Windows 10 upgrade notification

[chris watton]

I wonder if anyone can tell me, I almost upgraded to the free Windows 10 today, but I was worried that I'd need to re-install all of my programs (CAD,DTP etc.), all of which takes an age and is a royal PITA due to multiple key codes and activation codes. (They are all legal, bought and paid for, I just don't want the hassle of re-installation and configuring the multiple keyboard shortcuts..) Do all the existing programmes work OK after the upgrade?

[GlenMH]

chris watton said:

I wonder if anyone can tell me, I almost upgraded to the free Windows 10 today, but I was worried that I'd need to re-install all of my programs (CAD,DTP etc.), all of which takes an age and is a royal PITA due to multiple key codes and activation codes. (They are all legal, bought and paid for, I just don't want the hassle of re-installation and configuring the multiple keyboard shortcuts..) Do all the existing programmes work OK after the upgrade?

I have had a couple of minor issues but all of my major programs have worked seamlessly after the upgrade.

[chris watton]

GlenMH said:

chris watton said:

I wonder if anyone can tell me, I almost upgraded to the free Windows 10 today, but I was worried that I'd need to re-install all of my programs (CAD,DTP etc.), all of which takes an age and is a royal PITA due to multiple key codes and activation codes. (They are all legal, bought and paid for, I just don't want the hassle of re-installation and configuring the multiple keyboard shortcuts..) Do all the existing programmes work OK after the upgrade?

I have had a couple of minor issues but all of my major programs have worked seamlessly after the upgrade.

Cheers, that's good to know. TBH, I have never had issues with my W7 pro, I feel like it's upgrading just for the sake of it, not because I need to...

[R8VXF]

chris watton said:

Cheers, that's good to know. TBH, I have never had issues with my W7 pro, I feel like it's upgrading just for the sake of it, not because I need to...

Best time to do it because you have a month to roll back in

[jhfozzy]

chris watton said:

I wonder if anyone can tell me, I almost upgraded to the free Windows 10 today, but I was worried that I'd need to re-install all of my programs (CAD,DTP etc.), all of which takes an age and is a royal PITA due to multiple key codes and activation codes. (They are all legal, bought and paid for, I just don't want the hassle of re-installation and configuring the multiple keyboard shortcuts..) Do all the existing programmes work OK after the upgrade?

If you've got any programs work based or personal that you need to work:

1) Buy a new hard drive (perfect time for an SSD upgrade, as prices have come right down).

2) "Ghost" your old hard drive onto the new drive. (Sounds complicated but there are lots of free, simple to use programs for this)

3) Use your new drive to do the Win 10 upgrade.

If you get any problems with the upgrade or you find some programs don't work, simply plug in your old hard drive and you will be back on Win 7.

[Ste1987]

I'm quite happy with Windows 10. I hardly use the Start menu as all my favourite programs are pinned to the taskbar. One thing that bugs me though is the hard drive properties window. Can't believe after all these years they've changed the blue and pink pie chart to a blue and yellow ring! Probably something for the "things that annoy you beyond reason thread" haha!

[.Adam.]

Does anyone know if you can use the old OS you are upgrading from on another computer? So, I have upgraded from Win 8, so have a Win 8 key, and a Win 10 key. Can I go and install Win 8 on another machine with the original key, whilst still running the upgraded Win 10 on another computer, without Microsoft saying no way?

[lestag]

.Adam. said:

Does anyone know if you can use the old OS you are upgrading from on another computer? So, I have upgraded from Win 8, so have a Win 8 key, and a Win 10 key. Can I go and install Win 8 on another machine with the original key, whilst still running the upgraded Win 10 on another computer, without Microsoft saying no way?

1) You are breaking the licencing agreement
2) Unlikely anyhow (assuming this is an OEM version of Windows or Retail)

[8bit]

Anyone finding the cumulative updates are failing to install? Mine attempts the latest one every time it boots up, resulting in about four restarts to try and fail. I checked my update history and it seems to have happened with the three most recent ones.

[Digger]

Apologies if this has been asked already.

Just noticed my 5 year old Dell Inspiron laptop has the upgrade notification. Is there a method of being able to run a clean install having downloaded the update, but not yet installed over the current Win7 installation?

ie copying the download to a device and running the installation from it onto the reformatted hdd on the laptops?

[Oakey]

No, you need to upgrade and activate first, then do a clean install

[MarkRSi]

Oakey said:

No, you need to upgrade and activate first, then do a clean install

remember to get the key from the upgraded Windows 10 before wiping.

Although the Windows 10 upgrade is a fresh install of sorts (it doesn't reuse the old Windows folder, unless I'm mistaken?) so give it a go before wiping it.

[lestag]

I would use Veeam Endpoint backup https://www.veeam.com/endpoint-backup-free.html?ad... to backup the existing disk to an external drive, then start the upgrade and select not, to "upgrade" but to format the disk. this is an option in the upgrade. AND keep your old OS key and original DVD's just in case

[8bit]

MarkRSi said:

remember to get the key from the upgraded Windows 10 before wiping.

Although the Windows 10 upgrade is a fresh install of sorts (it doesn't reuse the old Windows folder, unless I'm mistaken?) so give it a go before wiping it.

Correct, although it retains installed software and existing user profiles so I guess there could be issues in there.

[james_tigerwoods]

8bit said:

MarkRSi said:

remember to get the key from the upgraded Windows 10 before wiping.

Although the Windows 10 upgrade is a fresh install of sorts (it doesn't reuse the old Windows folder, unless I'm mistaken?) so give it a go before wiping it.

Correct, although it retains installed software and existing user profiles so I guess there could be issues in there.

Idiot question - how do you make sure you get the right key?

[jimmyjimjim]

If you use magical jellybean keyfinder(others are available), you'll see; it extracts it for you.

[Munter]

My sticky mouse pointer when using the touch pad hasn't got any better yet. The USB mouse is still working fine.

But what I have noticed is the sticky touchpad appears to relate to graphics activity. I.e. watching youtube, if you run the pointer over the video you'll never get it to move again. If you try and click and drag it'll stick to the spot.

But none of these problems exist with a USB mouse. Seems most peculiar.

[GreigM]

Munter said:

My sticky mouse pointer when using the touch pad hasn't got any better yet. The USB mouse is still working fine.

But what I have noticed is the sticky touchpad appears to relate to graphics activity. I.e. watching youtube, if you run the pointer over the video you'll never get it to move again. If you try and click and drag it'll stick to the spot.

But none of these problems exist with a USB mouse. Seems most peculiar.

I had exactly the same issue but in reverse - with Win8.1 the mouse pointer was very funky, to the point I thought the touchpad was going south, but after the upgrade to Win10 it is perfect - definitely a driver issue.

[Mr Happy]

I've reverted back to 7, I gave 10 a good go but the constant failed update rollback with no way of stopping or skipping the update was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.

I'll probably give it a look in a year or two once it has matured out a bit more.

[chris watton]

I've decided not to install it at this time - I'll wait until I buy new PC components next year, and have it then. My current PC has been faultless since I put it together in early 2011 (over £3k worth of stuff including SSD OS and main program drive, but it has all stood the test of time brilliantly)

I have found that W7 has also been great, I feel no need to upgrade at this time.