Windows 10 - Should You Upgrade?

Windows 10 Coming Soon

January 30, 2016 Editor’s Note:  This post was published on June 9, 2015.  Please see our latest post on the subject at http://www.mbswi.com/2016/01/windows-10-upgrades/

If you have even a casual interest in computers, you have likely heard about the release of Windows 10. There is a lot of hype about this release and people have high expectations. The latest rumors say Windows 10 will be released in July.  Some sites say “it’s official” – Windows 10 will be released on July 29th, 2015.

This 1 1/4 minute video has nearly a million views in the first week:  Windows 10 Features

Our advice to business users is to hold off on the actual upgrade to Windows 10

The best policy is to upgrade ONE computer that runs your critical programs.

Windows 10 coming soon…should you upgrade?

After testing and confirming that everything works as expected, then go ahead with the rest.

Even at that,
I would let the early adopters work out some of the bugs before I get on board.

Naturally, make sure you have your critical information backed up before you start the process.

The download will be massive, and I’m sure it will take a LONG time to install.

Set aside time to plan, install, implement and test in round one (the One Computer evaluation).

Set aside plenty of time for the same in round two ( the rest of the network).

Microsoft has already released a Windows Update that prompts you to “sign up” for the free upgrade. You can go ahead with this if you like. The free upgrade offer (see our post from earlier this year:  http://www.mbswi.com/2015/02/free-upgrade-to-windows-10-big-news/)  will be good for one year after its release.

Learn more about your upgrade to Windows 10 at windows.com/windows10upgrade

*********

Please Contact Us if you’d like help testing, planning, installing and implementing Windows 10 on your network in the Greater Milwaukee / Lake Country area.  Our “sweet spot” is networks from a few to 50+ PCs.  Whatever you need, we’re happy to help, or at least to get you going in the right direction.

 

Windows 10 - Should You Upgrade?

Windows 10 Upgrades: Time To Get it Done!

Free Windows 10 Upgrades

Install your free Windows 10 Upgrades before the free offer expires! Last year we advised waiting till they shook out the bugs before upgrading….the time is now!  Do backups first!  Or simply contact us!

Free Windows 10 upgrades are offered by MicroSoft for “authentic” Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 installations.

If you have Windows Vista or older, you are out of luck. For you, the upgrade is possible, but not free.

The Free Windows 10 Upgrades offer expires on July 28, 2016.  It’s time to get going! (By the way, a client who bought a new laptop from Dell had a packaged offer for the free upgrade that expires in February!  (He called Dell Support to check on that, but gave up after an hour listening to music on hold, interspersed with messages about how much they cared about their customers.)

We recommend that you evaluate your software, back up your system, and upgrade ONE computer.   When you have tested it and you’re comfortable with it, the rest of your computers can be upgraded.

Although it’s possible to upgrade your computers one at a time over the Internet, using Windows Update, it’s not very efficient if you have a number of computers to upgrade. Microsoft has an ISO image available to make the process of Windows 10 upgrades easier.

The Windows 10 upgrades, and particularly the free offer, raise a lot of questions.  The best article I have found is: at ZDNet.

So, what have I seen so far when implementing Windows 10?

The Windows 10 upgrade takes quite a while to download and install.   If you have the option to “Download now, install later”, do so!

I have been running free Windows 10 upgrades for some time now.  The only oddities I have noticed are Internet-related.  Although Windows 10 uses the new Edge browser by default, Internet Explorer is still there, but you have to look for it! In my case, I use an online application that uses ActiveX to talk to QuickBooks. Edge does not support ActiveX.   So, for that application only, I use Internet Explorer, and that works just fine.  We found similar oddities for clients, and offered them similar workarounds right away.  Ensuring they kept running efficiently.

Also, your Internet favorites are not automatically imported into Edge.  The first time you run Edge, it should give you the option to import Favorites.  If you missed that, you can open Edge, click “…” in the upper right corner, and click “View Favorites Settings”.  Here, you will see the option to import favorites from Internet Explorer.

Windows 10 Upgrades – The Time is Now

When using Edge, click the button that looks like three horizontal lines. This is referred to as the “Hub”.   At the top of the Hub, you’ll see buttons to show your favorites, reading list, history, and downloads.  Click the star to view your favorites.

In a couple cases, the user’s start menu items disappear. If that happens to you, call us.

You can do the free Windows 10 upgrades, or have a professional do the backups and implementation for you.  We’ve successfully installed or supervised the install of scores of free Windows 10 upgrades – even though many installations included little ‘surprises’ we had to overcome!

Contact us if you’re ready to get going with Windows 10. The time is now!

Windows 10 Upgrades: Time To Get it Done!

Windows 10 Upgrades: Time To Get it Done!

Free Windows 10 Upgrades

Install your free Windows 10 Upgrades before the free offer expires! Last year we advised waiting till they shook out the bugs before upgrading….the time is now!  Do backups first!  Or simply contact us!

Free Windows 10 upgrades are offered by MicroSoft for “authentic” Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 installations.

If you have Windows Vista or older, you are out of luck. For you, the upgrade is possible, but not free.

The Free Windows 10 Upgrades offer expires on July 28, 2016.  It’s time to get going! (By the way, a client who bought a new laptop from Dell had a packaged offer for the free upgrade that expires in February!  (He called Dell Support to check on that, but gave up after an hour listening to music on hold, interspersed with messages about how much they cared about their customers.)

We recommend that you evaluate your software, back up your system, and upgrade ONE computer.   When you have tested it and you’re comfortable with it, the rest of your computers can be upgraded.

Although it’s possible to upgrade your computers one at a time over the Internet, using Windows Update, it’s not very efficient if you have a number of computers to upgrade. Microsoft has an ISO image available to make the process of Windows 10 upgrades easier.

The Windows 10 upgrades, and particularly the free offer, raise a lot of questions.  The best article I have found is: at ZDNet.

So, what have I seen so far when implementing Windows 10?

The Windows 10 upgrade takes quite a while to download and install.   If you have the option to “Download now, install later”, do so!

I have been running free Windows 10 upgrades for some time now.  The only oddities I have noticed are Internet-related.  Although Windows 10 uses the new Edge browser by default, Internet Explorer is still there, but you have to look for it! In my case, I use an online application that uses ActiveX to talk to QuickBooks. Edge does not support ActiveX.   So, for that application only, I use Internet Explorer, and that works just fine.  We found similar oddities for clients, and offered them similar workarounds right away.  Ensuring they kept running efficiently.

Also, your Internet favorites are not automatically imported into Edge.  The first time you run Edge, it should give you the option to import Favorites.  If you missed that, you can open Edge, click “…” in the upper right corner, and click “View Favorites Settings”.  Here, you will see the option to import favorites from Internet Explorer.

Windows 10 Upgrades – The Time is Now

When using Edge, click the button that looks like three horizontal lines. This is referred to as the “Hub”.   At the top of the Hub, you’ll see buttons to show your favorites, reading list, history, and downloads.  Click the star to view your favorites.

In a couple cases, the user’s start menu items disappear. If that happens to you, call us.

You can do the free Windows 10 upgrades, or have a professional do the backups and implementation for you.  We’ve successfully installed or supervised the install of scores of free Windows 10 upgrades – even though many installations included little ‘surprises’ we had to overcome!

Contact us if you’re ready to get going with Windows 10. The time is now!

Windows 10 Upgrades: Time To Get it Done!

Windows 10 - Should You Upgrade?

Windows 10 Coming Soon

If you have even a casual interest in computers, you have likely heard about the release of Windows 10. There is a lot of hype about this release and people have high expectations. The latest rumors say Windows 10 will be released in July.  Some sites say “it’s official” – Windows 10 will be released on July 29th, 2015.

This 1 1/4 minute video has nearly a million views in the first week:  Windows 10 Features

Our advice to business users is to hold off on the actual upgrade to Windows 10

The best policy is to upgrade ONE computer that runs your critical programs.

Windows 10 coming soon…should you upgrade?

After testing and confirming that everything works as expected, then go ahead with the rest.

Even at that,
I would let the early adopters work out some of the bugs before I get on board.

Naturally, make sure you have your critical information backed up before you start the process.

The download will be massive, and I’m sure it will take a LONG time to install.

Set aside time to plan, install, implement and test in round one (the One Computer evaluation).

Set aside plenty of time for the same in round two ( the rest of the network).

Microsoft has already released a Windows Update that prompts you to “sign up” for the free upgrade. You can go ahead with this if you like. The free upgrade offer (see our post from earlier this year:  http://www.mbswi.com/2015/02/free-upgrade-to-windows-10-big-news/)  will be good for one year after its release.

Learn more about your upgrade to Windows 10 at windows.com/windows10upgrade

*********

Please Contact Us if you’d like help testing, planning, installing and implementing Windows 10 on your network in the Greater Milwaukee / Lake Country area.  Our “sweet spot” is networks from a few to 50+ PCs.  Whatever you need, we’re happy to help, or at least to get you going in the right direction.

 

Windows 10 - Should You Upgrade?

Free Upgrade to Windows 10 - BIG NEWS

I’d heard some rumors and simply did not believe them.

Microsoft is good at some things and lousy at others.  What they are best at is making money!  So the rumors that Microsoft would offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 made me laugh.

But seriously, folks, it’s TRUE! According to their web site, they will offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 devices for a period of one year.

Windows 10 Free Upgrade Offer

I am waiting for details of this plan, but in the meantime, you can read about it here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/about

While you’re there, be sure to give them your email address so they can notify you when your Free Upgrade to Windows 10 is available.

Remember, when something is free, you usually get what you pay for.  Do your backups.  Check your security after the new Windows 10 install.  Or contact us and stay on the right track.  We’ll save you money on licensing, and an ounce of protection in security and backups is worth at least ten pounds of cure!

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Free Upgrade to Windows 10 - BIG NEWS