# The Windows 10 free upgrade thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 1, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329 "2015-06-01T13:02:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/61 "2015-06-02T15:45:16Z")
Nava: > [@](#): > > Uhm… my win8.1 laptop has all those. It does? In “Metro” mode? Because if you’re talking about the “Desktop” mode, then that’s not really the Win8 interface, it’s the Win7 interface. And even then, I get that blasted settings bar popping up half the time I want to use the vertical scroll bar on the far right of my screen. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/62 "2015-06-02T16:28:29Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Nava: > > It does? In “Metro” mode? > > Because if you’re talking about the “Desktop” mode, then that’s not really the Win8 interface, it’s the Win7 interface. what nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/63 "2015-06-02T17:07:48Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Mangetout: > The ability to nest folders of applications rather than having to look through “All Apps”. Do you mean nest them in the Start Menu? (which I already acknowledged missing). > [@](#): > > The ability to have multiple open apps visible at the same time The same in Win8 as in previous versions. Unless you mean Metro/Modern UI apps, which you are not in any way obliged to use. Ordinary Windows apps (the kind you are currently using in Win7/Vista/XP) work the same way they always did > [@](#): > > Tool tray for ready display of date/time, connection status, battery life (on laptop), volume, etc These all exist in Windows 8 > [@](#): > > The ability to navigate the right-hand side of the screen without an unwanted panel popping up and intercepting your clicks I asked about things **you claimed are missing from Win8** , but this can be very simply configured not to do that, one time, when you first set up the machine. The first Google result from a search such as ‘annoying charms bar’ will describe the method. You may object that you shouldn’t have to configure anything, but I don’t believe you will have ever unboxed a new computer and not needed to configure _something_. > [@](#): > > The ability to customize your desktop background with an image of your choosing rather than it being filled with big rectangular app icons You can do this. You do know that Win8 has a desktop, right? > [@](#): > > I’m sure I can think of more, but the above should be sufficient for our purposes. Apparently not. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/64 "2015-06-02T17:13:29Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Because if you’re talking about the “Desktop” mode, then that’s not really the Win8 interface, it’s the Win7 interface. Why are you calling it the Win7 interface, when it’s really the Windows Vista interface? No, wait, the Windows XP interface. No, wait, the Windows 9x interface… It’s just the Windows Desktop, and it’s still there in Windows 8.x ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/65 "2015-06-02T18:44:41Z")
I got the button on my PC at home so I fired up the tablet that I rarely use, thus far no button. I went to the Microsoft site on the tablet and clicked the ‘Reserve Free Upgrade’ button and nothing happened. I might just have to wait until the end of July and download it directly. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/66 "2015-06-02T19:25:57Z")
Mangetout: > [@](#): > > Do you mean nest them in the Start Menu? (which I already acknowledged missing). Or anywhere in the Metro interface. You can group your applications, but you can’t hide sub-groups, they’ll just be listed together within the full list. > [@](#): > > Unless you mean Metro/Modern UI apps, which you are not in any way obliged to use. Ordinary Windows apps (the kind you are currently using in Win7/Vista/XP) work the same way they always did In which case, why upgrade? > [@](#): > > These all exist in Windows 8 Only in desktop mode, or on the appearing and disappearing charms bar. > [@](#): > > I asked about things you claimed are missing from Win8, but this can be very simply configured not to do that, one time, when you first set up the machine. The first Google result from a search such as ‘annoying charms bar’ will describe the method. Apparently, this was added in 8.1. Which means that even though I could have googled that phrase and solved the problem since then, there was still at least a year where there was no recourse without acquiring an external tool. > [@](#): > > Why are you calling it the Win7 interface, when it’s really the Windows Vista interface? > > No, wait, the Windows XP interface. > > No, wait, the Windows 9x interface… > > It’s just the Windows Desktop, and it’s still there in Windows 8.x Of course you’re right that that’s the basic look and feel of Windows in all versions since 95. But don’t tell me that that’s “Windows 8”. It’s the old interface. It’s nice that Microsoft has kept it for people to use if they want to, but if the best answers to people’s problems with the new interface is “the old one is still there,” then clearly the addition of the new interface was a downgrade rather than an upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/67 "2015-06-02T19:43:36Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > It’s the old interface. It’s nice that Microsoft has kept it for people to use if they want to, but if the best answers to people’s problems with the new interface is “the old one is still there,” then clearly the addition of the new interface was a downgrade rather than an upgrade. I would agree. As would many (most?) people, including possibly even Microsoft themselves. Which is why it’s been taken out of W10. If you’re using Win 8 or 8.1 and you don’t like the interface, then you should give serious thought to upgrading to 10. It’s sorted out most, if not all, the issues with the metro UI. If you’re still using 7, though, and you’re happy with it, then you might as well stay with what you have - but don’t be surprised if new technologies come out in a year or two that 7 won’t support. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/68 "2015-06-02T20:34:40Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Mangetout: > Or anywhere in the Metro interface. You can group your applications, but you can’t hide sub-groups, they’ll just be listed together within the full list. Yes, as already acknowledged, the Start Menu, where you could create (I may say slow-to-navigate) nested folders of icons, is missing in Windows 8. The Start Menu is also missing and there is no Start Menu. That must be three things missing. Four if you include the Start Menu. > [@](#): > > In which case, why upgrade? More stable, leaner, faster, useful new features - but that’s a red herring - this wasn’t about reasons to upgrade or not, but your supposedly large list of missing features. > [@](#): > > Only in desktop mode, or on the appearing and disappearing charms bar. The desktop is part of Windows 8. > [@](#): > > Apparently, this was added in 8.1. Which means that even though I could have googled that phrase and solved the problem since then, there was still at least a year where there was no recourse without acquiring an external tool. True, but that was also at least 18 months ago, so hardly relevant now. > [@](#): > > Of course you’re right that that’s the basic look and feel of Windows in all versions since 95. > > But don’t tell me that that’s “Windows 8”. It’s the old interface. It’s Windows. It seems to help you hate the newer versions to characterise it as something other than what it actually is. I guess there’s no fixing that, but it’s Windows - and it will still be Windows when it appears in Win10 - revived as the primary interface again (as indeed it is in Windows 8.1 anyway) > [@](#): > > It’s nice that Microsoft has kept it for people to use if they want to, but if the best answers to people’s problems with the new interface is “the old one is still there,” then clearly the addition of the new interface was a downgrade rather than an upgrade. Are you expecting me to leap to defend the honour of Metro/Modern UI? It’s an additional interface (neither an upgrade nor a downgrade), designed for touch, not especially mature in its released form as seen in Win8, and _entirely optional_. You are not obliged to use it. But I thought we were going to be talking about your list of missing features, not very much you have listed so far is, in fact, missing, except, y’know, Start Menu. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/69 "2015-06-02T20:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > So my question is for all you geeks who love Win 10: What does it actually do?(for the average person like me). > So far, people are saying things like "I installed it, and gee whiz, my computer still works just like it used to!!! Isn’t that awesome!!! Have people actually downloaded Win10 anywhere and have made these comments? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/70 "2015-06-02T21:23:06Z")
Mangetout: > [@](#): > > Yes, as already acknowledged, the Start Menu, where you could create (I may say slow-to-navigate) nested folders of icons, is missing in Windows 8. The Start Menu is also missing and there is no Start Menu. That must be three things missing. Four if you include the Start Menu. There’s no reason that the Metro Interface couldn’t have done nesting. That’s not a feature that inherently required the Start Menu in its pre-Win8 form. The tool tray is not inherently linked to the start menu, either. > [@](#): > > More stable, leaner, faster, useful new features - but that’s a red herring - this wasn’t about reasons to upgrade or not, but your supposedly large list of missing features. I already listed a few, which you stubbornly insist are simply pining for the Start Menu, but which could have been part of the new interface if Microsoft wanted to put it in. I also mentioned DVD play and the inclusion of the usual games, to which the answer is that I can get them from outside vendors or the App Store, which does mean that they were missing. (Incidentally, it seems that my complaints were echoed by enough other people that Microsoft is indeed including them with Win 10.) As for useful new features…I’m not saying they’re not there, but they didn’t need to get rid of existing features (without an equivalent in the new interface) in order to put them in. > [@](#): > > The desktop is part of Windows 8. It’s the part of Windows 8 which was not changed (well, now that 8.1 restored the Start Menu) since Windows 7. So you might as well still use Windows 7. > [@](#): > > True, but that was also at least 18 months ago, so hardly relevant now. Relevant to a hesitation to upgrade to 10.0 (not the hypothetical 10.1), knowing that 8.0 threw users into the pool without a life preserver for a year. > [@](#): > > Are you expecting me to leap to defend the honour of Metro/Modern UI? It’s an additional interface (neither an upgrade nor a downgrade), designed for touch, not especially mature in its released form as seen in Win8, and entirely optional. You are not obliged to use it. Indeed not, but it’s clearly the most prominent change from Win7 to Win8. And, until 8.1, it couldn’t be avoided. All that said, I do like what I’m hearing about Win10. It seems Microsoft has been quite attentive to the criticisms of Win8. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/71 "2015-06-02T22:03:22Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Mangetout: > There’s no reason that the Metro Interface couldn’t have done nesting. I guess it could have. Would that have been enough to make it bearable to you? > [@](#): > > That’s not a feature that inherently required the Start Menu in its pre-Win8 form. The tool tray is not inherently linked to the start menu, either. The tool tray is not missing. > [@](#): > > I already listed a few, which you stubbornly insist are simply pining for the Start Menu Aside from the stuff that’s in the Start Menu (that is, the Start Menu itself and nested folders), you listed stuff that’s not actually missing. > [@](#): > > I also mentioned DVD play and the inclusion of the usual games, to which the answer is that I can get them from outside vendors or the App Store, which does mean that they were missing. Customising the installation by adding or removing applets and games has been a feature of Windows all along. I remember removing them from XP, and adding Character Map and some other features. It’s no more difficult now than it has ever been - all that’s changed is the assortment of the defaults that are spoon-fed to you. This is not a big deal and does not really make sense to call it missing functionality. It’s there if you want it. IMO, the assortment of included apps is more of an annoyance than the ones that are not present by default. I don’t need a news tile or a finance app (so I just installed them. I guess I could have just moaned on and on about it for years instead). > [@](#): > > All that said, I do like what I’m hearing about Win10. It seems Microsoft has been quite attentive to the criticisms of Win8. Of course. That makes neither of our viewpoints inherently right or wrong, however. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/72 "2015-06-03T04:03:37Z")
I just got this link in an email Microsoft sent me. It’s a windows 10 faq. > **[Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/upgrade-to-windows-10-faq-cce52341-7943-594e-72ce-e1cf00382445)** > > Learn how to upgrade your existing device to Windows 10 or buy a new PC. Get answers to common questions about upgrading to Windows 10. ---
**Author:** ![Ze\_Pr0fes0re](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8dc957/32.png) [@Ze\_Pr0fes0re](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ze_Pr0fes0re)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/73 "2015-06-03T07:35:42Z")
Considering how shit Win 8 is I can’t but think that Win 10 will be better. Then again, considering how much implanted spyware Windows keeps coming up with I am thinking of just reverting to Windows XP Black Edition (google) and Linux. Not that it will help since all new laptops including my own have Trusted Computing hardware in them. Man, this Orwellian world just has so much more color than that old movie. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/74 "2015-06-03T09:07:46Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Merneith: > If I have the one I like, why should I push myself to “cope with” a new one that I like less? Learning to cope take a grand total of fifteen minutes. Fifteen seconds if you notice the big giant tile labelled, “Desktop”. Oh, there’s more to it than that, but nothing someone of your technical aptitude will ever need to notice. The reason you should learn to cope - and not just with Win 8, either - is because you’re getting old. It’s nothing personal. We’re all getting old and at an alarming rate. People’s ability to cope with new technology and new situations in general declines as they get older. This is a serious problem because as humans, learning to adapt to changing circumstances is our major evolutionary advantage. We’re not fast or strong or agile. We’re smart. That’s it. Fortunately, that’s enough. You could put your brain on a shelf and refuse to learn anything new but it will hasten the day when you’re _incapable_ of learning everything new. As human, you should be doing everything in your power to put off that point. I play new games constantly and I learn new interfaces and rule sets all the time. This is because I love games, and because UI design intrigues me, and yes, also because I’m not done using my brain, yet, and I’d like it to stay flexible for a few more years. The start menu is there in Win 8. It looks different but it works just fine. There’s actually good reasons for why it’s not just a list of nested folders any more, but it doesn’t really matter. Go watch a youtube video and figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/75 "2015-06-03T10:10:04Z")
> [@Ze\_Pr0fes0re](#): > > Considering how shit Win 8 is I can’t but think that Win 10 will be better. > Then again, considering how much implanted spyware Windows keeps coming up with I am thinking of just reverting to Windows XP Black Edition (google) and Linux. > > Not that it will help since all new laptops including my own have Trusted Computing hardware in them. > Man, this Orwellian world just has so much more color than that old movie. sounds like somebody just started college. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/76 "2015-06-03T10:39:40Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > BigT: > > Yes, I’ve heard that you can get these things in Windows 8 by going out of your way to visit the Microsoft App Store, and hey, if while you’re looking for the stuff you came to get, maybe you’ll see other stuff any buy it too! I hate that kind of marketing. > > … hmm, I have never been able to download anything from the app store. So far that’s been a minor nuisance. I wonder if I will even be able to upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/77 "2015-06-03T13:00:01Z")
I’m vaguely excited for this. It seems like it’ll work great on my Surface Pro. Plus, I’m interested in its connection with the Xbox One. Xbox streaming on PC will save my marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Kalea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kalea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalea)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/78 "2015-06-05T01:59:57Z")
I’m in… on my personal laptop only. I’m going to dogfood it early for my family and friends. Once I can report that I’m satisfied with it, I’ll let them quiz me, play around with my laptop, and make their own decisions. I will force my husband to do it July 28, 2016, because I don’t want to have to pay. For my work laptop… that’s out of my hands. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/79 "2015-06-05T03:58:20Z")
I’m running Windows 7 through BootCamp on a partitioned Macbook Pro. I’m very hesitant to do this because 1) I like Windows 7 and 2) I’m convinced, based on nothing at all, that the new install will somehow bung up my current setup. Am I just being paranoid? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2015, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/80 "2015-06-05T05:58:24Z")
> [@chizzuk](#): > > I’m running Windows 7 through BootCamp on a partitioned Macbook Pro. I’m very hesitant to do this because 1) I like Windows 7 and 2) I’m convinced, based on nothing at all, that the new install will somehow bung up my current setup. Am I just being paranoid? Maybe not so paranoid, since BootCamp uses a lot of Apple-supplied drivers that may not work anymore on Windows 10. Are you doing something “seriously hard core” in Windows? Why not just ditch BootCamp and use Fusion or Parallels? Parallels works better than my actual Dell PC at work. They both make it easy to backup, copy, restore, snapshot, etc., entire operating systems – and not just Windows (if you want to play around with Ubuntu, do so, and then trash it later). In my case I’ll duplicate my Windows 8.1 installation (so it can continue to be 8.1), and then upgrade the new copy to Windows 10. Space on an MBP is certainly at a premium, but once you’re happy with Windows 10, you can trash the Win7 image. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329.md?page=5)