Jerry, there are hundreds of millions of Windows users. No one at Microsoft cares about your personal information IF they had it. I don't think they do for this purpose.

You're over complicating a process that was designed by smart people to be simple for all. Do the upgrade, decide whether to keep or reverse, follow the instructions either way, call it done. That's it.

Thanks, I'll look for the down load, still hope the Image hasn't been taken. I did give some authorization by making a reservation.

Yes MS has a lot of smart people, still they have to make constant changes in their OS to block malware, and personal data is hacked all the time from large banks, retailers, other businesses and high risk government records. Here the prize is often limiter to birth date, social security and the like, not to pass words and other extremely valuable data for thieves.

A MS hack could be a gold mine, suppose the crooks are smart too, I don't like increasing my risk. If MS hasn't already made a copy I'll consider taking all my worry-data off before I pull the trigger on the upgrade.

Anyone know when MS makes the image copy?

Took a look, was $Windows.... and 5.4 GB, clearly not a place the image is being held... still fear putting it in MS hands, simple anywhere off my premiss, I'd not put it on the now popular Cloud storage. Yes I know my computer can be and may have been hacked, but so far nothing stolen or ID theft that I yet know about.

"Anyone know when MS makes the image copy?"

When you upgraded to Windows 10 on a PC that already has Windows, the
old version is stored in a folder called Windows.old. While this takes
up space (up to around 30GB), it also means that you can restore the
version via Windows 10 itself for up to 30 days.

The image copy as you call it is located here and called--> C:\Windows.old

You will not see that folder on C:\ until you upgrade. At some point you will want to delete that folder to free up space..

Thanks !! I feel safer, now all I have to worry about is security on my computer/network. This study question make me think about getting my most sensitive material off my computer and introduce it via usb only when I am actively using it.

Any views on how safe passwords stored on Firefox and IE are? I will search a bit myself, but ask here in case it is easy to answer. Not storing credentials on the browser make going to membership sites a lot more complicated.

Jerry, You could do what I did. I took a Blank Drive and Reinstalled Windows 7 Home Premium, All Updates, Microsoft Office and All Updates then I install Window 10. I wasn't that concerned about MS having my info or being hacked, I wanted a Backup of my Windows 7 Drive (lots of Movies I don't want to have to download again). Decided to Start Windows 10 with a Blank Slate! So far it's been a great decision, I can pop the Second Hard Drive in at any time and be back using Windows 7!

>>I'll consider taking all my worry-data off before I pull the trigger on the upgrade.<<

prolly woulda took less time than this post? :-)

Made use of Firefox Master Pass Word to add security to the IE password facility, and made my computer log on password more secure, passes through to IE security. I moved all the private data off the W7 HDD to a removable USB HDD.

Then I gave MS the go ahead on W10 installation, it has been running for over two hours and nothing but the Spinning Wheel "Working on it..." I have a monitor that displays RAM and CPU use, the CPU is running in single digit % most of the time... fingers crossed.

I was also told by a colleague that the W10 installation makes use of the computers HDD to story the recovery information, MS does not make an Image. The save files is said to be called Windows.old This I should be able to fine if the W10 installation ever completes.

Jerry,

Pretty sure that's what I was telling you in the post above where I posted the Picture with Windows.old highlighted in Blue! I don't know, does my picture not show up on yours / others computers? It shows up fine on my computers, just not sure if it posted to all the other computers out there? Posting it again below (let me know if it shows up):

Thanks, yes it shows.

My problem now, Windows Up Date has been running for 24 hours and has not completed. I still have the "Working on it... " screen. Looks like I have to force it down and do a W7 recovery,,, or use my image. A recovery would end up with a clean W7 which I would keep using, burned once is more than enough for me maybe I'll go to Linux/Ubuntu

Correction, 12 hours, just feels like 24. I see the "working on it..." dialog box has a red X to stop the failed effort. I'll wait a hour or two more before stopping.

Jerry,

I'm wondering if you have a bad Download? I'd go ahead and Abort the Installation. It may Restart the Install again. I've heard of a few others having this problem and some have been able to finish the install once they Aborted. Wish I could be there, I'd take care of it for you!

There is a Site where you can download an ISO and make a DVD or Flash Drive with the Windows 10 Upgrade. Here is a Link: Media Creation Tool. This it the Route I would take if I had any problems.

My Grandsons Laptop took a very long time to upgraded but it was nowhere near 12 hours (maybe 3-4 hours including the download). His has a Dual Core Intel Pentium @ 1.73GHz, 2gb RAM and a 160gb Hard Drive. Definitely not the fastest computer in the world.

Thanks, the "Red X" provided a graceful halt, the computer dropped back to the running W7, best I can tell as it was when I clicked on the install. I am using the subject machine right now.

I already had a download... 5.4 GB ($Windows.~BT), it is still there. I tried again, but after about 15 minutes I hit the abort again.

Looking briefly on the web I found SP1 is necessary, checking, my W7 has SP1.. it is set for autoupdate so I think the W7 is up to date.

I'll look at making an ISO update DVD, thanks.

Jerry,

Your computer wouldn't have downloaded the Windows 10 Upgrade if your computer wasn't up to date! You already have noted most of the things that are required for the upgrade. I think I would try using the Media Creation Tool. It is possible that your download went astray.

Last night I clicked on the W10 icon again, this time it appears to be working. It took me through the agreement stuff and set up to install. I picked schedule for Sunday, tomorrow.

W7 has a transfer tool "Smart Transfer" does the W10 installer make use of such a tool? For example bring over my Thunderbird, Firefox, IE and similar.... I have a 64 bit W7 version of Palm Desktop I hope survives. Yes all is backed up an it appears W10 supports the aged Palm Desktop environment, must be a enough hangers-on to keep this product supported. I think I can put my Palm DT on my W8.1 Smart Phone, a project for another day...

Yes, all will be transferred as expected.

Most things will transfer although I have run across a few things I needed to Uninstall and Reinstall to get them to work, my Brother DCP-9040cn Color Laser AIO Printer for one. I never noticed but the Scanner stopped working in Windows 10, Printer still worked. Norton's Security Suite and AVG Anti-Virus were others that had to be uninstalled and reinstalled. Others have said they didn't need to reinstall AVG, but I did! The Print Shop 23 was yet another that had to be reinstalled! I may run across other programs as I go, so far they've all worked after a reinstall. I have 7 devices that I've upgraded so far, not all having the same software on them, so I may run into other programs (haven't checked the software for my Canon EOS Rebel Camera or my JVC Everio Video Camera, on my Desktop Computer yet).

I know what I have to carry forward to deal with key applications so worse case would be I have to reinstall, or just install if the application was missed. I plan to go forward with the upgrade and believe that since I have scheduled a time to the hour, if my computer is on the Internet the install will start from the MS end. If not, I can. The update icon is still sitting on my tool bar (lower).

Jerry, I always like to make sure that the Screen Savers are turned off. I also make sure the Power Setting are set to Never Shut Down: Control Panel> Power Options> (Under Choose or Customize or Power Plan your setting should be set to default as Balanced)> Click on Change Plan Settings (in Blue) to the Right> Set all drop down arrows to Never

This can be changed back once your setup is finished. On the same Page you change the settings on at the bottom you'll see: Restore Default Settings for this Plan, Click on it!

Thanks, you were right on the settings I had, I changed to "never" on putting the computer to "sleep". I left the display turn off at 2 hours when plugged in. That noted, I'd think the activity of the update would be enough activity to keep the time-out from ever happening.. better safe than sorry : )

I don't really like it when my computer goes to Sleep in the middle of a Download or an Install/Upgrade. I'm never really sure If I should try and get it going again or if I should just start over?

only takes 15 minutes to upgrade install windows 10 here ... including a small assortment of programs. Windows alone fresh uses about 8.5 gb then you add some for hibernate and pagefile size based on amount of memory. So maybe you have doubled the windows size to 17gb of used space. Installed in 15 minutes.

If current use is more than that you can guestimate the time required to install. Its not super cpu intensive its just read and write speeds to move files around.

My W7 is about 30 minutes into the W10 update.. it is now "downloading W10" I read it to be 2.7 GB and is now at 5%. The configure took the first 25 minutes of the 30+ we are now at. I found windows update to be rough on the keeping the user informed, it went back to my W7 desktop as a W7 OS after the configuration was, apparently, complete. I had to log on again with my password as the computer did a restart after the configuration was complete. I am hopeful the "configuration" phase gets all my stuff/applications noted for transfer to W10.

In any case, moving forward now.. and MS has the usual less than perfect "bedside manner".. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, W7 is 5 years old and if I were not going to W10 I'd have to consider reloading W7 to get a clean copy running again. I had XP machines running on the factory load with updates for upwards of 10 years. Is XP that old? I think so.

Okay, 4 hours later Windows 10 is up and running.. the desktop looks to be identical to what I had in W7. Firefox and Thunderbird are working but a few glitches, in my first appraisal. In my opinion the Mozilla aps are not operating any faster than in Windows 7, but, hey it is past my bed time.

I count my blessings and shut down to carry on tomorrow, oh, yes it appears Palm Desktop is working... I have yet to move my data up, I removed it as a security step.

Congratulations on a job well done Jerry !

Thanks, more testing this morning shows all is "well", including Palm DT ... but, I haven't yet accepted Edge as the MS browser

Small matter as I have Firefox as my default. I am looking for IE to put it back on my tool bar for those few cases I want to use it.. e.g., as a dedicated on-line email access for an account other than my normal... which I access via Thunderbird for two accounts and Exchange for a third account.

Still find it better to run my browser with Flash disabled - seems the slow down I experienced in W7, was not due to a cluttered old W7, same problem exist with W10. Case in point, with Flash disabled I am able to type here without experiencing display delay.. which really messes up my already labored typing.

So far happy with the upgrade.

You'll find Internet Explorer In All Apps> Windows Accessories. Instead of Scrolling down thru the list, Click on a Letter, a box with all the letters will open, click on the W and there will be Windows Accessories at the top of that list.

Super, it is now pinned to my task bar, as wanted (I misnamed the bar in my question). IE came up populated with what I had in W7, way to go MS... I'm liking Microsoft better with each positive experience... "god knows" they need to build on that going forward. I think they were liked less than US big government.

I've never disliked Microsoft. I feel as though they are given a lot of unnecessary ridicule. IMO they have the toughest job ever, making Millions and Millions of Computers Operate with any problems. Thus Service Packs, Updates, etc... They also have X amount of Operating Systems out there they are still supporting!

Then you have the groups that like to screw everything up by writing viruses, most are designed to attack Windows Products. They try to do the most damage they can with these viruses and Microsoft makes the most used OS out there (Windows). This is why you don't see too many people complaining about their Mac or Linux Systems getting viruses. Even though their are people out there writing viruses for those also, just not as many!

I think they've done well with Windows 10 even though there are people out there that hate it! You're always going to have a few of those people out there. The way Windows 10 is designed, it's designed to adapt or change. MS will be fixing things that don't work and adding cool stuff to it all the time. They're saying that this is the Last Windows Operating System. I've heard they may even change the name later!

No basic agreement, still I think MS acts like BIG business and BIG government, especially when both use their "market power" to do it their way.

First time I've read MS is ending its traditional business model, sure they have the market expertise to make the best decision, again for themselves, not the customers. I favor the Market driven economy of the US but that doesn't make me welcome abuse, even if just imo. In contrast BIG government takes action that is absent even elementary understanding of the market... in government's case they have been able to count on voting by the uninformed, or don't care as long as free stuff keeps rolling out,. The MS free stuff caught my interest, and I don't expect to have to pay for it with higher taxes which is why I support business for profit in contrast with government decisions driven by special interests including their own.

I took advantage of the MS free stuff in the full belief the decision is the best for their bottom line in the long run. As for me I'm happy to report good news too, even on big business - can't think of anything to thank government for.

So far I like W10 and the migration provided by MS, for W7. I reserve my judgement on W8 until I try, and that will be at least a couple of weeks.

I appreciate the help received here.

Yes, the last OS but after 10 yrs. support there will be upgrades/updates that you & I can subscribe to if we wish, this you will pay for, if you do not pay it will not work, not sure if monthly or yearly on paying?

Oh, that's the business model, I didn't read the small print. "Aputemut" I take your words about paying for support as fact. I would think MS "has to" fix bugs/security errors (I'll call them that) but new features will cost ... I can live without new features and will not use many of the current offering. There's always Mac, Linux, Android .... If the current W10 is supported on warranty items I will likely wear out the hardware I have before W10 dies.

I had heard MS wants to get more user data from us, but I haven't yet figured out what or how to protect myself on that issue. I know on my MS account for Windows computer and smart phone gave me a chance to opt out of having my usage recorded and analyzed.

May have spoke too soon... I shut W10 down and when I turned the power back on my long time windows password which was accepted after the W10 installation didn't work... I ended up forcing a power down and it took several tries to get W10 to even boot again. Yes, I know don't turn the power off to shut down.

The only thing I changed was I created a Windows Account with a new password so I could access some free applications. Seems this "new' password was not necessary and it is now my power-on boot password. Hope that's the answer as it fixes my problem. Otherwise, what?

So, I can hate MS again, why did they require me to create an account with a password if I already had a password, the one I established to prevent anyone else from operating my computer without being given my password.

Now I wonder how do I withdraw my MS Account, seems it is a pathway to destruction. Seems it is time for me to make a recovery DVD... assume it is possible to do so for W10.

I knew I could get that can of Worms stirred up, sorry just could resist!

I think you can Change that Password. I remember reading or seeing it somewhere, I think. I'll have to look around for it a bit. Give this a Try: Reset Microsoft Account Password

I know you can use this method, just tried it: Click on the To Change a Password Used to Sign in to Windows in Blue on this page. It will give you the instructions!

"Now I wonder how do I withdraw my MS Account, seems it is a pathway to destruction."

Probably get slammed for saying this but the amount you attempt to change anything and everything it was only a matter of time in my opinion!

I changed the password which is common to both MS Account and locally. I want a local password and it seems that is mapped back as the MS Account password. I think it can be applied to my smart phone W8.1 as well.

The MS W10 installer took my W7 password and made it the account password, unbeknownst to me. So, when I wanted access to stuff requiring a MS account, password, I established one and got the surprise change in my boot time password.

Changing the account password requires internet connection for a real time email confirmation on the identity of the person requesting the change, knowing the old password is not enough... that seems good.

At least when I activated my then new laptop to run W8 that process required I establish an account password, which became my local password as well. W8 activation also led the way for the creation of a recovery device, I used a flash drive. W10? the installer was silent on these important issues or I didn't read them - vintage MS behavior. I haven't yet figured out how to make the recovery medium for W10.

So, that struggle over I again comment W10 is working well and I observe faster operation, more snappy, of browsers and email clients.. may boot faster too. I stopped by the senior center computer help desk to report on my happy experience with W10, this was before my password confusion.

jerrynj, you can just set flash to "ask to activate" so it isn't continuously loading/tracking from the video site (and slowing down the webpage). In that case, just click the flash window if you want to run the video.

beng12, that's been my experience, mostly with Firefox, I use IE less often on blogs. I take your input to be a "confirmation" that flash can cause a slowdown.. when I raised that at the senior center people there look at me like "WHAT??"

I often watch video on Youtube and sometimes it requires flash, sometimes not... not sure on this point, but I do know with "ask" set I have found on occasion when flash was required approval didn't get the video going... not really a W10 issue, other than I have experienced that "problem" on my use of W10 for a bit over 24 hours.

Any advice on how to make a recovery W10 "disk"? I will try again typing those and similar words in the search field. Maybe if I can check look only on my computer, not The Net, I'll get a more direct answer.

Control Panel / Recovery.

Personally... recovery drives become outdated and fail more often than not. Good thing for me to keep around is the win10 iso on a bootable usb drive.. It can be used to re-install windows or run the repair environment & do many things to get you out of trouble. When that Recovery Drive asks you to insert your Recovery Media... you'll discover suddenly you need an install drive.

Jerry, I haven't tried is yet in Windows 10, but I've heard you can use: Control Panel > Backup Restore (Windows 7) to Create a System Image or to make a System Repair Disc.

I am about ready to go back to Windows 7.

While W10 appeared to work as well or better than a 5 year old W7 as far a boot time and firefox and IE performance, that advantage has disappeared in only a couple weeks. Then my computer loss sound, yet checked out as "working properly" via Control Panel. Next my Firefox forgot all its passwords.. a refresh didn't help .. not even sure where Firefox stores its password user name information. Something called Firefox Profile I believe. I did a backup before installing W10 and suppose I will try to find the password data profile backed up there and copy it over into the W10 Firefox data base.

Thanks, do you know where Firefox in W10 stores Profiles? I find the Mozilla Firefox okay under Programs Files (x86) but I understand Firefox saves its user data elsewhere, but where?

Everyone else at least satisfied with the update of W7 to W10? As stated I'm considering backing out, but worry about what might happen... And if I do, I think I'll do a reload of W7, for it truly was bogged down the the wear-and-tear of its 5 year life, sadly W10 seems to be getting to that state in weeks, not years. Could just be me ...

Probably the easiest way to find your profile is through "Help>Troubleshooting Information>Open Directory".

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data#w_how-do-i-find-my-profile

That works no matter what OS you're using.

My Windows 7 had become slow. Windows 10 seemed to revitalize it. That said, I've mostly been booting Linux. That's just me though, I feel more at home in Linux.

Thanks again, LInux you say, are you set up to dual boot? I set up a netbook with Starter 7, to dual boot the Windows and Ubuntu.. I haven't used much but think there are some problems with the boot loader (if that's what it is called). I have blogged on the Ubuntu forum, but my memory ain't great. My question is are you using a dual boot and it works for you?

I just don't understand all the problems with W10, I have O problems, and I have set my W10 to boot right to my desktop, no PW needed and it boots up ready to go in under 10 seconds.

Yes, this machine dual boots Windows 10 and Linux Mint. They play nicely together.

My netbook is the same. Windows 10 and Linux Mint. They also play nicely together.

The only boot loader I use is GRUB (installed by Linux). Can you boot into Linux? If not, maybe you could use Super Grub Disk to get you in. Once you're in, run "sudo update-grub" to repair the menu.

That or boot a live CD and repair it from there. http://howtoubuntu.org/how-to-repair-restore-reinstall-grub-2-with-a-ubuntu-live-cd

--------------------------------

I think the conflict with Windows 10 and Linux comes into play with certain new computers with a "Designed for Windows 10" logo. At least the ones that don't allow disabling "safe boot". I'm not too clear on that though.

"I just don't understand all the problems with W10, I have O problems, and I have set my W10 to boot right to my desktop, no PW needed and it boots up ready to go in under 10 seconds."

Lmao, took the words right out of my mouth (or very similar but with a few few substitutions)........

Nice to see "Happy Campers".. was was hopeful as the load, long time as it was, seemed to load everything, all my history and some rather old drivers, e.g., Palm Desk Top. But over a short time, must be about the start of this thread date, the whole computer has bogged down, not just browser, both Firefox and IE, I'm not using the newer whatever-browser, but even the WiFi interface. I try to remember to shut down my WiFi when I am done, but leaving the computer on. Then I click on the wireless Icon and click connect. It is not a click, click, click operation, long (what 5+ seconds or longer) delay getting to each click. Wasn't that way in the beginning.

I use a password as that is port of the IE security for saved passwords, I use a master pass word on Firefox.. suppose that's the problem? Wasn't in the beginning.

Just before this exploration and gripping Firefox forgot all, I mean all, its personal data. I did a refresh on Firefox, then a restore on Windows 10, still total amnesia for Firefox. I have backup on a flash drive, but haven't plugged that in to recover. Seems houzz log on survived, must be something at the houzz end, not Firefox memory.

On Linux, I used the Ubuntu GRUB to set up the dual boot, and right now I don't recall what the problem is... maybe it too slowed down, maybe there's something wrong with my mental clock too high an expectation. That possibility noted, I did some blogging on the Ubuntu forum, now a member, and there was some agreement on the problem. I have considered using XUbuntu to resurrect a XP Dell desktop that is very sick. But rather than dual boot, thinking using a USB Hard drive as the boot for XUbuntu and leave the Windows boot loader in tack. I think that leads to my too slow peeve. I suppose I may have problems with drivers too with Ubuntu.. I want to run my laser printers for one thing. The one dual boot I have worked "out of the box" with my WiFi.

"... Then I click on the wireless Icon and click connect. It is not a
click, click, click operation, long (what 5+ seconds or longer) delay
getting to each click. Wasn't that way in the beginning.

I use a password as that is port of the IE security for saved passwords,
I use a master pass word on Firefox.. suppose that's the problem?
Wasn't in the beginning."

I have no idea, truthfully, I can't even visualize what you're doing.

---------------------------------------

"... Seems houzz log on survived, must be something at the houzz end, not Firefox memory."

Whether or not you're logged into houzz depends only on the presence of a valid login cookie(on your machine). If your "houzz log on survived", it just means your houzz login cookie didn't get deleted when you did the refresh, the restore(or whatever).

----------------------------------------

"... I suppose I may have problems with drivers too with Ubuntu.. I want to run my laser printers for one thing. ..."

My Brother DCP7065DN B&W Laser works fine.

I don't remember having to jump through any hoops getting the print function to work but I did have to grab a Linux installer from brother.com to get it to scan. http://support.brother.com/g/b/downloadtop.aspx?c=us&lang=en&prod=dcp7065dn_all

------------------------------------------

"The one dual boot I have worked "out of the box" with my WiFi."

When I first started playing with Linux, getting WiFi to work on my Toshiba laptop was a frustrating, but eventually rewarding challenge. I think Linux has come a long way since that though. Most things seem to just work now. Or at least that's been the case for me.