The truth is that Windows 10

[malaise]

is great - it's a better version of Windows 7.

I love it

[DetlefK]

1. Still has too many bugs. They shouldn't have released it yet.

But on the other hand... You only find bugs if you have as many and as diverse testers as possible.

[Logical]

12. Disagree. Nt

[Nitram]

18. Agree.

[Miles Archer]

2. Yes, I've had very good luck with it.

My laptop died last July. I had Windows 8.1 on it. My feeling about that whole experience was that it was unnecessarily complicated, perhaps to create the illusion of "value."

On my birthday in July...right after the laptop died...friends gifted me with a new one. It was actually their "old one" but about as "gently used" as "gently used" gets...it looks brand new. And it had Windows 7 on it.

I went for the first Windows 10 upgrade and immediately regretted it. Things ran slower, things locked up. Immediately rolled back to 7. Then I read that they had issued a service release to address some of the issues from the initial roll-out so I went for it. Smooth sailing ever since.

"Cortana" is a little sad, though. Not as bad as "Clippy," but Siri she ain't.

[FLPanhandle]

5. The newer release saved it.

I too tried the initial version and it was horrible.

The biggest problem with Windows 10 is it tries to be both a computer and tablet operating system at the same time and fails a little at each.

However, it's miles better than Windows 8.

[malaise]

14. Well anything is better than

Windows 8.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. When I first started using Windows 10, I had doubts

for about 10 minutes. Then I became familiar with where everything was/is and I love it too.

[bullimiami]

4. I wish they would stop with all the bloated preinstalled garbage.

Its just a slicker Win 7 really but it does work.

[SmittynMo]

6. The real truth is

every movement on your PC is now recorded by Microsoft. And it has been reported to still have bugs.

2 very good reasons NOT to make the move.

Sorry... Windows 7 is rock solid, and the OS is still supported. It will be for quite some time.

[Bohemianwriter]

7. ...And Microsoft gets access to everything on your PC...

When Windows 10 comes out in full force, go for Linux. At least they respect your privacy....

An advice from a former IT worker...

[Logical]

11. Linux is not for the non it end user, too many driver issues. Nt

[hobbit709]

19. Never had a driver problem in the last few years.

There used to be a major problem with wifi drivers.

Either that, or I got lucky with versions of Mint I'm using. ALL my hardware and peripherals are recognized.

[Logical]

40. A lot of people do not really use command prompts ever. Or shells. Nt

[malaise]

13. Ah well

I'll bore them to death

[mnhtnbb]

22. When the motherboard on my laptop died in January, my IT son installed Linux Mint

on my new laptop. The one that died had Windows 7 and I had resisted installing Windows 10.

It has definitely taken some getting used to for me. He also installed a virtual machine inside running
Windows 10 just so I could continue to do our taxes on TurboTax.

He has ad blocker/privacy software on this that does drive me crazy occasionally. Most of the time
I love the fact that ads aren't following me around everywhere, but I have had to unlock some sites--
like TD Ameritrade--that wouldn't let me even get through their security questions to access accounts!

[malaise]

30. Great to have an IT son

Sounds good to me

[mnhtnbb]

35. Indeed!

[MuseRider]

8. I agree. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

9. Cant beat the price, i'll give em that.

[sofa king]

33. Yes, it's definitely worth the price.

Of course, I'm not real happy being a commodity, but I've been exploited my whole life and Microsoft is surely getting a raw deal by spying on my boring and insignificant life.

At least I don't have to give my computer the three-finger salute (Ctrl+Alt+Delete) three to five times a day like I did with Windows 95.

[Logical]

10. Me too, rolled out to 100s at my company. 1000s next year. Nt

[earthshine]

15. I don't trust Microsoft to respect my privacy.

I have concerns about the data collection, a.k.a. the user telemetry data that is gathered as a matter of course. From what I hear, right now, it's pretty harmless stuff. But as we go forward, and become deeper entrenched into Windows 10, what's to stop them from getting very personal.

Microsoft liked it so much, that last June, some of these telemetry functions were introduced into Windows 7/8/8.1 via the normal Windows updates.

Even if it's not Microsoft's idea or desire, we have seen how these big technology companies can be compelled (or in the case of AT&T, simply suggested) to spy on us and track our internet travels and communications.

The free program Spybot Anti-Beacon is enough – for now — to block the telemetry reconnaissance in Windows versions 7-10.
https://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?72686-Spybot-Anti-Beacon-for-Windows-10

When installed on a Windows 7/8/8.1 machine, the free program Never10 will stop the nagware and automatic upgrades to Windows 10.
https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

I don't see anything compelling about Windows 10.

[artyteacher]

16. yeah, its the ultimate spyware. eom

[IDemo]

17. GWX Control Panel

http://download.cnet.com/GWX-Control-Panel/3000-18513_4-76476409.html

[hobbit709]

20. I won't download anything from CNET since they started adding crapware to the downloads.

[IDemo]

21. Fair enough. I didn't actually use this tool either

Remove a Windows Update, Kill the Upgrade Notification

The notification came via a Windows Update, so why not remove the update?

Uninstalling a Windows Update is surprisingly easy, as long as you know its name. This update is called KB3035583 so we can use the command line to delete it with a single command. Begin by opening the Command Prompt with Administrator privileges (right-click the Command Prompt icon and select Run as administrator) and enter

WUSA /UNINSTALL /KB:3035583

Follow the on-screen prompts, and when complete type exit to close Command Prompt.

[Ptah]

23. Direct from the Ultimate Outsider:

http://ultimateoutsider.com/downloads/

[PSPS]

26. Here you go

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREPoliciesMicrosoftWindowsGwx
"DisableGwx"="1"

[hobbit709]

27. I never let that update install so I have no problem with it.

[bhikkhu]

24. As a long term Ubuntu user, I agree

I have to use it for work, as some of the programs I need to use won't run on Ubuntu. It works very well and the whole thing reminds me more of some of the best features Ubuntu has had for some years now. If they've been playing catch up for awhile, I'd say they've caught up enough to be a decent OS now.

I'm also fond of Edge (except for its Bing preference - which is still lousy).

Ubuntu has been rock solid and virus proof, in my experience, for the past 14 years. So far no problems with W10 except for one glitch in the browser that took about 15 minutes to find a work-around for. I think an update solved that as it hasn't recurred lately. Using it mostly for work privacy concerns are nil.

[Bradical79]

36. Ubuntu is on Windows 10 now too

Not sure if it's released yet to non-preview members, but you'll be able to have bash running on an ubuntu image that'll be packaged as a universal windows app.

[Maeve]

25. Hubby is a computer tech and would agree

His clients have had few problems with it.

[Bonx]

28. I think I like it. May just be Stockholm syndrome.

[k8conant]

29. Meh.

I much prefer El Capitan 10.11.4

I run Windows 10 on Parallels and it seems rather counter-intuitive, but does play better with OS X than previous Windows.

[awoke_in_2003]

61. I like El Capitan, too...

should Apple ever go out of business, I will go back to Linux.

[exboyfil]

31. Windows 7 until my PC dies

After that I am not sure. About six months ago I thought my PC was dead so I purchased a new one with Windows 10. The first thing I did was attempt to create a reinstall thumb drive. I followed the directions to the letter, but I was unsuccessful. I then went onto websites that outlined a page long work around procedure.

After getting my "dead" PC back to life I boxed up the new Windows 10 machine and sent it back to Amazon.

My first and only experience with Windows 10 was not promising.

Honestly I don't want all the crap. I don't have a tablet. I just want my PC for internet browsing, word, excel, and movie watching. I don't need contact lists etc or all the things companies try to force on me to help me.

[malaise]

34. I am not a big user either

We have an iPad as well but we hardly use it - it takes great photos.

[corkhead]

32. It has been a mixed bag for me but overall I give it a slightly favorable rating over 7

[OregonBlue]

37. I installed it and love it but I must admit, I'm enough of a Luddite that I also installed classic

shell so I can use the original start menu. I don't feel like learning the new one. I actually like the old one. Can anyone tell me if there is a reason I should change? Is the Windows 10 start menu better? More user friendly? because I didn't find Windows 7 start menu all that user friendly. Seemed like I had to go through more steps to find things.

[malaise]

38. These days you just find the YouTube tutorials

Even I can follow them

[OregonBlue]

44. I guess I can proably learn but I'm just wondering if there is any advantage. From what I saw when I

installed 7 and then 10, the start menus were more complicated and less useful, not more. There seemed to be more steps to get to where I wanted to go.

[lagomorph777]

39. But Windows 7 is a crappy version of XP

I have finally (after many years) ditched my PC altogether in favor of a tablet. And I'm not just an e-mailer/surfer - the tablet is a serious creative work platform for me. It does everything the PC did for me, only better!

[OregonBlue]

45. I agree. XP was so stable and so great. They took a great thing and made it worse.

I guess it was too hard to track our every move with XP.

[fizzgig]

59. the husband had to pry xp out of my hands

he upgraded my laptop to 7 when they dropped xp support but i made him block the automatic 10 installation those assholes set up.

[OregonBlue]

65. Very similar experience here. My grandkids shamed me into upgrading.

[malaise]

60. XP was lovely indeed

but I had no problems with Windows 7. I'm no expert on these systems.

[underpants]

41. Can ANYONE tell how to keep the numbers lock ON?

When I log off at work it turns off.

[Egnever]

43. That is a setting in the bios

different bios have it in different places or I would tell you how to change it.

[Waldorf]

42. I'm still sticking with Windows 7. I'm a gamer and will stay with it until games start requiring

the newer windows.

[teamster633]

48. DirectX 12 is only on Windows 10.

Haven't seen any games that run it yet but my GTX 980ti is ready when they are.

[bluedigger]

46. Now that my screen sizes itself correctly I'm feeling better about it.

It finally fixed itself last week. Before that I had to go readjust it every time I turned it on. Have they fixed the "sleep" command too?

[malaise]

47. I don't know

Will check

[Ron Obvious]

49. I like it better than Windows 8, that's for sure

As I did with Win8, I installed startisback and gadgets to restore the appearance of Windows 7 and it works very well now. With Win8, I'd still get that hideous Metro interface peeking through from time to time when I inadvertently hit a certain key combination, but that's gone now too, so there's a lot less swearing and cursing in our household.

As with 8, there are a lot of small improvements to the interface, such as e.g. the File Copy dialog which are really massive improvements but don't get much press. Apparently the bash shell will be included in a future release as well, so I'll be able to get rid of cygwin.

[malaise]

50. Who doesn't

Windows 8 was awful

[Scootaloo]

51. I'm running Vista.

Kinda makes me miss the BASIC my old C64 used...

[Adrahil]

52. I agree. Very pleased with it. NT

[napkinz]

53. hi malaise

First off, I'm not the most computer literate. So I don't understand much of the jargon/lingo that members use when talking about computers, Windows, etc.

Second, I have 8.1 and I get a message every day asking me to upgrade to Windows 10. But I've been holding off because I've been reading threads like the following since last year warning AGAINST upgrading to Windows 10:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027675650

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027683065

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027583839

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027302162

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027311880

So I have no idea if I should upgrade. I look up to our knowledgeable DU members, but there is no consensus; we have so many computer savvy members who -- if you read all the replies to the above threads -- don't agree on whether one should upgrade to 10 or stick with 8.1.

I'm soooooooo confused as to what to do.

[malaise]

54. I waited until they gave me a date

I too held out given threads like those, but they gave me a date so I upgraded and am very happy.

[napkinz]

55. I used to get notices just asking me to upgrade; now I get notices saying they want to

schedule an upgrade on a particular date. And I keep declining because I just don't know what to do. Some members say Windows 10 is a disaster and it's better to stay with 8.1; others say it's turned out just wonderful for them. And they all seem so knowledgeable; they are the experts and they disagree, so I don't know whose advice to take.

I wonder how much longer I have before I lose the opportunity to make a decision. And then will I regret whichever decision I went with?

[malaise]

56. All I can say is I like it

It's working fine - true some folks have issues with privacy.

I don't think we have any privacy any where

[napkinz]

57. I wonder why it works so well for some and not for others

Oh well, I'll just keep on putting it off for now. As they say, why do today what I can put off until tomorrow

[LiberalElite]

70. I'm in a similar situation - current computer runs on 7 eom

[DavidDvorkin]

58. Agreed

I just updated my laptop and desktop, and I'm very pleased.

[Rex]

62. When it likes the hardware soup in a PC, it works great. Very slick.

I've complained about it. However they did fix their Windows 8 mistake and give 10 away for free as an apology.

[malaise]

66. Guess I'm lucky then

Love your gifs

[Cresent City Kid]

63. It would be interesting to look into it but..

At home all my computers are XP and the free upgrade offered to Windows 7 users is not available. At work we have this corporate created program that runs everything like it has done since Windows 95 when they created it. Instead of building something more modern they have just patched it along with every new version. If we weren't still using it, we could put it in a programming museum next to a Pong machine. It was impressive in its day, running an entire print shop including the art, accounting, shipping and everything. In my spare time using web code, xml, javascript and incorporating Adobe Creative Suite I manage to create a modern system that does all the same things, and would probably prevent the office hysteria when someone's computer accidentally updates to Windows 10.

[malaise]

67. You're an expert

with way more needs

[moondust]

64. I wish they'd fix their older stuff.

Windows Update, for example, often sits and does nothing for hours and hours and the complaints about it date back years. Gates can certainly afford to hire competence but he's been a big promoter of cheap offshore labor and H1Bs.

[davidpdx]

68. Interesting

I have been putting off installing it and heard so many bad things. I was hoping that the longer I waited maybe some of the flaws would have gotten worked out. First I was going to wait and install it last fall and never got around to it because work was keeping me busy. Now I've got no excuse as I'm not really busy, but I think I want to do a complete back up first onto two of my external drives before I go through with it. Apparently you have up to 90 days to go back.

[malaise]

69. I ran out of time and now ask myself

why i waited so long given that this laptop came with W8 which was the worst system ever.

[krawhitham]

71. Win 10 installed as an upgrade is not so good but installed as a "Clean Install" it is great

You can turn the spying shit off
https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10


You run into more problems and bugs if you upgrade to Windows 10 (from 7, 8, or 8.1) VS doing a Clean Install. I do not know why but you do

Clean Install without 1st updating info
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/23354-clean-install-windows-10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first.html

By default to get the free Windows 10 offer, you would normally need to upgrade to Windows 10 on your activated Window 7 or Windows 8.1 PC to register the activation of Windows 10 for your PC on Microsoft's activation servers. Afterwards, you would be able to clean install Windows 10 on the PC anytime, and have Windows 10 automatically activated.

This tutorial will show you how to directly clean install Windows 10 on your activated Window 7 or Windows 8.1 PC without having to upgrade first, and have Windows 10 legally activated afterwards.

http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/23354-clean-install-windows-10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first.html

[malaise]

72. Thanks