Well Mike, I have always been of the same mind set as far as my own health goes if it ain't broke, don't fix it! but not when it comes to technology, and I don't know your age? but I am 72 and I love techno and the future and W10 is the future and it's here, on July 29th 2015. I upgraded my 4 in home PC's to W10 ASAP and I love it! also being a member of the W10/MS forums, I can tell you about 85 to 90% of the population like it and are enjoying it, it is faster, more efficient and the most stable OS to date. It is very user friendly and being a person, who helps others online with PC problems or to learn a new OS, well since W10 we techie types are not so busy now a days, that in itself should tell you something. As far as being offered Free from Microsoft, well that was a gift and a nice surprise. After July 29th. 2016 (soon) you can pay $200 for it or buy a new PC. Some who leave their PC's on that I spoke to seem to have gotten the upgrade without their knowledge. I preferred to do the DL or install myself so that I could be assured all my files etc. would remain. Plus it is advised that any anti virus or registry cleaners should be uninstalled first before proceeding, except of course for Defender or Sec. Essentials, not doing so caused some failed installs of W10.

Don't forget that Win 10 was rushed out because of negative user reaction to the extreme change in Win 8's user interface to the so-called tile icons. Win 10 brought a return to the start menu (which was doable with simple third party add-ons for 8 anyway). There wasn't time or need to do a massive rewrite of the machinery.

It's the user interface that's different, along with peripheral features (mandatory updates, syncs between devices, etc). The innards are mostly unchanged, users won't see big changes in performance.

Win 10 is fine as an operating system but the upgrade isn't suitable for some hardware. One of my PCs has a banner to not upgrade, because the manufacturer (Sony) hasn't rewritten drivers for Win10 and doesn't plan to. From what I've read, driver and hardware problems are common among the minority of those who have issues.

Had the same thing happen last night and it really ticked me off. Do not put something on my computer I don't want. If I want it, I will get it. . This is the last Windows based computer we have and when it dies, I won't have another one in my house.

It's not *required* to update to Win10. The "forced update" and associated popup notices can be avoided by setting Windows Update to not automatically install updates ... but one then must manually run the update process accordingly. Google the KB# of the offerings for details on what they do and don't install anything related to Win10 pushing. Microsoft issues updates every 2nd Tuesday each month, with occasional off-schedule patches for urgent security issues.

Don't get your problem. Microsoft is trying hard to unify its OS into just one version and is giving it away for free! Windows 7 will be like XP and be unsupported in the near future maybe three years away.

Support end date for Win 7 is Jan 2020. For Win 8, it's Jan 2023.

The update for Win10 from Win7 is KB3035583. I do not plan on upgrading from Win7 until I get a new computer which unfortunately will have Win10 or higher on it. Main reason is that Microsoft has decided that your security is not relevant to them. You can not stop system updates, they violate your privacy by default, your personal data may be disclosed at Microsoft's discretion. Win7 can still be purchased and registered if you want to.

Pay attention. There is a new twist to the upgrade notices. Now the red x we've been using to close out is consent to install. Don't care how many have installed and love it. This is just wrong. Forbes, yesterday.

Have any of you tried "Never10" by Steve Gibson? https://www.grc.com/never10.htm

I don't have machines I don't what to upgrade but if I did I'd probably try it.

Windows 10 free offer expires in July 2016. After that you will have to pay to upgrade! I don't exactly know why you do not want to upgrade, but you only loose the media player but gain lots of speed and improvements in functions and apps.

chuggerguy, once you get to the Never10 website, it's like a 2-second process. It's over immediately.

My Norton screener said it was safe and it seems to work

I have W10 and also have windows media player it's my default player use it daily.

Getting tired of defending W10 or Microsoft, but will have one more go at it, those of us members of the W10 and also Microsoft Community, knew exactly when W10 was coming out to the public, there was nothing rushed about it, several of us were Beta testing W10 long before it came out, that is why most of the tweaks were done before hand. Microsoft folks are not the "bad guys" as so many are making them out to be, they simply want everyone on the same page/OS because the security or important updates etc., will now be for W10. Also they strived to combine the best of 7 & 8 to create the new 10, with many new exciting features, and any new kewl things coming out even software you may DL will be for W10, and not run so good on 7 or 8 if they do run? they are now upgrading no doubt automatically because many of you have your updates set to automatic, which could be changed but obviously you never have? (it's all in settings folks) the new browser Edge replaced IE and is faster and much more efficient, Cortana is just very kewl! you can literally ask her anything, plus she will remind you of things you need to not forget. I upgraded my 4 PC's most were W8.1 one was W7 all went well and all came back up with my stuff intact. It actually was a $200 gift to those who had 7 or 8 from Microsoft, and I don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Thank you Snidelywhiplash. Sounds like it could save a little frustration for those who choose not to do the upgrade.

It's got nothing to do with Windows 10, even it's the most amazing operating system since Apple's Lisa. It's entirely about Microsoft taking away the decision from the user (customer). Imagine General Motors showing up one morning to say that they're taking your car to give it a free "upgrade." Doesn't matter if you perfectly happy with your existing car, they're taking it anyway. The only way to get it back is to scour the web for a back door into service bay.

As I said earlier, why doesn't Microsoft understand the concept of no, meaning no.

Complain all you want, but in the end you either comply with what Microsoft wants or eventually you cease to use Microsoft products. End of story unless you think you can sue them and win. Good luck with that.

Exactly azinoh, and the future is here with W10, why would anyone want to stagnate or go backwards? Not me for sure.

Mike, I like Microsoft products too but as you describe, I'd say they took a page from Apple's book in this instance. They've had a softer hand historically on mandating ways and means but this time made changes and took firm grasp of the steering wheel (as Apple always has and does) to drive out of this problem. Apple has limited setup and use options in IOS and OsX, since forever.

a-nut, I thought the beta period of W10 was open to the public. I could be wrong, was there some distinction or selection process for being involved? My recollection does differ from yours also in how I remember the story. W8 was a flop and PR disaster (because of the strongly disliked tile icon UI and removal of the start menu) and W10 was rushed out to try to stop the bleeding. And remember that no W9 numerical designation was used, to try to put more distance between the fix and the problem. That's why no further versions of 8 beyond 8.1 were issued, they stopped. For the same reason.

I think you have a lot of enthusiasm and understanding to add to discussions and I hope you continue your active participation. Using hyperbole as you seem to like to do doesn't enhance comments. Windows 10 isn't "The Future", it's just an operating system and one that's ill-suited for some older PCs. The free upgrade wasn't a bonus for users, it was entirely for Microsoft, to move people to the new version they were betting on and off an older platform they decided to abandon and no longer improve. Win 7 and 8 are both very solid and other than a longer support period, 10 offers little extra to most users. In my opinion, of course. Yes, in the future, we'll all be using Win 10 and 11 and 12, etc, because that'll be all that's sold. The gears that run the machine, most users have little interaction with it.

No you are wrong W8.1 was rushed out and gave back the START folks were all bent out of shape over, not me I had classic 8 with the start. W8 was no flop only thing needed was START which came back in 8.1. The biggest flop/disaster was Vista. but then Vista was not offered W10 of course. The testers, I am speaking about received continuous builds a work in progress so to speak, I'm not sure how the one you know of worked. W7 was not suited for many older PC's either many needed to upgrade RAM even HD's before installing W7, so what's your point? Anyway W10 is the most stable OS to date and very user friendly, I know this because we techie types who help folks with PC problems or even to learn a new OS, are not very busy these days, most folks are doing just fine with it, millions have it now all over the world and it's going just dandy, if you choose to be left in the dust, then go for it!

Agree MS has no right to covertly trespass into a private environment to envoke its will. Never.

Vista was not a flop. It was just ahead of its time. Eighty percent of the code was the same as W7. It was the gateway build to better security. W7 amended the configuration for better performance. The biggest obstacle to it was the entrenched XP users with the core of them first time users.

I had an outstanding Vista system. I had absolutely no problem running W8 or 8.1. W10 runs just fine here now.

I often ask myself, what do the dissenters want? Or, could it be some users are never satisfied?

DA

This isn't a liberty issue, DA. To suggest there's any consideration of trespass law is, I think, wildly wrong. They do nothing covertly, the software is Microsoft's property. They license use only and reserve the right to change it under whatever terms and circumstances are set forth in the EULA. You know, that check off that everyone agrees to and no one reads. For good reason, there's no choice.

Thank you Chuggerguy. I did it. As a luser of Microsoft, I don't want to be bullied by them or anyone to upgrade "to keep up with the times." I'll stay on 8.1 and do the best I can. It is a crappy monopoly who provides a lame help desk to end users.

I stand by my observation.

DA

You're welcome maggie200.

Personally, I took my Windows 7 machines to Windows 10 but it was an active choice. I would have been unhappy to have woken up one morning to find my machine running an OS I hadn't actively chosen to run. It doesn’t matter (to me) that Windows 10 is (or isn't) a good OS . It's about making my own choices. At least that's how I look at it.

Pass out the guns and secure the perimeter!

I got the popup screen 2 days ago that informed me that the upgrade to 10 would take place at a specified time on May 29, and it gave me a choice to opt out. I checked the opt out box, then the following screen informed me that the upgrade to 10 would be completely reversible. So to me it's all on the up & up. It has been incrementally downloading 10 in the background for months since the GWX.exe program installed itself as part of the windows update. And to be fair, there was a popup then saying how it was going to play out.

My only concern is how my 3yr old laptop with only 4GB RAM is going to handle the new OS. I would so hate to lose stuff in the shuffle.

Casey

4GB of RAM is plenty it will run just fine, in fact may be faster, the Edge browser is faster then IE.

Yea, to fight MS on Windows is pretty crazy. However, I can't abide the spyware in Windows 10 and got tired of removing the backported updates from Windows 7, so I installed Scientific Linux 7 and said done with it. I have yet to regret it at all since I changed last September. I'm tired of companies not getting customers because they build something users want but instead try and force it on them via tricks or planned obsolescence or only renting / licensing you to use their property. I'd like to own my computer that I paid for, thank you very much.

In Microsoft's viewpoint, they just do not have the funds or staff to continue updating the security and drivers of multiple versions of Windows a more across home, professional and enterprise versions. Each year there are over several hundred new peripherals that come out and each and everyone has to be tested and included in an update!

Microsoft doesn't write drivers for peripherals, the device vendors do. MS has to do WHQL testing I guess, but if they don't charge for that, they're crazy IMHO.

I have never used IE on the laptop; Firefox is so much better. Is the current issue of IE possible to use w/o locking up the computer? The old one was not. Is there a version of Firefox for 10?

Casey

I have FF on this PC/W10 only because I need Java for a few senior chat rooms I visit, for everything else I use Edge..

Firefox is great for all the extensions. Especially ones like Ublock Origin to block all the ads. It also works on pretty much every operating system, so if you have an Android phone, or a Mac laptop or whatever, you can have the same browser experience.

Dear Microsoft,

Take Windows 10 and shove it up your ass.

I support nearly 400 Windows computers and Windows ends with Windows 7.

Well, I did finally upgrade to W10 from a burned installation DVD before the end of the free upgrade. Took about an hr. Worked well -- even preserved my triple-boot setup w/2 Linux distros. A few minor annoyances which will prb'ly get worked out, but pretty much all my W7 programs work. Is it faster? No, seems about the same speed & takes slightly longer to boot up.

I don't like the automatic updating tho, which has caused issues in the past. Many of the updates are concerned w/networking (and Microsoft's browser which I don't use), but I'm not on a network -- just a simple internet connection. I disable Microsoft networking, file & printer sharing, and any remote procedure features.

300 million folks to date would disagree with you gregbradley, also it is now a known fact that by any metric measuring W10 is by far the superior operating system, so maybe it's the operator?

"a known fact that by any metric measuring W10 is by far the superior operating system"

Because you say so? No, I don't think so. I haven't read anything suggesting anyone feels this way. Nor that such sentiment is a "fact". If anything, if you wanted to tout a superior OS, doing so with Linux might be closer to the truth. It's #1 in server rooms (where the real experts work and play) by a wide margin but will probably never have comparable success on user desktops.

It is true that large businesses and other large user organizations tend to lag OS and other software upgrades by many years at a time. My company (tens of thousands of users) is always at least two or more versions behind on most major software revisions? Why? Here's a fact for you, nut - because the incremental upgrades of apps and OSes are usually not worth the time and effort to push out. Following the "don't fix what ain't broke" wisdom, we always had special license permission to allow our hardware vendors to load the PCs we bought with old software.

gregbradley, Microsoft isn't going away.

Sombreuil, my Firefox from W7 was copied to the new W10 folders during installation and works fine. It "knew" that happened & gave a "Welcome to Firefox for W10" screen when first opened.

No not on my say so but many techs say so.. One who is well known and writes weekly articles for national newspapers that was almost a direct quote from his latest article this week. But I know from experience that W10 is the most stable and non problematic of any OS thus far. Any problems I've been ask about have been operator instigated and in fact, my help questions have diminished greatly since most folks are doing just fine with W10. If you are not then look to yourself for answers as to why. P.S. I have no use for Linux or Macs and no need, I love Windows OS's and have N/P's with it on any of my 4 PC's. for about 20 yrs. or so.

I got a new hard-drive and more RAM in my laptop. At the same time, it was upgraded to Win10.

I use Opera and Google. I would use the Edge, except that it's not compatible with AdBlockPlus. I wouldn't be without ABP.

I'm trying to upgrade the desktops to Win10. It took a couple of hours to (we thought) install on hubby's computer, but when it was done, it was still on Win7. So I don't know what it was doing all that time. We'd check on it, and it was installing (85% done, etc).

I'm going to do it on my desktop to see if I have any problems. He did it from Microsoft's site, so I don't know why it didn't install.

It takes longer on MS site because first it downloads, and then installs, 2 part process but if it downloaded to your PC, like many of us got it then you only install, shorter time and you also tell it to save your files. If you did not uninstall any anti virus or registry cleaner other then windows defender or essentials, then you could end up with a fail, as happened to many. In your case ABP could be the culprit on a failed install, why you feel you need this, I have no idea? on W10 when reading an article etc. we now have Reading view, with no ads and a very nice new feature.

Hi Aputernut,

Without ABP, my Yahoo mail and every other site is loaded with ads. This is a shot using Edge. I never see ads anywhere, including GardenWeb that people complain about, with Opera or Chrome.

What site do you recommend downloading the upgrade from? CNET had it, but I've heard that's a good site to stay away from. They tend to install other things that you don't want, when downloading.

"What site do you recommend downloading the upgrade from?"

How about directly from Microsoft? https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

>> In your case ABP could be the culprit on a failed install, why you feel
you need this, I have no idea? on W10 when reading an article etc. we
now have Reading view, with no ads and a very nice new feature. <<

I use predominately Firefox and have for a very long time followed by Chrome. I have Adblock Plus installed on both for the very reason Jasdip does - NO ads.

Firefox has had a "reader" feature for quite a while too but with Adblock Plus installed, I don't have to click a second time and depending on where I'm at, a "reader view" isn't appropriate for the content.

I agree from Microsoft site posted by Richard but before doing so, uninstall any anti virus or registry fixes etc. except for Defender or essentials, you can re install later, these have been known to cause failures, I would uninstall Adblock as well till after W10 is in correctly. My info on failures comes directly from the Windows/Ms forums I belong to where it's almost all techs. P.S. You may not have as much of a problem with ads on W10, I use Edge and n/p's that concern me, I use incredimail or outlook and no ads at all?

I've never had a problem with CNET, it's a legit site. (There have been a few past times when they've gotten a bit frisky with sponsored ads but certainly no danger and I haven't heard of anything recently).

At CNET, or at a software company site, or anyware, sometimes commercial sponsors pay to piggyback on downloads. Whenever downloading from what you know to be a safe site, take a good look before you start. There may be checked boxes to uncheck or options to opt out of so that you only get what you want and nothing else and don't wind up having settings changed that you were happy with.

" My info on failures comes directly from the Windows/Ms forums I belong to where it's almost all techs"

Are they by invitation only?

Just to add as I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere here:

I am a FF and Edge user, and I tinker with several other browsers. That being said, I found the recent upgrade to Opera (v38.0.2220.29) offered on-board ad blocking. In a tinkering moment I accepted the offer. ABP for Opera was automatically turned off, but still available to be enabled in lieu of. I haven't had enough time with the new offering yet to form a position.

DA

DA_Mccoy, I had Opera tell me to upgrade, and I did. I also have the new ad-blocker installed. So far I haven't seen ads anywhere, so it certainly seems to be working.

Regarding Win10, hubby and I were discussing and neither of us can see the advantage of upgrading to it. I know he isn't keen on doing it, and I don't care one way or the other. We'll still keep in on the laptop of course, since it was put on there when I got more RAM and a new hard-drive.