# Upgrade to Windows 10? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 13, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803 "2019-12-13T12:43:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CastletonSnob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ea924/32.png) [@CastletonSnob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CastletonSnob)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/1 "2019-12-13T12:43:25Z")
I currently use Windows 8.1. Should I upgrade to Windows 10? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/2 "2019-12-13T12:52:07Z")
Is Windows 8.1 broken for you? Is something you need not working? If the answer to both of these is “no,” AND you don’t want to upgrade, then no. If you’re just interested in upgrading, then yes. I’d make sure any old software you still use will work in Windows 10, but if you want to upgrade, then upgrade. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/3 "2019-12-13T13:01:30Z")
Yeah, it’s supported for a few more years, so that’s not a pressing reason to upgrade. if you get on OK with Windows 8.1, you’ll probably be fine with Windows 10, especially if you previously used windows XP, 7, or Vista and you miss the Start menu. The fullscreen Start tiles in Windows 10 don’t work quite like they did in Windows 8 - they scroll vertically rather than horizontally - I didn’t enjoy this change when I made the switch ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/4 "2019-12-13T13:01:59Z")
If you want it free - try contacting MS support: [Contact Us - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/5 "2019-12-13T14:54:40Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > If you want it free - try contacting MS support: [Contact Us - Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/contactus/) Or follow this method: > **[Still running Windows 7? Time is running out to upgrade to Windows 10. What...](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/still-running-windows-7-time-is-running-out-to-upgrade-to-windows-10-what-to-know/)** > > You can still get Windows 10 for free -- and you'll need it to get the free Windows 11 upgrade. The free upgrade to Win 10 offer _officially_ ended in 2016, but the Microsoft activation servers will still happily validate an upgrade using the official MS tool detailed in the link above. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/6 "2019-12-13T15:42:02Z")
I just did the upgrade on a windows 8.1 machine about a week and a half ago it was completely free and it worked fine. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/7 "2019-12-13T15:44:56Z")
I’ve never understood the reticence to upgrade, at least not when there’s a better alternative available. I mean, I get not upgrading XP to Vista, or Win 7 to win 8/8.1, but not upgrading a known turd to a decent OS is baffling. Upgrading generally gets you better hardware support, better software support and better compatibility with the modern computing world in general. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/8 "2019-12-13T15:59:21Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’ve never understood the reticence to upgrade, at least not when there’s a better alternative available. I can’t speak for the OP, but every time I’ve upgraded from one version of Windows to another, it’s cost me a crap ton of money to also upgrade Office, Quicken, and whatever other software I was using my computer for in the first place to a version that was compatible with the new Windows version. Which is why the last time I upgraded, it was to Linux. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/9 "2019-12-13T16:04:55Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Upgrading generally gets you better hardware support, better software support and better compatibility with the modern computing world in general. And usually much better security. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/10 "2019-12-13T16:31:18Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I can’t speak for the OP, but every time I’ve upgraded from one version of Windows to another, it’s cost me a crap ton of money to also upgrade Office, Quicken, and whatever other software I was using my computer for in the first place to a version that was compatible with the new Windows version. Really? We’re running an antiquated version of Quicken on Windows 10. All we use it for is keeping up our checkbooks and my wife’s expense tracking, so it doesn’t have a lot of modern features and it works fine. I used an old version of Office for several OS upgrades too. Never had a problem from the OS version. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/11 "2019-12-13T16:36:28Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Really? We’re running an antiquated version of Quicken on Windows 10. All we use it for is keeping up our checkbooks and my wife’s expense tracking, so it doesn’t have a lot of modern features and it works fine. > I used an old version of Office for several OS upgrades too. Never had a problem from the OS version. Obviously, YMMV. I offered my experience. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/12 "2019-12-13T16:40:49Z")
[Moderating] Since this is asking for advice, let’s move it to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/13 "2019-12-13T16:50:02Z")
I don’t have an opinion re: whether it’s “worth it” to upgrade. But I have upgraded and have found that it’s relatively painless to upgrade and to learn W10. (Unlike most other upgrades which have been painful in varying degrees.) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/14 "2019-12-13T17:15:53Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I can’t speak for the OP, but every time I’ve upgraded from one version of Windows to another, it’s cost me a crap ton of money to also upgrade Office, Quicken, and whatever other software I was using my computer for in the first place to a version that was compatible with the new Windows version. > > Which is why the last time I upgraded, it was to Linux. How out of date do you let your stuff get? I’m still running Office 2013, and it works just fine with my up-to-date Windows 10 computer. I tend to think that if you’re not going to spend the time and effort to keep your software up to date, then you’re probably better off with a subscription service (office 365, for example) and setting Windows to automatically update. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/15 "2019-12-13T17:29:56Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I’ve never understood the reticence to upgrade, at least not when there’s a better alternative available. IF it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Every OS upgrade will cause a change in your work habits. Unless you are fascinated with OSes as a standalone product, you probably just want it to enable common programs, some of which may not work anymore after an upgrade. Your workflow may grind to a sudden halt if no program upgrade is available. Your data may become unreadable and not convertible; in sort, disaster. Not all OS upgrades are a bed of roses. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/16 "2019-12-13T17:59:33Z")
> [@bump](#): > > How out of date do you let your stuff get? Do you remember when Sheldon pulled out his enemies list and it was on a 5-1/4 inch floppy disk? That’s the ballpark. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BillGates](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d26b3c/32.png) [@BillGates](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillGates)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/17 "2019-12-13T18:00:43Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Or follow this method: > > [Still running Windows 7? Time is running out to upgrade to Windows 10. What to know - CNET](https://www.cnet.com/how-to/upgrade-to-windows-10-free-heres-how/) > > The free upgrade to Win 10 offer _officially_ ended in 2016, but the Microsoft activation servers will still happily validate an upgrade using the official MS tool detailed in the link above. Wow, I decided to bite the bullet today and try this out (despite really loving Win7) and it worked perfectly. Thank you for posting this! I had already been looking at purchase options for the inevitable Win10 upgrade, so this just saved me a lot of beer money. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/18 "2019-12-13T18:06:35Z")
> [@BillGates](#): > > Wow, I decided to bite the bullet today and try this out (despite really loving Win7) and it worked perfectly. Thank you for posting this! I had already been looking at purchase options for the inevitable Win10 upgrade, so this just saved me a lot of beer money. Cheers! No problem, Mr Gates! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2019, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/19 "2019-12-13T18:16:37Z")
I’m finally upgrading from Win 7 pro in the new year for security reasons. Why not upgrade immediately or delay for a couple of years? 1. If it ain’t broke … 2. Most important - get the bugs out. Took many many updates to get a stable Win 10. And more than a few PIT threads to get Microsoft’s attention. (They are avid Dopers) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803/20 "2019-12-14T01:51:06Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Do you remember when Sheldon pulled out his enemies list and it was on a 5-1/4 inch floppy disk? That’s the ballpark. 😉 Newbie. My Quicken came on DECTape. 😃 I did upgrade office due to compatibility issues with other people though. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/upgrade-to-windows-10/844803.md?page=2)