Introduction to Windows 10 Windsor Senior Computer Users Group October 12, 2015
Should you upgrade?
Availability Windows 10 will be available as a free upgrade (until July 2016) for anyone with a valid of Copy of Windows 7 SP 1 or Windows 8.1 All updates must be installed before you can install it. It can be uninstalled and return you to your previous operating system for 30 days after installation Updates will install automatically. Timed restarts. Not compatible with Windows RT
What s New? Start Menu Edge Browser - default instead of IE Cortana, both typing and voice uses Bing for search Virtual Desktops Action Center Continuum Settings
The Start Menu Has elements of both Windows 7 and 8
Edge Browser Edge is the Default Browser unless changed Faster and more secure than IE More closely adheres to Web standards Has a reading function to save a page to read later Allows you to mark up a web page with text, drawing or highlighting Uses Bing as its search engine can be changed with difficulty
Cortana Cortana is now the search tool from within Windows 10 It will search both your computer and the internet using Bing. You can either type in the box or use a microphone if you have one. A dedicated microphone works better than the one built into a laptop.
Virtual Desktops Virtual desktops give you the ability to have multiple screens which you can switch between to see different programs
Action Center The Action Center is a means for Windows to provide you information about your system. It is located in the notification bar.
Continuum is designed to simplify the transition from keyboard and mouse systems to touch screen tablet mode on convertible devices. Continuum
Settings Settings is replacing Control Panel
New Features Windows Hello (facial, iris or fingerprint recognition) facial recognition will require a special camera currently only available in a few computers Maps are downloadable for offline viewing Print to PDF Universal Apps (Office Mobile) Improved Apps Windows key + Prt Scr to capture screenshots
What s Different App Windows are resizable, drag to side or corner to get ½ or ¼ screen, top for full screen Solitaire is back Mail, Calendar and Photo apps are improved The old calculator has been replaced by an app IE is still there for compatibility but is no longer the default browser Windows Store has been cleaned up and improved One Drive no longer stores thumbnails on your drive
What s Missing Media Center (previously part of Windows Ultimate) No DVD player (install VLC or another player) Win 8 Start screen Charms
How to Get and Install it Do a system backup first and print a copy of Belarc Advisor. Download the Bits - it will be free for the first year Run the Install to upgrade your 7 or 8.1 There is a good article on installing Windows 10 @ http://www.pcworld.com/article/2953843/windows/how-to-installwindows-10-on-your-pc.html It will test your system for compatibility You don t need a Windows account to install it. You can uninstall it for up to a month after you install it, reverting to your previous operating system
Do a system image backup Windows 7 Control Panel/Backup Windows 8 Go to File History Be sure to make the startup Disk when you make the backup if you don t have a Windows installation disk. (Trust me, you don t)
Run Belarc Advisor Download Belarc Advisor from www.belarc.com Print a copy of the results This will give you complete information about your system if you need to reference it, including your Windows key
Get the software and install You should be able to download and install the software from the Get Windows 10 icon in your notification bar. As part of the upgrade your system will be tested for compatibility. Any problems will be reported and you can act accordingly. When you upgrade to Windows 10 you will get the same version as your current Windows i.e. Home to Home or Pro to Pro. You can t upgrade from Home to Pro at this time. Once installed you can upgrade by paying the appropriate fee. Because this is an upgrade all of your programs and data will still be there. However make a backup anyway.
While doing the install you will be prompted to create a Windows account. This is not necessary and will partially preserve your privacy but it will also limit some functionality.
Uninstalling Windows 10 You can uninstall Windows 10 from the settings menu. Go to update and security and then recovery. You will see restore Windows 7 (or 8). Choose it and it will revert back
Once you are sure that you want to stay with Windows 10 you can run disk cleanup to remove all of the old Windows which is stored on your computer. This will free up considerable space on your hard drive. After 30 days Windows will remove the files automatically.
If you are past 30 days or something else has gone wrong you will need to restore from the backup you made. When you have completed your install you can download an.iso file to create a DVD with the Windows 10 installation files in case you need to do a reinstall at some point. If you do need to do a reinstall from scratch you will need your Windows product key. This will be on the Belarc report you saved from before your upgrade. If you skipped that step you will need to buy a copy of Windows 10.