Windows 10 Upgrades Will Be Automatic

[Tim The Enchanter]

I ordered an HP desktop, should be here this week.
Thinking to do the same thing, upgrade right away.
Ah, there's my thinking cap.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Lee,

May I suggest that you hold off on your upgrade until next week? My own sources are corroborating the rumor that we'll see the "Threshold 2" (aka "Fall Refresh") update next Tuesday. I run several versions of W10 in my various devices (from multiple test devices to production machines), and while I find that my own installs of W10 are serviceable, most folks know that the version of W10 out today was not the one that they wanted as the initial full release version. The Fall Refresh version should bring you to a version that incorporates all the improvements we've seen in the many MS Insider releases and sort of represents what most who know feel is the "real" Windows 10 initial release.

I don't think you'll run into any major issues if you upgrade from Win 8.x to Win10 this week, but most of the updates I've seen in the MS Insider process are quite large and can take from 20 - 40 minutes (feels like hours, LOL.) Anyway, if for no other reason than to save you the ordeal of a large update process twice within a week (?), I might suggest just waiting until the Fall Refresh is published. Again, I am told by reliable sources that this will become available next Tuesday (not sure if it will be AM or PM) or Wednesday...

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[Edit]: Tom (and other Lenovo users),

I am seeing much better results with the very latest W10 installs on several of my Lenovo devices. Note that I only use the ThinkPad line and those are business class, so my results may be different if someone is using a consumer grade device. One of the issues is drivers, and in many cases Lenovo includes some specific services (with resultant modified drivers) to provide things that long time users hold near and dear. (Some of them are not so desired by this community, perhaps.) In any case, the Lenovo (and a few others) situation has been steadily improving in the past few weeks and I would expect it to be pretty smooth with the Fall Refresh release. I will, of course, be putting our own devices through the process and report my findings. I hope this might save some of you some effort.
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Just my 2¢ and meant to be helpful.


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Lee,

May I suggest that you hold off on your upgrade until next week? My own sources are corroborating the rumor that we'll see the "Threshold 2" (aka "Fall Refresh") update next Tuesday. I run several versions of W10 in my various devices (from multiple test devices to production machines), and while I find that my own installs of W10 are serviceable, most folks know that the version of W10 out today was not the one that they wanted as the initial full release version. The Fall Refresh version should bring you to a version that incorporates all the improvements we've seen in the many MS Insider releases and sort of represents what most who know feel is the "real" Windows 10 initial release.

Thanks for that thought, Randall. It's now supposed to arrive Friday, so a little more wait won't hurt.
I wanted to wait a few months on buying, but my main computer has been acting a little flaky lately. Hanging during boot up, or just in use.
No malware found, all the tests are good. Think I need to reinstall windows, but reluctant to do so when I have no backup system.
The new box will fix that...

 

[Randall Garrett]

Glad to help, Lee! I know we all have better things to do than sit through a couple of massive upgrades just days apart ;-)

On another, yet related (?) topic, if you are having problems with your machine, I will recommend an inexpensive piece of software which is absolutely the best I have ever seen. I use it extensively myself on my own personal and business hard drives (rotating media only.) I've been using it for going on 25 years now. It is so stable that the most recent version (v6) was released over 10 years ago. The guy who wrote it is Steve Gibson - one of the few real computer geniuses. I am amazed when I run into a technician who is not familiar with it... Anyway, IF you have HDDs that have important data on them, I recommend running this on them from time to time. Be aware, though, that even the "fast" option takes a long time. I could go into why this is such a great program, but it would be better for you to read up on it IF it is something you are interested in getting. I think it costs a whopping $89 for something that may just save your butt...

SpinRite: https://www.grc.com/default.htm

Hope this helps, bud!


-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Interesting video he has explaining what Spinrite does, if a bit over my head.
Don't see how it applies to an SSD with no spinning parts.
C: with Windows and programs is an SSD, and D: is an HDD that just has my files.

 

[Randall Garrett]

Lee,

Sorry if I wasn't clear. SpinRite is not for SSDs - it is just for regular spinning media. Most folks these days are moving to SSD for their boot drive, but many still have traditional spinning HDDs for their data, back-up/archive, etc. and I recommend SpinRite for those drives to keep them healthy. Even on a sick drive, it can work wonders.

Hope this helps!

-Randall Garrett-
+Apex Software+

/end/

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Interesting. I may end up with a new 8.1 machine - I am administrator of an estate and the heirs want me to take the computer (< 1 yr old) - I really don't need it. I have 6 including a tablet and I just gave away a netbook and another tablet....both very serviceable. It has a very nice monitor though. We don't think it will bring over $200 in an auction.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

My new machine came in. Has Win 7 installed, and disks for 7 and 8.1.
It is on about the 5th of 6th round of installing windows updates and needing a reboot.
Never mind going to Win 10 yet. Spending the afternoon installing software and rebooting.