, born a decade ago, well-maintained in pristine condition, low-cost self-servicing and none of the new-fangled bells and whistles on current vehicles which I do not require. It perfectly satisfies my every requirements.
I have three computers, one desktop and two lap-tops running Windows 7.
As with the motor car there is not one sensible reason to upgrade to the ugliness of Windows 10, and unwanted problems have increased with several of my clients upgrading to Windows 10.
I moved to Windows 10 not long after it was available. Generally speaking, I have been very happy with it. There are a couple of things however, which are annoying.
1. I use "File History" to keep a current backup of my data. Whilst the frequency of taking these backups can be controlled, whenever it starts, all other running apps on the PC stall, and stay that way until the backup is done (some minutes sometime). This is infuriating.
2. Microsoft Edge is a reasonably well-functioned browser. But for whatever reasons, there are a number of capabilities that are missing as compared to IE. There are a number of sites which I access that have add-ons to complete certain functions on-line, which will not work at all with Edge. I have to go back to IE to access these sites to run their functionality.
3. I have a Dell printer, which works well with Windows 10 except for one major functional discrepancy. My printer can print (and scan) double-sided documents. However, nobody (i.e. Microsoft or Dell) have provided a new driver that will allow this to happen. I cannot print double-sided documents without a number of errors occurring. Instead, I have to print page 1,3,5 etc. and then reinsert the paper to print pages 2,4,6 on the back.
I upgraded on the desktop & had some hardware problems. I will not upgrade on my older Laptop because I would loose things that I do not want to
loose. I would not recommend updating. Keep your old hardware & software. If you want windows 10 buy new hardware & software.
I like free stuff so I upgraded to Windows 10 as soon as it was available. Both my desktop and laptop have worked well with the new system. I have no complaints.
I am a retired IT guy (IBM/Lotus Notes admin) I do a lot of gaming now. I have 2 PCs. One is a 3 year old AMD system (4core/16gb RAM, 7 series AMD gpu) and another pc that is about 8mos. old. The first system upgraded to Win10 Pro, w/no issues. The second system, not so much. When the upgrade finally finished, I found I had no internet connectivity. The MS "troubleshooter" is still pretty much useless. But, it appeared to be an issue w/drivers for both the Gigabit LAN adapter and the wireless adapter. Both by Realtek. So, I rolled it back to Win7. Got inet connectivity back and went looking for drivers. When I found them on Realtek's web site, I downloaded and then tried to go back to Win10. No such luck, it is now stuck on trying to upgrade to 10. So, I'm thinking of replacing the SATAIII drive with a Crucial 1tb SSD drive and buying a copy of Win10 Pro 64bit, retail version and start fresh. We'll see how that goes.....
w 10 ainda esta engatinhando horrível tem que melhorar muito
Bill Gates and techies are locked into primitive concepts such as 'Planned Obsolescence'; Sooo slow for what's happening in the Cosmos of Reality. Their narcissism leaves them smothering in their own swamp of Mass Mindlessness. Let them Drown, for they surely will. My next technology will be Apple !!! Bye, bye !!!!!!!
" Users can apply color accents to individual interface elements such as the window bar instead of the entire window, task bar, start menu or action center."
How do you do the above? i detest the stark white screens we now have.
I will tell you, once I get hold of a version that has this feature enabled. Until now, I’ve only seen announcements and nice screenshots touting it. I trust that Microsoft will include this feature in their coming update.
I upgraded from Windows 7 last month and had no problems until earlier this month. The first (and second) time when I opened my computer the screen picture had changed to the Windows 10 picture; the toolbars on the screen were double in size and now had half the number. Same with the taskbar. All favorites were gone. I was able to reset back to an earlier date but having to do this time after time is something I can't live with.
Windows 10 is good, but it take's a lot off getting use to.
There are things on Windows 10 that you can't find (well I can't find) but with Windows 7 they were you could see them or at least you could find them.
Barry
I tried a final time to take the upgrade on Monday 25/7
to see if I could get anywhere with the present version of w10. as expected I drew a blank again.
My computer is a high-end Surface pro 3 with win 8.1 - I use it every day and I work it hard!
Editing my huge classical music with Media Monkey.
Keeping several spreadsheets up to date.
Reading online newsprint.
Keeping archives of news up to date.
Editing my travel photographs - We visit a dozen or so European cities every year and that entails lots of work.
Reading newsfeeds and keeping up to date with friends.
All with music playing.....
Just a few of my activities.
I have to have the Chrome browser with lots of extensions etc without which I'm lost.
I can't afford to take two weeks off just to see if this new OS really suits my machine.
On Tuesday afternoon I decided to rollback to 8.1
I just don't need the aggro of wasting my time on 10
I'll gladly buy a copy next year so that I can set up a dual boot system with a version of 10 that is hopefully workable by then.
Perhaps buying a mid range laptop with native 10 might help - who knows?
Best wishes to all
Dave Jackson
Krakow, Poland
The forced upgrades have degraded the usefulness of Windows substantially. One of the upgrades has caused my PC to go to a black screen erratically after the screensaver operates. Microsoft hasn't provided a cure and it is agonizing to reboot several times a day. Very fascist.
I waited 360 days to upgrade my Core 2 Duo, 2GB, Windows 7 notebook to Windows 10. I was afraid it would be slower, and already knew that Office 2003 and 2007 would stop working. Neither of these happened. It actually feels faster than my Core i5, 4GB desktop, and both older versions of Office can be used normally. Could the latter be due of the 31-day "regret period" during which one can roll back to the previous version of Windows? I'll discover it some day. Anyway, as Office 360 allows for 5 computers per license, I'm covered.
I have Windows 10 on another machine and do not wish to change this one, particularly being forced so to do. I also still prefer XP, which runs various programs which will not run on 7, and presumably not on 10. Why? Simple programs that o not have any alternative for 'better' machines.
I did the upgrade from windows 8.1 to windows10 all was OK but my keyboard and mouse would not work I had to replace them.
I had an old scanner made by Agfa which went bankrupt mamy many years ago. Every time a new Windows version came upon us I feared the worst. This finally happned with 10. I bought a new one. These days they are hard to get and guess what I long for the Agfa.
I upgraded to a new laptop after my desktop died and got Windows 10 automaticatlly. It worked ok but I had to get my tech service support to reinstall the security suite I had. They had a lot of fun doing so but got it to work. Things went better after the first big upgrade.
Currently, 10 is running smoothly and I am not using Windows Defender. The AV I have works well. I have also added a "Pro" maintenance suite containing a malware fighter. That also works well.
What I do not have and do not want is Cortana - she was a nag. Hopefully, with the new and improved coming, I will be able to leave Defender and Cortana out of service. That would suit me fine.
"Cortana is a nag" would make a great slogan printed on a shirt. :)
I am one of the few(?) who has had no problems with W10. I like it although I had no problem with 8.1 also.
Luckily, more than a few users have experienced no issues with Windows 10. It’s not a bad system per se. Much of the criticism brought up stems from comments and mails posted by our blog readers. Maybe this feedback also explains why upgrade numbers have fallen short of Microsoft’s expectations.
Man Man Man, I'm having trouble big time. I upgraded to Slideshow 4 because #3 would not upload the music from my pc. Now #4 upload the music, but all the music play at the same time. I tried stretching the music on the timeline . now I can't get back to slide #1 I have to finish this project today. I've been at this for 3 days.
Strange indeed! Please contact our support at support@ashampoo.com . I’m certain, they’ll be able to help you.