Windows 10 became available yesterday. Here are some notes on the NickWorks findings so far:
(1) As a free upgrade to most editions of Windows 7 and 8, Windows 10 does not have an expiry date set (unlike all previous versions of Windows, which all had a defined life-cycle, forcing users to upgrade to later editions). This is seen as a GOOD THING.
(2) Most versions of Windows 10 have Windows update enforced. You can't opt out of updates, or turn particular updates off. This is seen as a BAD THING for 2 reasons
(a) If an update causes problems on a particular system, there is no way to stop it being applied.
(b) In future Microsoft could look at charging for parts of their service and users might have no way to keep Windows working without paying.
(3) Installation of Windows 10 is not difficult - it is an upgrade to Windows 7 or 8 only, and you need to start from a licensed working machine with an eligible copy of Windows on it. Your programs (which you now have to call "apps") and your personal data are preserved by default.
Most eligible users are being offered Windows 10 through a forced update which is placed in their system tray. Clicking on this allows you to start the update process - or check that your PC has suitable specification, and see which of your apps will be compatible.
(4) It is still possible to start the install without this, by visiting https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 - but you only need to read on if you did not get the automatic update offer.
There are two media creation tools available, 32 and 64 bit, so check your PCs architecture (to do this type "msinfo32" into the Run box and look at the entry "System type". x64 means a 64 bit system...X86 means 32 bit).
When you download and run the media creation tool, it allows you to choose whether to upgrade the current PC (in which case you don't have to tell it more about the system) - or to create the media for upgrading a different PC. If you choose the second option, you then have to tell it what options you want: Language, Windows 10 edition, and architecture (32 bit, 64 bit or both). The likely edition choices are Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro...the Pro version is for users upgrading from Pro and Ultimate editions of Windows 7 or 8. The "N" versions have no media player etc included.
If you are downloading for the upgrade of a different machine, you get the choice of "ISO file" or "USB flash drive". If you choose "ISO file" it will download the Windows 10 installer and save it as a .iso file which you would then have to burn to DVD, then using this bootable DVD as your install medium. If you choose "USB" it will require you to plug in a USB drive with at least 3GB free and any old content will be erased. You can then use this drive as your install medium by booting the target PC from it.
If you have chosen the "easy way" and run the media creation tool on the target PC, it will move on from downloading Windows 10 to doing the install. There is a choice of "what to keep" - the default is to keep personal data and apps. There may be a warning about the display language being reset. It then checks that there is enough disk space - and off it goes - my test took 40 minutes to do the upgrade after downloading finished.
