Recently, on this site, there was some posts about the upgrade to Windows 10 and my HP computer on Wednesday did the conversion, I thought you’d like to know. I upgraded because
- It extends tech support
- FINALLY Windows is fighting viruses, first in the way it is written. Then it gives you included “free” anti-virus and anti-spyware called Windows Defender, which I have used and it works.
- The Start Menu, now every enhanced is back!
- Downloading updates will be continuous, no more version .1 and .2. Again this makes it more secure.
- Microsoft Edge is a new browser and allegedly better than the old Internet Explorer which is still here, but a bit hidden.
Some have written that this is free because Microsoft was trying to make up for Windows 8. Not true, why would they allow previous versions to be upgraded? So that they can only give tech support for just one operating system. Don’t forget that MOST people don’t upgrade, they wait for their next computer. And the business and new computers still have to pay.
(Some even suggested that they skipped over Windows 9 to get far away from 8. Microsoft announced years ago that they would not have a Windows 9 because it would confuse certain systems that recognize Windows 95.)
YOU DON’T HAVE TO READ THIS PART:
Although Mac was the most innovative, Windows changed the world of computers and the world in general with Windows 95 and it’s upgrade Windows 98. Perhaps because the world was ready for it, perhaps because it was cheaper than the Mac, or because it concentrated on business programs, or, it allowed other developers to use it and therefore had much more software available, it seemed everyone got a computer. Windows Me was their first disaster and many people started using their more stable and reliable program for business Windows NT (Later called Windows 2000). Windows XP was very popular and it was based on NT, not 95. The HUGE problem here, not fixed until the current 10, is that Microsoft “left the backdoor open” for developers to create new products. And they created viruses, hacks, spyware etc. Everyone hated Vista, so much that Microsoft extended their tech support for a few years. People liked 7, but it to have its life extended when Microsoft made another mistake: Windows 8. 8 assumed everyone would be buying a laptop or replacing their desktop screens with a touchscreen, which no one did. They eliminated the start button, for no reason. Much of this was fixed in Windows 8.1. I did get a free download of the old start button and I was relatively satisfied with this.
OKAY: THIS IS ABOUT THE DOWNLOAD AND UPGRADE!!!!
Windows first sent software asking me to see if everything in the computer was compatible with the new 10. It was.
It took about three hours to download on a fast internet. I was asked a couple of times to “Agree” and the computer rebooted several times.
All my setting were successfully carried over. I played for about an hour, finding out where everything was. For example, and I show this in a picture here) The NEW START MENU (which is the windows button in the lower right) is convenient but huge and I did not know that the “ALL APPS” button was where my programs were. I put up what it looks like before and after you press the all apps button. The tiles, which are delectable and switchable, no longer take up the entire screen. I am not finished playing with them. I actually made my own start button, the Hal symbol on the bottom taskbar, it’ll be easier only because I am used to it.
There is an equivalent “Siri” function where you can talk or type into the machine to find documents, start programs, find files etc. I haven’t used it much yet.
The book, “Windows 10 The Missing Manual” by David Pogue was damn helpful. I just found old things and new thing quicker. I spent perhaps three to four hours in total getting everything straight.
My HP 2605 duplex color printer (bought in 2004, I believe) had been failing me and some functions were removed when I bought my 8.1 computer in April 2014. Well, the duplexing failed completely here, but the printer was on its last legs anyway, printing color very badly. The loss of two sided printing was the ONLY failure of the machine. But I did buy a new printer HP M452 and it installed as easy as pie.
The machine works well and faster than it did before. It’s generally easier with a lot more choices, but you can keep your previous settings
