Is the Windows 10 upgrade worth it? Is it safe? Should I do it?
I hear these questions and more almost every day. The first thing I ask people is “why are you thinking about upgrading?” The standard answer is “well, its newer, supposed to be better and its free.”
Remember, you get what you pay for.
The short answer is; Windows 7 – No, Windows 8 – Maybe, Windows 8.1 – Yes. (if hardware and software is compatible of course)
What follows are my methods and reasons for determining if an upgrade to Windows 10 is a good idea or not.
My first question with any upgrade to a new operating system is, will your hardware (are there compatible drivers for your hardware) work with it? Second question is will your software work with it? Those are the most important things to know since it is no good if you upgrade your computer and then find your hardware and software won’t work with your computer any more.
If your software is not compatible with the new operating system you don’t need to bother reading any further (unless you like learning new things).
If you have decided to pass on the upgrade to Windows 10 and are tired of receiving the update to Windows 10 nag you can remove it. You need to find the update #KB3035583. Once you
find it you remove it following the steps below.
In Windows 7 you;
1. Open Installed Updates by clicking the Start button and clicking Control Panel
2. In Control Panel click on Programs, and then, under Programs and Features, clicking View installed updates.
3. Click the update that you want to remove, and then click Uninstall. Administrator permission required If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
In Windows 8 or 8.1 you;
1. Go to Control Panel -> Programs -> Programs and Features and click on “View Installed Updates” on the left side bar of open Window. OR Press Windows Key + W to open the Setting
Search screen. Type Windows Update on the search box and Click on “View Installed Updates” on the search result.
2.It will show you the list of installed updates in your Windows 8 system.
3.Now select the update package that you want to uninstall. Right click your mouse on it and choose “Uninstall”.
4.User Account Control (UAC) will ask for your confirmation about removing the updates. Just Click on “Yes”.
5.Again UAC will ask you to save and close the open Application. Just Click on “Uninstall”.
6.Wait for some time till the uninstallation process for finishes.
7.Reboot Your System. That is it.
Recommendations for upgrading.
Windows 7
If you are running a computer (desktop or laptop) that came with Windows 7 as the original operating system do not upgrade to Windows 10. The odds are not good and you aren’t gaining anything. If you would like to experiment on your own computer on your own time that is up to you but be aware that a lot of Windows 7 computers are not compatible with Windows 10.
Windows 8
If you are running a computer (desktop or laptop) that came with Windows 8 (not 8.1) as the original operating system you have a 50/50 chance of the upgrade to Windows 10 will work. If you are going to try it then make sure you either back up your data (remember you can’t restore your programs (software) from a data backup) or create an image of your current system. A good program to create an image is clonezilla , burn your image to a DVD and store it on an external drive of some kind. This is a good idea any time you make big changes to your computer, I create disc images for my computers once a month. A disc image is only usable on the same computer and then only to restore the computer to a previous date or after replacing a hard drive with the operating system on it. You can’t use it to restore data to
the same computer or to a different computer. You still need a data backup.
Windows 8.1
If you are running a computer (desktop or laptop) that came with Windows 8.1 as the original operating system then upgrading to Windows 10 is a good idea. Windows 10 brings back a lot of Windows 7 features that a lot of people miss from Windows 8.1 and only a very few number of computers that came with 8.1 will have problems. Remember to check your peripherals to make sure they are compatible or you may find yourself buying a new printer, scanner or other device.
No matter what you decide to do remember to back up your data and create a disc image before performing the upgrade to Windows 10. If you decide to not perform the upgrade remember to back up your data on a regular (at least daily) basis.
Conclusion
The main reason there is so much interest in upgrading to Windows 10 is that it is free. Human nature makes it hard to pass up something for free. Just because it is free does not mean it is something that has to be done. Sometimes it is better to pass on the freebee and be happy with your old stable reliable computer.
If your old computer is no longer reliable then it is time to purchase a new one. An upgrade is not going to help, such is the cost of doing business.