Anyone here using Win 10 yet?

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 3:02 pm

I still haven't clicked on the icon yet.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 5:13 pm

I did a clean install on my tablet and PC. I really do like it, but I would suggest installing Classic Shell though. Also, I have the 32 and 64 bit ISO's if anyone needs/wants them. Just let me know and I will put up links.

Post by **Philip** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 5:13 pm

No, waiting a bit to see reviews/test it before I take the plunge. I'll probably just install it on my laptop, my desktop is still Windows 7.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Aug 01, 2015 9:50 pm

I upgraded from 7 to 10. Pretty painless. I'm happy with the start menu, only live tile I use is the weather one. Like the new task manager and how Task View and virtual desktops work.

Have Cortana heavily limited, but I'll play around with it later. Edge is nice but no adblock yet so I haven't given it much of a try, but its far better than IE from what I've seen.

Grabbed latest video, win8.1 sound drivers and let windows find the rest.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 7:29 pm

You can download ISO's here, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... /windows10 right from Microsoft. That tool will create bootable media for you if you want. I did the free upgrade on my 4 PC's here at home. I like the Windows 8.1 Start Screen/All Apps screen better that the 10 hybrid Start Screen/Start Menu. My upgrades were to 10 Pro, didn't lose anything other than Media center. I used the "Upgrade this PC now" option in the link I posted. After that I clean installed Enterprise on my laptop and didn't have to install one driver manually. Everything works as it should. I'm liking Windows 10.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:54 am

Download the appropriate ISO, use the creation tool https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/downloa ... nload-tool and do a clean install (if you PC, etc. came with 8 or 8.1 the Product Key is embedded in the BIOS so it should activate with no problem).

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 11:10 am

You have to upgrade and activate before you can clean install. If your doing the free upgrade. Your qualifying OS has to be installed to be verified. The Windows 8 embedded key is not used. When you upgrade and activate Windows 10 a hardware hash is stored on the activation server. After that you can clean install and just skip entering a key and it will activate. If you clean install on a system that was not already activated as I mentioned, you will be prompted to enter a key. If you skip entering a key it will fail activation. Windows 10 will not use Windows 8 keys.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 12:10 pm

Quit spreading the FUD. I just did it with my personal PC. If you have Windows 8 or 8.1 the OEM Product Key is embedded in the BIOS. You can do a clean install of Windows 10 and have it activate.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:42 pm

It's not FUD, typical response from you. What version of Windows 8 was preinstalled? What Version of 10 did you install? What you upgrade from determines what version you get. You can't just install any version you want for free. Did you ever have Windows 10 installed on that PC in the past, Insider Preview maybe? I've seen numerous reports of people doing clean install and activation fails. Start over and upgrade from your qualifying OS and Windows 10 activates. And stays activated on any further clean installs on that hardware. I was just trying to prevent someone from ending up in that situation. Check your key with a key checker, then Google the last 5 characters. Then see how many people have the same key. All four of my systems have the same key. Activation is done by my registered hardware hash created when I upgraded from Windows 8. My laptop has a Windows 8 Core OEM key, but Windows 8.1 Pro was installed when I did the upgrade. I got 10 Pro. Doing it your way, I would have got 10 Home.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 1:46 pm

If you use microsoft's creation tool it will make an iso with a windows 10 key if you did the reserve thing and are ready. If you make an iso and dont have a reserve key, or the creation tool cant detect your valid key, it will make an iso wihtout a windows 10 key.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 2:04 pm

Just going by what I was told by Microsoft as a Microsoft MVP. And info I've seen online like this.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-faq

What are the qualifications for the free upgrade?

The only requirements for the free Windows 10 Upgrade are that your device is compatible, and you’re running genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1.1

Can I reinstall Windows 10 on my computer after upgrading?

Yes. Once you’ve upgraded to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer, you will be able to reinstall, including a clean install, on the same device. You won’t need a product key for re-activations on the same hardware. If you make a meaningful change to your hardware, you may need to contact customer support to help with activation. You’ll also be able to create your own installation media like a USB drive or DVD, and use that to upgrade your device or reinstall after you’ve upgraded.

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 8:41 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:If you use microsoft's creation tool it will make an iso with a windows 10 key if you did the reserve thing and are ready. If you make an iso and dont have a reserve key, or the creation tool cant detect your valid key, it will make an iso wihtout a windows 10 key.

so i can reserve a copy now and then make an iso to do a clean install without doing the update process ?

i am still going to wait for awhile for sure,

i assume if you do the upgrade you have to reinstall all my programs and games ? ?

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Aug 04, 2015 9:59 pm

Mark wrote:so i can reserve a copy now and then make an iso to do a clean install without doing the update process ?

i am still going to wait for awhile for sure,

i assume if you do the upgrade you have to reinstall all my programs and games ? ?

I'm pretty sure thats how it goes, I'll double check with my buddy that did the full install without upgrading.

I upgraded and I didnt not have to reinstall all my games and programs. The only difference is that in add remove programs, the programs that were installed during the windows 7 time have "unavailable" listed for the size of the installation. They all work, and can be uninstalled or repaired if applicable.

Only thing that didnt work right was Speccy, and I had a really old version so that was probably why, uninstalled it and got the latest and all is good.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:51 am

If you added Media Center to Windows 8/8.1, its removed during the upgrade. Everything else is carrier over. You get an option during the upgrade to keep files and programs or not. Your choice. If you go here and run the tool. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... /windows10 There is an upgrade this PC now option. The required files are downloaded and the upgrade is done with no need to create media or boot to your install media. You can rollback to your previous OS if you want. You have 30 days to do that, but only because Windows deletes the files after that time. An automatic disk cleanup that deletes the Windows.old folder I believe. Run the tool a second time to create your install media or save an ISO. Or do all three. There is also a Get Windows 10 Application that gets installed on Windows 7 and 8 PC's that lets you reserve your free upgrade. I windows LOGO/ICON shows up in your notifications area. You click it and follow the instructions. Works pretty much the same as the upgrade your PC now option above, only slower and in steps. You'll get anotification that your free upgrade is reserved. Then one saying it started the process, validation, etc. I never got to the end. I lost patience and bailed, and used the Media Creation Tool I linked to. You have a whole year to take Microsoft up on the free offer so no rush. Some info here, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-faq

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:39 am

I'm sticking to my "You must upgrade to be sure of being able to clean install and activate at a latter date." I don't think the ISO is coded depending on what PC you download it on, and marked as OK for a free upgrade. One reason is you can use that same ISO to do clean installs on multiple PC's. Also, you can download any version you want, regardless of what OS your PC is running. What you get fro the free upgrade is based on what OS you upgrade on. 8.1 Core gets you 10 Home. Thus, you shouldn't be able to download 10 Pro and clean install it on 8.1 Core. There may be glitches in the system I don't know. I can't test all the scenarios. I think the whole point of the ISO download, is so you have your install media to do a clean install if need be. The way Microsoft wants you to upgrade is via the Upgrade This PC now option. IMHO.

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 9:51 am

I'm sure it's a good OS but I'd rather wait for a lot more hands on reports rather than what I hear in the media about it being great. Sometimes it sounds like people talking about how great a movie is that hasn't come out yet.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:04 am

My friend reserved, didn't not get the pop up to install, got the media tool, installed from usb and was good. He had 8.1 and it says activated. I wanted to be safe and make sure I got my key so I upgraded.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:19 am

Microsoft confused things when build 10240 went out to insiders. No watermark, no mention of Prerelease anywhere, and no detectable expiry date on the activation. Even if you were still receiving insider builds and hadn't opted out. And even on system that had done clean installs of the Insider Preview. Sparked all kinds of debate on whether it was RTM or not? And whether insiders were getting Windows 10 for free just for being an insider. Microsoft had said though, if you opted out on insider builds you were subject to the same requirements for the free upgrade as anybody else. Me, I'd rather be safe than sorry.

I had the Get Windows 10 App on all 4 of my PC's and was going to do the upgrade that way. I started things off around 8AM. By late afternoon all my PC's were stuck on Validating or Almost Ready. They had been on those screens for hours. I finally just gave up and used the Media Creation Tool instead. I had 4 PC's upgraded in an hour, hour and a half. I didn't time it, it was less than 2 hours though.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:11 pm

Came with Windows 8.1. Downloaded the 32 & 64 bit versions of Windows 10. Installed 64 bit on my desktop (activated as Windows 10 Home) Installed 32 bit on my Dell Venue 8 Pro (activated as Windows 10 Home). No product key was required and both were clean installs.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 1:13 pm

I had 8.1 on both devices so I already had the "Home" version so to speak anyway. Yes, to keep Pro you need to do the upgrade.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Wed Aug 05, 2015 4:08 pm

Home and Pro are two separate downloads. You had no choice but to install Home if that's what you downloaded. You could have downloaded Pro and clean installed it on the PC that came with 8.1 Pro. Whether your installs stay activated, only time will tell? All I can tell you is if I download install 8.1 Core from here, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... resh-media it will use my laptops 8.0 embedded key automatically and activates online automatically. If I download 8.1 Pro and try to install it on that same laptop, it rejects the key and prompts for one. I have to enter a Pro key to continue the install. If Windows 10 does the same thing, your 8.1 Pro key should have been refused when you installed 10 Home. It wasn't, which leads me to believe it doesn't look for Windows 8 keys. Just an observation mind you. Also, OEM Windows 7 PC's with no OS installed, will have no key to find. It's not embedded in the BIOS for Windows 7. No way to determine what version of Windows 7 was installed either to figure out what version to install as part of the free upgrade.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:41 am

Not really sure how to decipher your post. Neither my tablet or desktop came with 8.1 Pro.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:51 am

RaisinCain wrote:Not really sure how to decipher your post. Neither my tablet or desktop came with 8.1 Pro.

You said in your other post "Installed 32 bit on my Dell Venue 8 Pro (activated as Windows 10 Home)." I took that to mean it originally had 8 Pro on it? If yes, you are eligible for 10 Pro on that PC. In your next post you said " Yes, to keep Pro you need to do the upgrade." You install with the Pro media and you get pro, is all I'm saying.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:11 am

No. The tablet came with Home. Pro is just the model of the tablet.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 9:25 am

OK, my mistake then.

Mozz · Post by **Mozz** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 8:35 am

Hi,

I´m a newbie here

I haven´t had the guts yet to go to Windows10

. From what I hear it´s still a bit unstable, so I´ll wait for a while

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:20 am

Mozz wrote:Hi,

I´m a newbie here
I haven´t had the guts yet to go to Windows10 . From what I hear it´s still a bit unstable, so I´ll wait for a while

No. It is far from unstable. Quit spreading the FUD. Everything I used with 8 and 8.1 works fine with 10.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:30 am

Lots of people are having issues. I'm not but some are. You can always clean install after you upgrade. A lot depends on how stable your system is before you do the upgrade. I had a lot more issues with Insider builds that I do with the final release. Still needs work though, IMHO.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:52 am

If your current system runs 8 or 8.1 there should be no problem. 8.1 drivers will work with 10 if need be. If not, wait until 10 drivers are released for 10. FFS, if you are having issues, then you don't know what you are doing. We could go round and round. I know it depends on you specific situation.

Mozz · Post by **Mozz** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 9:58 am

Sorry, it was and is not my intention to spread anything...just my opinion. I have friends who got an update to Windows 10 and they've had problems. I definitely want to upgrade as I like what I have seen so far, but intend to wait a little more, until the problems are cleared...but as TheDude says, it could also be because of the previous system, I don't know

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Mon Aug 17, 2015 10:40 am

I'm sure I'll be moving to 10 within the next month or so. Although I see a lot of tech sites coming out with tips and other things I just don't sense a wave of exuberance like with Win 7.

Ashdaw · Post by **Ashdaw** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 8:12 am

I am using Windows 10 Pro on all 4 of my machines and I am very much impressed.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 8:40 am

FYI

It may not have been stated yet, but Windows 7 does not embed the product key in the bios, only Windows 8 does that and afaik, it only does it if the bios is set to secure boot AND if windows 8 came pre-installed on the comp. My windows 8 was installed without secure boot enabled, thus no bios embedded product key.

I won't be using windows 10 for at least another year, until the major bugs are sorted out, and the end user is given the option to remove specific MS apps and completely disable windows update.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 2:12 pm

TonyT wrote:FYI

It may not have been stated yet, but Windows 7 does not embed the product key in the bios, only Windows 8 does that and afaik, it only does it if the bios is set to secure boot AND if windows 8 came pre-installed on the comp. My windows 8 was installed without secure boot enabled, thus no bios embedded product key.

I won't be using windows 10 for at least another year, until the major bugs are sorted out, and the end user is given the option to remove specific MS apps and completely disable windows update.

Installing Windows 8 on a PC will not embed the key in the BIOS no matter what settings you use. If that's what your wondering? Only the OEM can embed the key in the BIOS. Flashing the BIOS does not alter it either. Where its stored is unaffected by a BIOS update.

TonyT · Post by **TonyT** » Wed Sep 16, 2015 7:37 pm

The Dude wrote:Installing Windows 8 on a PC will not embed the key in the BIOS no matter what settings you use. If that's what your wondering? Only the OEM can embed the key in the BIOS. Flashing the BIOS does not alter it either. Where its stored is unaffected by a BIOS update.

I know, thanks. I had said:

only Windows 8 does that and afaik, it only does it if the bios is set to secure boot AND if windows 8 came pre-installed on the comp.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:56 am

TonyT wrote:I know, thanks. I had said:

only Windows 8 does that and afaik, it only does it if the bios is set to secure boot AND if windows 8 came pre-installed on the comp.

Ok, wasn't 100%. It sounded like you were saying installing Windows 8 would embed the key. The key is still embedded even if secure boot is turned off. Official install media will still read it and use it with secure boot off too, as far as I know anyway. I've been told that, I haven't tried it myself though. I haven't been in a situation where I needed to turn secure boot off. I don't run Linux etc on my laptop, only Windows 8/8.1 and 10.

RaisinCain · Post by **RaisinCain** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:12 am

If you have a PC that came with 8 or 8.1 the key is embedded in the BIOS. If you install Windows 10 it will give you whatever version of 8 you had that came with the PC (Home, Pro). I have verified this recently numerous times.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Thu Sep 17, 2015 12:00 pm

What version of 10 you get via the free upgrade is determined by what OS your upgrading from, not what key is in the BIOS. My laptop has an 8.0 Core OEM embedded key, but was running 8.1 Pro. I got 10 Pro with my free upgrade. Also the Windows 8/8.1 key is not read or used by Windows 10 install media on a clean install. If I boot from my MSDN ISO I'm prompted to enter a key, if I click skip I'm prompted to select Home or Pro. If it was reading the OEM key it would just install Home without asking me. This is on my laptop that has an 8.0 Core OEM Embedded key. If you download an ISO with the Media Creation Tool, your options are Home or Pro, there is no multi edition ISO. Your deciding which one to install when you pick your ISO to use. If I use the Home ISO on my laptop it will prompt for a key. I can click skip and install anyway but it will not activate. If I use the Pro ISO and do the same thing it will activate. It activates because Pro was what I got with my Free upgrade. The original Pro activation on that PC is stored on the activation server.

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:26 pm

The Dude wrote:Installing Windows 8 on a PC will not embed the key in the BIOS no matter what settings you use. If that's what your wondering? Only the OEM can embed the key in the BIOS. Flashing the BIOS does not alter it either. Where its stored is unaffected by a BIOS update.

from what I know about slic, It's not even a key that is embedded. it is a Cert specific to that OEM. hence when you do a bios update, you are overwriting the bios and the cert, but the same cert is embedded in that new bios also. so upon OS activation. that small OEM folder you usually see in the iso's. they contain the other cert for that manf. and a generic universal key that is used to authenticate against the cert in the bios.

I have made many a batch file to facilitate this OEM activation with MDT and WDS using oem certs and generic keys. This usually happens in the background during the OS install. Dell has been doing this since win xp.

This is my understanding at least. Win 8 and newer just started making it mandatory.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:42 pm

morbidpete wrote:from what I know about slic, It's not even a key that is embedded. it is a Cert specific to that OEM. hence when you do a bios update, you are overwriting the bios and the cert, but the same cert is embedded in that new bios also. so upon OS activation. that small OEM folder you usually see in the iso's. they contain the other cert for that manf. and a generic universal key that is used to authenticate against the cert in the bios.

I have made many a batch file to facilitate this OEM activation with MDT and WDS using oem certs and generic keys. This usually happens in the background during the OS install. Dell has been doing this since win xp.

This is my understanding at least. Win 8 and newer just started making it mandatory.

Windows 7 and earlier use a SLIC table, pretty well the way you describe. Windows 8 and newer don't, they actually embed a product code in the BIOS. And it's a unique key for each and every PC. I wouldn't call in mandatory though? If you buy just a motherboard from say Newegg, it's not going to have an embedded key, even if it's UEFI BIOS. But yes for Windows 8/8.1 I do believe OA 3.0 has to be used so in a way it is mandatory.