Who's upgrading to Windows 10?

[Starbuck]

In the three weeks since the new OS's debut, Windows 8.1 users have been the most willing to migrate.

 

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Windows 8.1 users have been half again as likely to upgrade to Windows 10 as their compatriots running Windows 7, data from a Web metrics vendor showed today, confirming expectations about who would upgrade first to Microsoft’s new operating system.

 

The ascension of Windows 10’s usage share has largely come at the expense of Windows 8.1, according to measurements by Irish analytics company StatCounter. Of the combined usage share losses posted by Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 since the last full week before Windows 10’s July 29 launch, 57% has been attributed to Windows 8.1 deserters.

 

Windows 7, meanwhile, contributed 37% of the losses by the last three editions, and Windows 8, 6%.

 

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The disparity was not unexpected: Most pundits and analysts figured that users of Windows 8.1—like Windows 7, eligible for a free upgrade—would be first in line to dump their existing OS and migrate to the new. The changes in Windows 10, including the restoration of the Start menu and windowed apps, were most attractive to Windows 8 and 8.1 users, experts believed, because their removal had been widely panned.

 

Simply put, Windows 7 users, who were more satisfied with the OS Microsoft gave them, would be less motivated to upgrade. That’s been proven out by StatCounter’s early numbers.

 

But there were recent signs that Windows 7 users have begun jumping to Windows 10 in numbers nearly equal to Windows 8.1.

 

During the week of August 10-16, the difference between the declines in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 was the smallest it’s been since Windows 10’s debut. In that week, Windows 7 lost 0.55 percentage points of usage share, only slightly less than the 0.64 percentage points given up by Windows 8.1. The week before—August 3-9—the gap between the two was much larger: Windows 7 lost 0.95 percentage points, while 8.1 declined by 1.42 points.

 

StatCounter’s data also illustrated just how important Windows 7 conversions will be to Windows 10’s ultimate success—as Microsoft has defined it, that would mean 1 billion devices running the operating system by mid-2018. Even if it coaxed every Windows 8 and 8.1 user into upgrading, Microsoft would be looking at a usage share of less than 21% for Windows 10. It must convince large segments of Windows 7’s base to migrate as well.

 

That may require modification of the Windows 10 pitch, perhaps with less talk about the return of the Start menu, say, and more about enhanced security. Working against Microsoft are a plethora of Windows 10 behaviors, particularly its mandated updates and the concurrent loss of control over what reaches customers’ devices and when. That has raised hackles among the traditionalists who stuck with Windows 7.

 

 

Source:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2972579/windows/whos-upgrading-to-windows-10.html#tk.rss_windows

[RandyL]

Windows 8.1 to Windows 10

 

My wife's laptop is Windows 8.1 and a recent build so I can upgrade it with no problems. I managed to configure it so we would never have to deal with all the forced crap and tiled apps and also setup shortcuts so I can access all the functions of the OS without the convoluted steps to do so.

 

However my wife loved the Windows 7 solitaire game which is not included in 8.1. By un-hiding files on 7 and 8.1 and copying as well as editing the registry and applying a patch (which anti-virus programs flag as a threat) I was able to install the old Microsoft games for her. The patch is no longer available from the link but I have a saved copy.

 

If I upgrade to 10 I don't know if I can do this again. So Microsoft by not including the game software as well as taking away other things leaves me to not only be hesitant to upgrade they have gave me a great incentive not to upgrade. I have to keep the wife happy. :)

 

Windows 7 to Windows 10

 

I have this on my desktop and it's fantastic. So the only reason I have to upgrade is the life cycle support. Based on the difference of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 I doubt Windows 10 can compare to Windows 7. I suppose I will also lose old software that I like including my pre-installed now discontinued Microsoft Works which includes an offline calendar. I will probably lose my Microsoft games like Solitaire too.

 

I did run the Microsoft upgrade advisor and it mostly checked out as OK however according to a check by this ZDNet article the processor should support PAE, NX, and SSE2 which my early build of Windows 7 does not. even though it is good processor.

 

Windows 10 updates

 

This is a huge issue with me. Since Windows 98 to now I have seen huge issues with faulty updates from Microsoft. As such I have always installed them manually one at a time and even then only after creating a restore point and having created a rescue disk in case Windows won't boot. This being done at a time of my choosing.

 

Windows 10 will not only install Windows updates automatically whether you like it or not at a time of their choosing but as I understand it they will also install certain third party updates such as driver updates which may install more then you choose if you went to the software site. Drivers in my personal opinion should not be updated unless needed as it may be problematic.

 

This article from Microsoft may be of some assistance in side stepping automatic updates but I offer no guarantee.

 

Conclusion

 

I doubt an upgrade for my Windows 7 is an option and I doubt I would want to upgrade.

 

I could upgrade my Windows 8.1 but is it worth it? I would probably lose much. Software, games etc. More importantly I would lose control of updates.

 

I would also have to reconfigure Windows 10 to turn off what is in my opinion Microsoft spyware or privacy settings.

 

It seems to me Microsoft could do better if they want people to migrate willingly.

[RustyKnight]

My reasons for not upgrading are mainly software and hardware issues.

 

For a start my anti-virus isn't compatible with Windows 10, and a lot of the other software I use regularly isn't compatible with 8 so I doubt its compatible with 10.

 

I was going to upgrade my convertible laptop from 8.1 to 10 but since finding out about the forced updates I've decided that's a bad idea too.

[Starbuck]

As there is a 12 month window to get the free upgrade, there's obviously no rush.

Maybe M$ will change things in the next 12 months.... depends what pressure is put on them.

[Teabags]

I decided to upgrade my Asus Windows 8.1 laptop rather than my W7 Pro desktop as I would rather mess that up and I don't like 8.1 with all the tiles and that annoying charms bar. The only downside of 10 was it slowed the computer down somewhat and the blue download circle kept flashing non-stop so I reverted back to 8.1 but it still kept flashing!!

Eventually more by trial and error I uninstalled some of the pre-installed Asus software such as cloud storage and gesture and that cured it, no more flashing blue circle.

[Starbuck]

Hi Teabags,

 

A lot of the time it's the manufacturers crapware that causes problems.

The beauty of Win10 is .... once you have completed the upgrade install, you can download an iso and perform a clean install of Win10.

This gets rid of all the rubbish that came with the system.

Most people agree that performing the clean install actually speeds up Win10 quite a bit.

[Teabags]

Thanks for that Starbuck. I wander if anyone else has this further problem as a consequence of reverting back to Windows 8.1. Windows10 is sitting in my update waiting to be downloaded again, but there is an important security update for Flash pending as well. When I ticked this Flash update to install, Windows10 keeps starting to reinstall itself again which I don't want. I am not sure what browser this security update is for as I use Chrome which I think has Flash embedded.

[Starbuck]

I am not sure what browser this security update is for as I use Chrome which I think has Flash embedded.

 

You're right, Chrome users don't have to download new versions of Flash Player.

Chrome automatically updates when new versions of Flash Player are available.

That way, users always have the latest security updates.

Select About Google Chrome under the Tools menu to verify that your Chrome browser is up-to-date. (The wrench icon near the Chrome address bar indicates the Tools menu.)

It can take some time before updates roll out to all Chrome users.

 

Do you have any other browsers installed?

The update may be for them.

 

I always download and install direct from the Adobe site.

 

Latest version: Version 19.0.0.185

 

https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

 

Unclick the optional offer of installing McAfee Security Scan before clicking Install now..... if you use the Adobe link.