If I decided to upgrade to W10, can I delete it just as easy as doing the upgrade?

shaddy101

It gives you the option to easily revert to your previous version of Windows. The option is available for a month.

I'm not saying that would necessary be good enough for me, I'd probably do an image before upgrading but maybe I'm being overly cautious. Also, by doing an image, my ability to revert wouldn't be limited to a month. It might take me a month and a day to figure out I don't like it. :)

No image here. I took a thumb drive and loaded my important data; financial, documents, and pictures. After that I let her go to it.

DA

I am with DA, Drop Box and away.

Well, fellas, I really don't have anything "important" on my machine, I can put what I do have on the XHD's I have, or thumbs, but how to move scads of stuff, I used to know, have forgotten, as I don't do this often. Still I wonder, is it really worth it? Will W7 be able to be used say til W11 or whatever comes after 10?

Shaddy if you are unsure about upgrading, I would not upgrade. It is very different, stay with what you know.

From what I have read there will be be no new versions. W 10 will forever be there, just always updated over and over. I take care of my computer if something goes wrong, but do drop in for a visit with the local repair man occasionally and as I said in the earlier post, he said there is not enough benefit for upgrading to 10. He thinks somewhere in the future MS will start charging for the upgrades/hardware and I can understand that. The thing I didn't agree with is...."all of a sudden your W 7 or older will quit working because of something they do that will make them unusable, forcing us to buy new computers". I don't see how they can do that, I think people would really raise H*** if they found out. It would have to be done in an update. I am one of those "stupid, ignorant people who don't have enough sense to update and protect themselves". The terminology there was from techs in the 10 preview forums who are happy with the forced updating.

Wanted to add, someone said they did not like the pc to boot to the start menu with tiles. I solved that problem by googling and found instructions to open IE, go to internet options and I don't remember which tab that lets you change that through a change in IE settings.

Emma, I am tending to agree with you, and will take W7 as far as I can, and when I can't anymore, guess I will just give up the ghost. Perhaps will be in the old folks home, so it isn't gonna matter to me anyway? Ya think? I love being connected to people around the world, but sometime in the future that will get old, there is always something new coming along as I see it, at least now, these kids today want it all, and they are going to have it!

I will just go along for the ride til it gets too bumpy, and then probably call it quits, I don' t plan on living forever anyway.

shaddy, you aren't alone. I'm still on XP and will hang on until it doesn't work anymore. My hubby is 84 and we bought him a Win 8 for his birthday two years ago. It sat on the shelf for the two years collecting dust. He gave it a quick try and didn't go any further.

Now I dusted it off and am trying to learn it and really not liking it at all. But I will let it update when the time comes and will spend endless hours trying to navigate my way around it just 'in case.'

My husband has decided he will not try to learn the new OS. He has learned enough about navigating Win 7 to do his photo work and will not update. He can work Adobe Photo Shop on Win 7. He can get his email. He wont try anything else. He calls me to do any maintenance or updating.

We both struggled learning Win 7. I let him use it and I still use XP. I take care of any problems he runs into. We will not update his Win 7 machine. He just hopes his software will continue to work. He can't get his printer to work with Win 7 so he copies his pics on a thumb drive and plugs it into the XP machine and his printer prints. Neither of us has the energy to figure out why his printer won't print with Win 7.

As one gets older, learning such complicated things gets harder and harder. Part of it is attention span and focus. Whatever, it is not pleasant to have to learn something so different just to do the simple things you did for many years. My hubby doesn't have a smart phone nor wants one. He doesn't text and could care less.

Hang in there and I would suggest to do what we are doing. Don't upgrade!

Jane

So kind of you to write and let me know there are others out there that are not that influenced by the computer. As I said, love that I can contact people, but good Lord, I contacted people before the computer ever entered this world, and as your hubs, I have a trac phone, just calls and receives, all I care about. Don't need the pic, texting or some of those other functions. I believe because we grew up in a world where we did what we had to do, without the use of these devices, that we can survive and still come out on top. You at least are somewhat of a geek, reading your note, and while I am not, I do have a geek that I use from time to time, just in case I do goof something up, and it has been known to happen!

I will not be taking my computer to my grave, nor anywhere else, when I am done here so will my computer be done. Nothing I worry about. Let the young folks if they can, pick up the standard and carry on! We are not alone, and tho there are others out there that want to be superior, and do believe that they are working harder at trying to act superior. I will survive nicely with or without W10.

Shaddy-- I am certainly no expert on free upgrades, but no one has mentioned the Windows Smart Phone subject. I happen to have one because I'm cheap and was able to get one for ~$40. I didn't even realize it was different. Most smart phones are either Apple phones or Android phones. Microsoft wanted into that market with its own operating system, but it didn't really take off. Those adds last year with the talking phone voice 'Cortana' that made fun of 'siri', were Windows Phone adds. If more people were using Win 10 that also uses Cortana for voice computer control, they would then be ready to get a Windows Phone too.

Phones do not interest me, I know, I know, they are the way of the future, but I am not gonna be here forever, as the young ones are, so I try and keep my life as simple as possible, learning all those gizmos etc., take too much of my brain power. Older adults with ADHD have a difficult time, and I am one of those. When I was younger, I had no clue what my problem was seemed like every time I turned around sumpin was awry one way or another. Well, took me a long time to figger out, thru reading etc., that I had ADD, and I took time to learn to channel things and try to focus harder. Old age makes it harder for that right now, so keeping simple for me is the best. appreciate your words, and interest in responding. I hope all works out for you.

shaddy: I was not suggesting that you needed a smart phone. I was only specifically answering your direct question (and post title) about why Microsoft might give a Free upgrade and expect to gain from it; rather than it being some sort of fraud.

I'm sorry that so many of you are uncomfortable with later Windows versions than you're accustomed to using. Can I suggest you might consider looking at different Windows versions with a different perspective.

The average PC user spends almost no time "using" the operating system. The features, tools, techniques of Windows from version to version have been pretty similar. Starting a program? Other than the tile format of Win8 (which was easily removed), it's been the same for 15 years or more. Moving files, installing programs? The same paradigms.

Win 7 is almost identical to XP. Admittedly, I remember experiencing some setup changes under the hood (like installing networking and sharing) but many of these are one-time tasks easily done by following instructions. No one except a tech would have need to "learn" them. What were some of the things you've found difficult about using it?

What you use are apps - browsers, word processors, spreadsheets, specific programs (like Quicken), etc. The programs and apps don't vary with what operating system you put them on, although they (like MS with Windows) do come out with new versions over time. It's how they improve features AND stay in business .

As with so many things, a new version may change how a particular task is done, but in the end you're doing the same thing. To me, if you can do the same thing, it may be slightly different, but that's not a change. It's no different than getting a new car and the radio volume button is in a different location. Or the headlight switch is on the steering column instead of the dashboard. These are changes everyone can easily adapt to.

Try it.

I have bought every new OS that came out since 1996 and gave my computer to a family member. I enjoyed learning it, I bought a laptop with W 8 To see if it was as bad as everyone said......it was, MS even admitted they made a mistake. I worked with 8.1 a couple of months and it is not a problem for me, I just don't like it and why upgrade if you like what you have and it still works. When my W 7 desktop fails I will get another windows PC. I won't have a choice, I don't want apple and I don't know what else is out there.

I personally got rid of the tile interface of W8 on Day 1 by using Classic Shell but there are many alternatives.

With the small and easy to do change, I find it nearly identical to Win 7 with only a few minor and obvious differences. Since I spend so little time doing OS stuff, I rarely encounter those differences. Sounds like you have a different view, that's okay with me.

Snidley how did you get rid of the interface?

I used classic shell until I started prepping the laptop for W 10. I did not install anything that was not necessary until I upgraded it. I have classic shell on it now with W8.1. I did not put it on while prepping, I worked 2 months at really learning it while I waited. My opinion of it is, it's amazing, that such a large company, the company who put a computer in every home could make that kind of decision.

is a person able to "see" what the n W10 "looks" like, ie, the icons etc., before installing it? also will a person be able to "change" the icons if you don't care for them, with something like Classic Shell, I think I used that once, to be comfy while getting used to the new download?

I know you younger folks don't think 2X about something being as Snidely wrote, how "using" the computer would actually be no different? is that what I got from his first reply here of late?

That may be, young man, but let me tell you for one who is always skeered of doing the wrong thing, and having different icons, andplaces to go to get to where you want to go, it is enuf to drive one crazy. I would love to at least just toy with it before I download it to my machine, maybe I can talk someone into doing the deed on their machine, and then they might let me take a look, before i try mine for a month? I cannot describe how overwhelming something one has no control over taking over your life, and trying to deal with it BY YOURSELF! Even when you are sick, nurse, doc, aide, someone anyway is around to help cheer you on.

shaddy, I can understand being cautious if you feel like you're on your own to sort through PC stuff. If that's truly the case, the best suggestion for you is to stop puttering with settings, downloads, adjustments, etc., after your PC has been set up. Other than app updates, there should be no reason to touch anything further. I would especially avoid the Windows 10 upgrade if I were you.

If your PC is functioning, leave it alone. I don't suspect you approach your car once a week with a screwdriver and a wrench, open the hood and turn adjustments you find. You should take the same approach with your PC. If it's running well, make no changes, take a hands-off approach. Problems that arise should NEVER be the consequence of something you did.

Thanks for calling me young man - I'm within shouting distance of Social Security age, but I won't discourage you!

Thanks for the encouragement, I TRY not to fiddle with stuff, that Acrobat Flash Player a bit back got me upset, but daily stuff is good, the info you have given is clear and concise. Thank you kindly for that. I have been retired a few years already, and know before I retired, I never gave much thought to being afraid of anything, now, tho the elephant in the room gets larger as time goes by. I have learned so much from this discussion, thank you all for your kindness and PATIENCE as well. Anyone younger than me is either a young man, or a young lady, I visit the assisted living facility just out of town here often, and see what is coming, so enjoy what you have and be grateful.

shaddy, when I bought my first computer my sis gave me a very good bit of advice. She said keep a notebook and pen by the computer. If you change something make a note of where and what you did. If you don't like what you did you will have your notes to remind you of what you did. I started keeping notes again when I was learning W 10.

The age thing is funny. I am so old I think of them as kids.

Apparently your sis was a smart cookie from the get go. When, and if you get your way worked into W10, let me know how you do, would love to pick your brain.

I would like that to. It would be fun to have a neighbor who likes computers like I do. Most just use their PC's as a tool and don't care about learning more.

We have a whole year before we mustuse Windows10. I wouldn't be surprised if it's changed a lot by then.

A local computer shop owner reminds us "We can tell the pioneers by the arrows in their backs." Think I'll wait a while.

Edited typo

breenthumb, I think you're misinformed.

Users can continue with Win 7 forever. As with XP and prior versions of Windows, an upgrade isn't required.

However, active development for bug fixes and security patches ends in 4 1/2 years, in January of 2020.

looks to me as tho I will be hanging onto W7 as long as possible, by the time 2020 comes, I probably will be in assisted living and using a drool bib!!!!!!!!!!!

Shaddy not me. My expiration date is up on Jan 7, 2017, I will be 80 years old and the pain is just going to get worse.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/emulator

For curiosity I just reread most of the W10 threads. Not speaking negative about anyone, I had to chuckle a little. I forecasted W10 would still raise complaints, and not be the guaranteed messiah many were projecting it to be. After playing with it for a week or so I stand by my position that W10 is vanilla. W8/8.1 users more than likely realized little benefit. W7 users receive somewhat a system gain. XP users are just staunch XP users.

DA

I have 4 PC's and 1 tablet on my home network, I am 71 yrs. old and have run every OS back to W98 and have no problems learning a new one, actually no learning curve for me.. I help other seniors almost daily, with PC problems. I have of course upgraded my 1 W7 and 3 W8.1's to W10 and I like it very much. first of all you will lost nothing you already have on your PC from either W7 or 8 after upgrade it will all be there. Some folks are having issues with install failing due to their AV=anti virus, mostly with Norton, it is strongly advised to uninstall before doing upgrade then reinstall after, and you will then get the AV which is also upgraded and compatible with the new W10. Any other questions I will answer just ask away. Oh and P.S. While W10 is not Free for XP or Vista you can buy it for them if your system can handle it. It cost $119.00 for home version and $199.00 for the pro/business version. I am also a member of the Microsoft and Windows forums for yrs. where the techs hang out and also the testers.

puter nut, I commend you on your knowledge, and helpfulness to others. When you retire, if you ever do, you will still have a good functioning brain. As one, who worked all my years with my hands, not my brain, and also having ADHD, always wondered why things were so hard for me, and other crutches, not leaning on them, just letting you know, not all of us in the world are able to have this ability you do. also, living where one does comes into play here as well, rural folks such as myself, do not always have access to the new devices, tho I see the grandson is doing quite well, but then, he has grown up with them, so why not.

While I appreciate your input, and perhaps will come back and ask for your help at a time in the future, think I will just let the world come as it may, who knows what tomorrow brings, and further, might neither one of us be here, the Maker calls us when He is ready, not always our choice.

Emma, as far as your running out of time, if you can, hang on long as you can, as I said, we have no choice in the matter, but I will go kicking and screaming, if that is possible. But, for ":having to have" a computer, guess I would pass on that, I believe face to face conversations are far more interesting that emails on the internet, and the young folks today have lost the ability to converse with one another, when they sit on couches, or at the table while sitting next to one another, and text , sure makes me wonder what kinds of brains they will have at the end.

I go out to the assisted living facility quite often, those people cuz they have no face to face convos many times, just flock around you, looking for conversation, attention, etc., what will the young folks have to look forward to? Robots I think? While I think the new technology is superior to lots of motives in the world, I still enjoy being a regular person, and speaking with someone else directly. tho go Bill Gates and all those to follow!

Ahh, Mikie, thanks for the link, now this is what I am interested in seeing for myself. Thanks for your ingenuity!!!!!!!!!!

I'm guessing that if you currently have Windows 7 64 bit Pro that you're not going to upgrade to the Windows 10 Pro version but instead the 10 "home" version, correct?

I have home pro now for 7, and spoze that would be agreeable if I did home version for 10? Inquiring minds, at least i still am nosey if not much else!

Great thread for us 'older folks.' I'm still on XP so in big trouble.

Bought my hubby a Win 8 laptop for his 83rd b'day last August. He'll turn 84 next week.

He could not deal with it at all, neither could I. We stuck it in the closet until this week. I've spent endless hours trying to figure out this OS. I gave up!

Can't find the simple stuff like, Add/remove (computer full of installed junk), Administrator Tools, My Pictures (I did find that under a different title.) Anyway, I could go on and on. Then it required a Hotmail address (no way Jose), couldn't deal with that.

Whatever his hotmail address (required for log on) he didn't remember, said he never heard of hotmail. Had no clue. So I attempted to make my own and bypass his completely. No way, couldn't find the usual Administrator Tools. Got a log on for myself but can't get rid of his and it won't give Admin rights.

So the laptop wound up back on the shelf.

I thought I'd erase the whole mess and start over except there are no disks. I can't do anything without Admin rights and hubbs doesn't even remember how he originally set it up a year ago. I can see he loaded a ton of photos to Adobe Photo Shop which came with the computer as a trial which has long expired. He said he never did. I suspect he did from a flash drive...who knows!

So, my question...do I just trash the whole computer? I can't do anything with it except take a hammer.

XP is soooo comfortable. I just don't have the energy, focus and wherewithal anymore.

Shaddy, Emma and Puternut, we could be a voice for Seniors! Let's protest...take to the streets! How about a 'March on Silicone Valley!!'

Jane

Jane, do you have a savvy techie somewhere close by? a repair shop? Surely there would be help available with the logging on for the laptop? I am no geek, but I think that much could be done. As to the Xp versus W7, I had some issues there, as you stated, things are located other places, and had a learning curve finding some of those.

As I am the only one in the house, I have no password to log on, no administrator etc., etc., as you mentioned, even if I wasn't the only one inhouse, I would never do that, what little punky stuff I have on the machine is worthless to anyone but me. I have a little old address book, use it for passwords for forums, and to help me remember my gmail acct, yahoo, etc., I use all the freebies, plus I have Thunderbird email also. That is my real email, the others are throwaways used for various reasons along the way.

Sounds as tho hubs just enjoyed the laptop and didn't really know much of what was going on. I don't always either, but I try hard to stay on top of virus, malware, and my updating acrobat, virus, etc., but I do agree X
P was like an old friend. Now 7 is my friend, took a while, but gotter done as much as I need anyway, and will hang on til the bitter end. UNLESS someone comes along with something as comfy as XP/7.

All I can offer is try someone who knows the real deal, might cost a few bucks, but worth it in the long run, as the darn machines are smarter than we are, really makes it an unfair fight I say.

Good luck, I give you 5 stars for trying, a guardian angel on your shoulder wouldn't hurt either, still trying to find one of those too!

Whichever version you now run Pro, or Home version that is what the upgrade will be, W10 checks out which version your PC is asking for and will install the correct one.

And I am very much retired, I only help folks, in need and try to save them on PC repair costs.

To Jane if you can get your W8 online and open IE then you can download the FREE Windows Start, this will give you the Start button back and your PC will look just like W7 and navigating it will be easy peasy here's the link: http://www.classicstart8.com/download

shaddy, loved your comment about your little address book. I am in the same situation your are in and you would not believe the severe lectures I have gotten because I write my passwords down. They make me feel like an idiot.......for a full minute or two. LOL I don't have anything on my PC that I couldn't share with the world.

Welcome to the club emm, I know that there are many that do baking, buying, selling, etc., but I as I always have said, keep it simple stupid(KISS), and save a lot of grief for me, and for those that will have to do the cleaning process after I have left this world.

Puternut, not for one minute did I mean to hurt your feelings, hope I haven't, but you just sounded so darn busy and happy I perhaps thought maybe you were a young retiree? Even if not, what you do is kind, and generous, hope those receiving the assisting are appreciative, I know I would be.

Just so those deferring upgrade don't feel alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfKZZa41LB8&t=1h01m49s

Personally, I neither agree, nor disagree with Steve.

I took my bedroom computer from 7 to 10 and after customizing, it behaves no differently than any other version of Windows I've ran. The menu and taskbar provide a way to run my programs, just like always:

JANE said, "Would it work on an XP machine? I have 3 desktops which are like new.
They are not new, probably 6-7 yrs old but were only used for office
work. I don't know what to do with them. They work perfectly."

Install Linux MINT on them and give them to people who need computers.

Thanks Lazy. You are right, they are that old but work perfectly well. I'm typing on my desktop now. What bothers me is that I have Office 03-07 on all of them. The older one still has 03 which I prefer but use both. At the time I bought them, I got the largest hard drive offered, best video card and memory. There is still so much room left on them it just seems a waste.

My two office computers were Dells XPS which was a gaming machine. Fast, great computers, work like new.

I can't afford the top of the line machines any more since we retired. I'd love to keep them but see the writing on the wall.

Since we moved to Florida, we get hit with major thunderstorms...really scary, nothing like in NY.

Part of me keeps hoping a lighting strike will put the older computers to rest. So far hasn't happened!

I just can't give them up yet!

Jane

Thanks Shaddy. I personally use a Rolodex for all the passwords. Spinning wheel, easier to replace a card then scribbling out in a notebook which I have done in the past. I keep my passwords and my husbands on it because he keeps changing them as he forgets the old ones. You know the 'forgot your password?' Worse thing they ever offered. He keeps doing that and doesn't write it down. Like many of us, you think you'll remember.

I think what he did when he turned on the Win8 computer was put hotmail address because the computer said he couldn't use it without one. At least that's what he remembers. He states he never put a password for log on. I'm not sure but he has never had a log-on password but the Start-Up screen might have confused him.

I can use it but have to log on this hotmail address to get in. I can't find a way to change the log on to my name nor get rid of the hotmail address. I did turn him off as administrator and put myself, but only his log-on appears when you turn the machine on.

I'll figure it out eventually when I stop using my XP machine. I just don't have the energy for this anymore. Its so tiring and time consuming to hunt around for answers or where Microsoft decided to move everything and change the names. I thought the easiest thing would be to wipe it all out by reinstalling Windows until I realized it never came with disks. How dumb!

Anyway, us older folks keep plugging away best we can. I don't feel like spending the money on a tech, at this point.

You and Emma are doing better than me. I haven't even gotten to Win 10 yet! Got to get past Win 8 first.

Good luck to all,

Jane

If you made yourself an admin account on same machine... at winodws login screen there usually is a Left pointing arrow... to take you to all users with accounts. Big Arrow.

(The newer win10 has names on lower left login screen, stacked vertically.)

Thanks Mikie. No arrow. I can't figure out how to eliminate him from a log in at all. I removed him as Admin. Put myself as Admin, yet I do not show up on log on. I'm thinking its somewhere else? I just don't remember how you set up a new computer and how to change the log on. I'd like no log on and no hotmail address. Who even has a hotmail address?? What is that all about? Is that really necessary to log on to a computer??? Really???????? Stupid!

My big problem is trying to find where to go on the stupid machine. I'm still using XP and haven't even looked at the laptop since I last posted. It took forever to find Control Panel and Admin Tools (wasn't called that). Now I can't figure out how I found it.

Its okay. I'm just so frustrated and hating leaving my XP machine where I know how to do things quickly and this new Win 8 system is so difficult to deal with. As I get older, I find myself throwing up my hands and walking away. But, thanks for your help.

Jane

cheering for you Jane, know how you feel, those things hiding somewhere are maddening, and why are they hidden? As you said who needs those things to log on? My GF's kids had fixed it so she needed a password to log on, and she has some palsy, so of course was having probs logging on. I had her take it to my geek, and he took off the password thing, the poor girl has nothing but FB, email, and hasn't even played any games, still she was left without the ability to use it if the password was wrong, what's up with that? Many times it was weeks before it was rectified, I just can't believe kids could have made it so difficult for her, knew her efforts were being thwarted, I don't know where the simplicity of the machine has gone. Why make it harder than it is? Now, we are looking at getting her a keyboard cover of sorts so she can type without so much problem of error, takes her forever to type and send an email, is discouraging to say the least, and I cheer for her as well.

I don't use a log in. I did at one time but got locked out of m own computer. I don't remember how I finally got in but, I removed the log in. Before I reset my W 8 I unplugged the internet, that way I don't have to make an MS account, but do have to make a local. After I get it all set up I go to change passwords, type in my password, then leave the new box empty. The last time I reformatted my W 8 and the box came up asking for my name and pass word, I just put in my initials and okayed out. It worked!

I just boot up, and things open and I am good to go. I spoze there are those that feel the need for a PW, due to confidential matter, but I have nothing that can't be shared with anyone, so no PW, just giddyup and go!

Jane - at the login screen on win8 should be a power button... you can hold down the Shift key while you press restart ... it will take you into the repair environment.

From there you can probably reset the pc to it stock factory configurations... or look around and find Startup menu for safe mode and see if you can get your login at safe mode.

I would say good info here, but I could never do that and not be sweating bullets at the same time. I used to do a lot of my own troubleshooting, but over the years now, have come to conclusion there are others that are smarter, not as skeered, and those that know their stuff, so I let them do it, and rather pay them than worry myself I have done the wrong thing. Jane, if you are brave enuf, go for it, and I am hopeful for you, you sound as tho you can tackle most anything.