[Dragon]

Is anyone not getting the icon? I'm on Polish version of Windows 7, likewise the laptop has a debloated ("N" version) Polish (I think) Win 8.1 installed. Neither seems to be getting the notification. Do language and localization matter here?

Also, it just hit me, is it going to be possible to go from 32bit to 64bit during the upgrade? I guess not. I want the 64bit version for my new PC (that I'm going to be putting together at some point), so I will probably need a new, Win 10 specific license. I hope Dreamspark gets that one added pretty soon.

[jr2]

You can use ESD decrypter to convert the ESD or WIM file to an ISO (the exe will extract an esd or wim to the \sources directoy; esd files are highly compressed wim files)

Any difference between WIM and ESD?

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_install/instructions-create-a-bootable-iso-file-using-esd/d2768b51-221a-436e-af4e-d3b9118a8864    <== Get ESD Decrypter here

[Mongoose]

Also, having used Win10 beta builds for a good while now, I can say that your "Mah Win7 puters will be left bloody alone" comments are ridiculous. Get on with times people. We don't want Win7 to be yet another WinXP.

And why not?  The whole "upgrade just because there's a new version out" argument has always seemed incredibly fallacious to me (especially when you consider the obscene amount of e-waste it's generated from cell phones, but that's a whole other topic).  To the vast majority of end-users, including many that are generally technically competent, upgrading an OS doesn't convey much benefit other than putting a shiny new coat of paint on everything.  The actual day-to-day functionality of their computer hasn't changed, and indeed their workflow might be disrupted for some time (or permanently, if we're talking about the garbage that is 8) while they acclimate themselves to a new UI and layouts.  There were a few reasons I never bothered to update this ancient ****box beyond XP: I was too cheap (and broke) to fork out $100 or so for an OS upgrade, I wasn't quite sure that this thing could even run 7 smoothly, and I figured that I'd be building my first actual gaming rig in the reasonable future anyway (not yet, but hopefully soon!).  But besides all of that, the fact remained that XP continued to simply just work for me in my everyday tasks.  It's only within the past several months, now that the OS is officially decrepit, that some of my programs have stopped supporting it, which I fully understand at this point.

More on-topic, even if I had 7 now, I don't think I'd go for the free option anyway, since (unless I'm reading this wrong) the fact that it's an upgrade means that you wouldn't be able to use the two alongside each other.

[Klaustrophobia]

The more I look into this, the less I want 10.  Really, the only thing left to recommend it for my 8.1 laptop is the return of the start menu.  Cortana might be somewhat neat, but it looks more gimmicky than useful, and I suspect it will eventually annoy me instead.  It's becoming clear that MS is trying to usher out the traditional desktop setup in favor of tablet/phone style and "everything must talk to everything else (including our servers) all the time."  I fear 7 is going to be the last OS that actually makes sense for me, and once it goes the way of XP I'll be left with no more enjoyable desktop experience. 

As for the insistent "just install it anyway" posts:

NO

What the hell kind of sense does it make to "upgrade" to an OS that I like less IN EVERY SINGLE WAY to the one I currently use?  And if everyone used just this small bit of logic, the "you'll be left behind" argument wouldn't hold water anymore either.  If no one used it, all the software developers would lose their market if they stopped supporting 7.  Travesties like windows 8 only happen because microsoft can use its muscle to push it whether it's actually better or not, and the vast majority of consumers just go along with it.

[The E]

The more I look into this, the less I want 10.  Really, the only thing left to recommend it for my 8.1 laptop is the return of the start menu.  Cortana might be somewhat neat, but it looks more gimmicky than useful, and I suspect it will eventually annoy me instead.  It's becoming clear that MS is trying to usher out the traditional desktop setup in favor of tablet/phone style and "everything must talk to everything else (including our servers) all the time."  I fear 7 is going to be the last OS that actually makes sense for me, and once it goes the way of XP I'll be left with no more enjoyable desktop experience. 

The differences in user experience between 7 and 10 are really minimal. The biggest departure in day-to-day usage is the Control Panel and Notification Center, and it's not like the average user is ever going to spend a lot of time there.

[Spoon]

Is anyone not getting the icon? I'm on Polish version of Windows 7, likewise the laptop has a debloated ("N" version) Polish (I think) Win 8.1 installed. Neither seems to be getting the notification. Do language and localization matter here?

I haven't seen the icon yet, I'm on an english version of Win 7. A friend of mine said he got it on his laptop with win 8.

I'm most likely going to stick with 7 myself for a long time. I'm happy with it, don't really care to have my workflow disturbed when I don't really get anything out of it. Kind of depends on how much win10 will suck or be awesome though. A lot of the new features are stuff I don't care about, I don't have a smart phone or a tablet that I want to share my desktop things with and such.

[BritishShivans]

I'm not getting the icon either, same thing as Spoon.

[Bobboau]

7 is going to be the last Windows OS that actually makes sense for me, and once it goes the way of XP I'll be left with Linux which has become much better in the last few years.

FTFY

gentle reminder, Steam is supported natively on Linux.

[jr2]

The reason to upgrade is that you will be left with a soon(-ish) to be unsupported OS instead of upgrading to a brand new OS that will be supported for a long(-ish) while, for free.  (If you upgrade grudgingly 2 years down the line when 10 is required for newer hardware / or 7 is unsupported like XP is now, you will fork over $$$$$)

So, upgrade it, if you don't like it, put it back, I do believe the license will not give you an issue.  When 10 is released, I'll check that out and post here with the results.

And, like I said, install 7 next to 7 in a different partition using the same license, then upgrade one of them to 10.  Back up / image the fresh installs of 7 and 10, then you can always go back.


It's not that I'm being "You MOST USE 10 it's shineee and nuuu"  I'm being "Why give MS your hard-earned $$$ later when you can upgrade for free and have your cake and eat it, too?".

If you don't get anything else out of this, consider:  The inner workings of 10 are at least slightly more robust than 7 due to advancements in the OS, I would kind of hope.  So, why not take advantage of the better engine, the longer support, and then, if you don't like the trim panels and paint job (UI), don't throw the car away -- the engine and frame are still good, use ClassicShell (which is already compatible with Win 10!!).

EDIT: If you want to go further down that classic trim & paint route, get UltraUXThemePatcher, which is also already compatible with Win 10.

Guide is here, with links to some classic themes (7 and XP and Classic {aka Win 2K}).

[Spoon]

The reason to upgrade is that you will be left with a soon(-ish) to be unsupported OS

2020 is still some way off.

(If you upgrade grudgingly 2 years down the line when 10 is required for newer hardware

I don't see us running into the limitations of 64bit any time soon. Aside from directx12, what kind of newer hardware would specifically require an OS newer than windows 7?

[Bobboau]

the kind that MS strongarms the component manufactures into making. though the bigger likelihood is win7 will just flat out not be available for sale.

[pecenipicek]

the kind that MS strongarms the component manufactures into making. though the bigger likelihood is win7 will just flat out not be available for sale.

drivers more precisely, and whatever ACPI ****ware gets plugged in to make our lives harder as well.
I've noticed with laptops in the last 2 or so years, installing 7 is almost completely not an option anymore, if you want to have everything work...

[jr2]

If that stays in the release build, that would be cool.

Unsure of exactly how that setting works, though.   From:

http://reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/38f539/another_interesting_nugget_i_stumbled_upon/

[Klaustrophobia]

When I was poking through the FAQ for the update notification, MS seemed to be actively dodging this question.  There was one question about cancelling the reservation/upgrade that was answered with the specific words "prior to installing."  At the very least, it seems they are going to discourage reverting to the extent they can get away with.  I'm betting a factory reset is going to be required to get 8.1 back.  Assuming 10 doesn't wipe the recovery drive.

[S-99]

I too would also like to know if an ISO or equivalent will be available for users to download. I much prefer to do clean Windows installs on my PC's over just upgrades.

Agreed very much so. Windows upgrades can be bloaty usually from old operating system directory and contents still being on the hard drive afterward. I would like the old method of upgrade when the installer asks for you to just toss in install disc of any supported previous version, spits it out, asks for upgrade disc again, and do a fresh install.

I'm just going to for the upgrade for the hell of it though (it's installed on my laptop since i got a used one that came with win7, hey, i honestly thought i'd be booting into win7 sometime). NT6 has become a decent base for current, and apparently future windows versions. Seeing as how 8 appears to be pretty stable, i think 10 will most likely be fine in this area with the usual expecteds.

UAC taking 5 minutes to pop when you try to install a program, making that program take 5 minutes longer to install.

Stupid **** like cortana crashing and reloading 20 times in a second bringing up a zillion "this program has stopped responding, find solution?" (idc), "did this program install correctly?" (it was bundled with the os numb nuts). Maybe there will be no way  to remove or disable (let alone **** her) cortana.

The new spartan web browser was made specificly be more compatible with the few remaining mirrors of gnaa (the ultimate browser media capability test).

There's an "xp mode". Where ticking that in the firewall gives 24/7 admin privileges to your system from a server by a third party contracted by microsoft that's specificly made to deal out nothing but worms, rootkits, browser toolbars, and bonzi-buddy.

Not only are some important features like dvd playback (use vlc ****ers), and windows media center (wmc actually was some what decent and many don't care for it going away) discontinued and no longer offered; microsoft replaced a pop up blocker for their flag ship web browser with a mode in internet options called "user blocker". "user-blocker" is advanced software coding that is always on and cannot be deactivated. Microsoft employees and win10 beta acolytes testing the browser at home noted superior pop up blocking abilities with "user blocker" on a common corner of the internet when mom was walking down the hallway yelling their sons name while en route to their room with a closed door compared to other parts of the day with door open and lights on, while browsing a different section of the internet such as knitting and kittens.

And windows 10 starter edition will have a background that you cannot change.

[MP-Ryan]

And windows 10 starter edition will have a background that you cannot change.

Which, if true (and I don't see any confirmation that a Starter edition exists in 10), is irrelevant, as all upgrade offers default to a minimum of Windows 10 Home.

Dragon, Shivans - Service Pack 1 is required to get the upgrade. Do you have it installed?

[S-99]

SP1 and the "GWX" update following. I'm ready for user blocker, are you?

[BirdofPrey]

Agreed very much so. Windows upgrades can be bloaty usually from old operating system directory and contents still being on the hard drive afterward. I would like the old method of upgrade when the installer asks for you to just toss in install disc of any supported previous version, spits it out, asks for upgrade disc again, and do a fresh install.

Screw the disc, just take my install key.

Honestly, I wish I could buy an OS upgrade and register that I do, in-fact, have a previous OS (or 5) and just let me use it as a full install disk rather than having to actually worry about the upgrade limitations when I wipe my PC.

[Klaustrophobia]

But piracy.

Because as everyone knows microsoft thinks, the less torrent versions are out there, the less people that can download it. 

[BirdofPrey]

But piracy.

Because as everyone knows microsoft thinks, the less torrent versions are out there, the less people that can download it. 

That's actually a point in facor of asking for my previous install code instead of required an older Windows actually being installed.  I don't know how Windows 8 is, but 7 at least (or maybe it was Vista) didn't even require you to activate windows to do the upgrade (I've actually done fresh installs that way, install the basic version, then run the upgrade for the pro version).