So... what's up with this Windows 10 thing?
- Thread starter bhamv3
- Start date
figmentPez
Staff member
In all cases I know of, jumping a version requires a clean installation. Going from Vista to 8, XP to 7+, 98 to Vista+, etc. all require a clean install (which means a clean drive).
So, this time, presumably if you're running Windows 7 or earlier, you'll need to format your drive in order to install Windows 10.
EDIT: Some googling around on the subject seems to imply that Windows 7 may be the first exception, and can upgrade to Windows 10 directly. I don't know for certain though.
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Pez, you're... kinda far off: Chain of fools : Upgrading through every version of Windows: That's from 1.0 up to XP through VMware. This guy kinda "Started" this weird trend
Upgrading From Windows 1.0 to Windows 8 On Actual Hardware: And that's from 1.0 to windows 8 now on what looks like from the images an Asus Eee PC.
So your statement that it requires a clean installation is just not correct. Is it BEST/safest to go clean? Probably, for a few reasons, but it's actually supported to upgrade from the beginning.
X
Why?
Based on the number of Windows machines out there virtually no one was using windows media center, heck it hadn't been updated in at least five years. The few people who did are the very definition of a vocal minority.
They didn't skip versions though. They upgraded through each one. I think what pez is referring to is upgrading without buying the versions in between.
figmentPez
Staff member
I don't know how they're handling the keys, but the articles I saw said you'll have to perform the upgrade first, then wipe and do the clean install.
GasBandit
Staff member
That's what I've read as well. You have to do the "upgrade" install first, then it will let you do a clean install on the same device "any time."
My windows 7 desktop works fine for everything I do and I actually don't mind windows 8.1 on my surface pro (might be the interface is just well-suited to a touch screen). Really not seeing a point to upgrading until PC arcitecture changes to something other than 64-bit. At least until my next computer build, which may not be too far away since I've had my current for about 4 or 5 years now. Is it at all likely for software developers to stop making their programs compatible with Win7 in the near future?
Possibly? Official end-of-support date for Win7 was in January of this year. Microsoft is now only providing security updates, nothing else, until the end of "extended support" which will be in another four and a half years. That's the point where Microsoft officially abandons the OS unless you have one of those extremely pricey extended extended support contracts. Developers will be watching to see what Microsoft does and what users do before completely abandoning any OS, but developing for obsolete OSes gets harder and harder as the developer tools and environments get newer.
--Patrick
You've got three days left to tell us whether to DOOOOO EEEETTTT or to run away screaming. Spill it.
Wait wait wait, is there an upcoming deadline for the free upgrade?
No. Just pointing out that it releases on Wednesday and there is still time to warn the early adopters away if necessary.
If you have an eligible PC for the Win 10 upgrade, I think I saw it'll be a free upgrade for a year, so you don't have to go to it right away if you do not want to.
I plan on going to it on my home PC as soon as I can - I work in IT support for our remote users so that'll be the only way I can get Win 10 access for a while (corp is on Win 7 without an EA for desktop OS).
I plan on going to it on my home PC as soon as I can - I work in IT support for our remote users so that'll be the only way I can get Win 10 access for a while (corp is on Win 7 without an EA for desktop OS).
I've tried it out in a VM and that seems fine. I'll try it out on my PC in my living room for running steam streaming to, and a few light things, and take my desktop to it within a week or two if all seems fine.
Really, it's a good opportunity to do a good backup to an external drive. New OS versions is a good reminder to actually DO that every so often!
Really, it's a good opportunity to do a good backup to an external drive. New OS versions is a good reminder to actually DO that every so often!
So I've never done a drive wipe/format in order to install a new version of Windows. From what I'm hearing, I won't have to worry here? That I can just install it and it'll keep everything I currently have on my drive(s)?
GasBandit
Staff member
From what I've read, you have the option to do it either way - either "install over-top" or "wipe and install."
And why is that a surprise? I'm actually expecting and WANTING that, to at least give their apps a shot, before defaulting back to my normal applications again. But I'll at least give the new ones a fair shake.
I didn't say it was a surprise. just a hiccup to my personal experience, and a caution to those who haven't gotten that far yet.
A clean install on the laptop is overdue. Hell, I've never done one on the 7 Ultimate drive (I'd swap out with a different HD for running linux. No dual boots.).
Express settings in the past have just been about update and security settings. So, it can be a bit of a surprise to a lot of people. Resetting all of those defaults can be a pain in the button.
We just upgraded Cranky's main computer (Built Mar2007*) from XP to Win8.1 yesterday. We were (well, I was) worried it might be too old to handle Win8.x but everything seems to be coming along nicely. We'll save WinX for the new computer we're going to build him next month once the CPU I have planned for it is finally released.
--Patrick
--Patrick
MLB: DFI CFX3200-M2/G
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+
GPU: Radeon HD 6950
HDD: 1.0TB SATA Hitachi (ATA mode)
RAM: 3GB crappy DDR2 RAM (needs replacement, keeps not getting recognized)
We have a newer 5600+ CPU we're going to be installing, and we're going to be replacing the RAM with either 4GB (2x2) or 8GB (4x2) soon, we might replace the 1TB HDD also with a SATA SSD or SSHD if it looks like we can get one for a deal AND if I can keep him from reinstalling everything on the old HDD long enough, but that's not a priority.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+
GPU: Radeon HD 6950
HDD: 1.0TB SATA Hitachi (ATA mode)
RAM: 3GB crappy DDR2 RAM (needs replacement, keeps not getting recognized)
We have a newer 5600+ CPU we're going to be installing, and we're going to be replacing the RAM with either 4GB (2x2) or 8GB (4x2) soon, we might replace the 1TB HDD also with a SATA SSD or SSHD if it looks like we can get one for a deal AND if I can keep him from reinstalling everything on the old HDD long enough, but that's not a priority.
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