33 replies to this topic

[roadrage]

For those upgrading or doing full installs of Windows 10.

 

If you are running an OEM you will need to get the Windows 10 upgrade from your Vendors tech support website and only if you have Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 will MS activate it,  otherwise you are on like a trial mode version and will not have access to some of the options and features while in Windows 10,  as always make sure you make an image of your previuos versions of Windows or clone it or make a Restore Point then save it to a media such as thumb drive or lots of DVD's if you have a lot of files on your system to ensure you can roll back if things go south while installing,  there are going to be issues such as drivers,  hardware and applications as well as 32 and 64 bit systems,  make note for a full install you will need to upgrade first and then you can go for a full install after you upgrade.  If you have a genuine retail version you are good to go and can bypass your vendor but why pay for it since it is free for a year from RTM as of July 29 2015,  this is plenty of time while the patch's and vendors are updating as well.

 

Here are some ways to get your Windows 10 ISO file along with Q and A's or straight to a thumb (pen) drive download for your 32 or 64 bit system,  the ISO will of course have to be burned to DVD but the thumb drive is set to already boot from the get go for the install and don't forget to change your Boot order.  Make note that these sites can change from day to day,  so if the site is other than the official MS site please let me know and I will change it.

 

Windows 10 FAQ's

 

Free Windows 10 ISO file Download

 

 

 

Update: 08/12/2015,   And as usual this website may change at MS discretion

 

Will my hardware, devices or programs work in Windows 10

 

See what works

 

 

Some times this will work for a driver or program that does not play nice in Windows 10

Right mouse click on the program, application, driver etc... and select Properties then the Compatibility tab.

 

Windows 10 Comapatibility Mode

 

Edited by roadrage, 20 August 2015 - 10:31 AM.

[Ztruker]

If you are running an OEM you will need to get the Windows 10 upgrade from your Vendors tech support website and only if you have Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 will MS activate it,  otherwise you are on like a trial mode version and will not have access to some of the options and features while in Windows 10

 
I don't know where you got this information but it's not true.
 
Any one with a qualifying Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 can upgrade for free to Windows 10. No contact with the manufacturer is required.
If you can't activate, there is no trial version. It's exactly the same as an activated cversion. You can use it for 30 days I believe then it will no longer boot.
 

 
Good links though.
 
I'll add one more: Windows 10 Tech Bench Upgrade Program

This link allows you to download a ISO directly, no MediaCreationTool required.

[roadrage]

If you try to activate Windows 10 through MS you will be denied if it is OEM unless you went through your OEM vendor first,  the above is only if you have a genuine version of Windows that you bought for say like a home build,  all others will be denied,  give it a try,  go to the site and try to activate your key,  I am a beta tester for Windows 10 living in Seattle and as of now no OEM's can activate through MS,  you have to have the Windows 7 with SP1 or Windows 8.1 to go that route as well as the genuine full install disk for those versions,  this is an on going situation and is subject to change at MS discretion.

 

My information is through the Insider program for MS,  things have changed within the past week and will keep on changing,  I am going off my e-mails from MS, and not through unsupported sites for information,  which Life Hacker has nothing in that presentation for OEM system's

 

Please as I say things will change down the road but if MS does not say it then it is what it is,  MS has the first say as to what happens.
 

 

P.S. I love LifeHacker it is an awesome site

Edited by roadrage, 08 August 2015 - 05:18 PM.

[Ztruker]

Doesn't matter where you are getting your info it's wrong. All OEM's with qualifying systems can get the free upgrade. Never, ever, in any document or communication have I seen anything about contacting the manufacturer Vendor as you call them) other than for drivers.

 

The flow chart was from lifehacker but it's based on a similar one from Microsoft. More info:

 

 

Who qualifies for the free upgrade?
* Only non-enterprise users with a valid Retail or OEM and Genuine x86/x64 Windows 7, or Windows 8/8.1 Starter/Home/Standard/Core/Pro/Ultimate (whatever you want to call it) license qualify for a free upgrade. This is very simple, end of story.

 

 

Does my Retail copy of Windows become an OEM copy (Locked to the hardware it was upgraded on) after the upgrade?

* UPDATE As of the license terms released with build 10240, an original OEM copy upgrades to what is, in effect, still an OEM copy. An original Retail copy upgrades to what is, in effect a retail, transferable copy. Microsoft has done away with terms like "OEM" in the license, and now use terms like "If you originally acquired the software preinstalled on the device" and "If you acquired the software from a retailer". And, in the license they explicitly say that an upgraded retail license is still a transferable retail license.

[Ztruker]

And one more from Microsoft directly: Upgrade to Windows 10 for free
 

¹ Windows Offer Details

 

Yes, free! This upgrade offer is for a full version of Windows 10, not a trial. 3GB download required; internet access fees may apply. To take advantage of this free offer, you must upgrade to Windows 10 within one year of availability. Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device.

Windows 10 Upgrade Offer is valid for qualified Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices, including devices you already own. Some hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary by device and market. The availability of Windows 10 upgrade for Windows Phone 8.1 devices may vary by OEM, mobile operator or carrier. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows Update enabled. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update required. Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer. To check for compatibility and other important installation information, visit your device manufacturer’s website and the Windows 10 Specifications page. Windows 10 is automatically updated. Additional requirements may apply over time for updates.

[roadrage]

Sorry Z,

 

What I am saying is it is free as long as you have Windows 7 or Windows 8 from either your vendor (oem) or an origional version of Windows 7 or 8,  I think we lost something here but you are absolutley right and correct and I am onboard with you all the way,  I was just saying if you try to activate an OEM through MS's site they will tell you to go through your vendor first if it is an OEM then you will be activated,  it must be the way I worded it but the flow chart does not reflect the whole picture of OEM's compared to an MS certified edition RTM as if you went to MS directly and paid for it (Windows 7 or 8),  they are differnet,   there are several ways to do this but one way will not work with the other way as of now,  and this is what I want to make upgraders aware of before they run into issues as not being able to Activate Windows by going to that MS site if they are OEM computers, as you see in the above.

 

"Windows 10 Upgrade Offer is valid for qualified Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices, including devices you already own. Some hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary by device and market."

[roadrage]

Dang it Z you have pull here let's get that Windows 10 forum topic going cause you have valuable information

Edited by roadrage, 08 August 2015 - 08:19 PM.

[Ztruker]

I'll ask Blair (the owner/Admin).

[roadrage]

Thank you Z,  it is not for only my request and yours but for the millions who will soon be there,  we need to be able to have options for them and your the only one here so far that has an opinion on it besides me,  the other systems are on the way out and for Windows 10 they are back to Windows Defender...go figure,  this is suppose to be the last of Windows and no more new ones,  I for one don't believe it.

Edited by roadrage, 08 August 2015 - 09:34 PM.

[Ztruker]

Blair's response is no. He said this would negatively impact people doing searches since it takes awhile for a new forum to build up search info for search engines like Google. He's the boss so end of discussion.

[roadrage]

Wow,  you would think it would benefit people,  whats another topic in a forum anyway,  I do not understand that when searching through google that it would take away from this forum already by adding a Windows 10 topic to it,  you want people coming right ?...oh well it was worth a shot and as you say and he is the boss, thanks Ztruker for trying,  I would like to help here with Windows 10 issues if I could (non malware issues), is that out the window as well ?

[Ztruker]

Not at all. Your help is appreciated.

 

Drop in at The Meet and Greet forum and introduce yourself.

[roadrage]

Just a little something more though this is for only 5 vendors so far.

 

I downloaded the ISO file and burned it to a DVD,  this was a full install done using Oracle VB with 1.5 gigs of memory allocated and 40 gig's of hard drive space only,  my computer specs are below for my notebook and it is working fine even after it did updates.

Since I am an insider for beta testing I will be testing the new builds as they come out as they will be newer that what is presently available to the general public,  as you see I have Enterprise so I cannot get a freebie yet except on my other computers but this is what I am testing on as of now.  Total time for full install was 35 minutes.  This was a while ago before RTM and now waiting for the new build.

 

Windows 7 Enterprise
Dell Latitude E6420  32 Bit
Intel Core i5 2520M  @ 2.50GHz    32nm Technology
Motherboard by Dell Inc. Model 0P6K83 Version 01

 

More on the way

 

These are some of the major computer brands to check and see if your computers have been tested and have passed the Windows 10 Upgrade compatibility Test,  they are changing daily or soon to as other models are being tested to ensure they can upgrade to Windows 10 without major issues.

 

It seems they are also trying to update drivers as fast as they can for Windows 10 so be patient with them.  Some of these vendors ask that you disable Windows driver updates so you don't get any bad drivers that are not tested yet from them.  This may help you with all the hoopla right now as to why your upgrade or install went south

 

I will edit this post only if the vendor site has been moved or drastically changed and good luck on your upgrades  

In a phone call discussion with Dell pre-Windows 10 RTM they told me that they will have the Windows 10 download disk or ISO, this is not the case now as the below sites will re-direct you to MS for the Windows 10 download,  amazing how fast things change with the new upgrade of Windows

 

 

 

Acer Systems Windows 10 Upgrade Compatibility

Acer will provide driver support for the following products that qualify for the Windows update:

 

Acer

 

Dell Systems Windows 10 Upgrade Compatibility

Dell is right in line for tested products so far.

Dell

 

Hewlett Packard Systems Windows 10 Upgrade Compatibility

HP is in the process of testing as many of our products as possible for Windows 10 compatibility.

 

HP

 

Lenovo Systems Windows 10 Upgrade Compatibility

Keep on checking back as they are running a little slower and still have only 8.1 information.

If Windows 7SP1 or 8.1 has a check mark next to it you should be good to go.

 

Update: 08/20/2015 they are getting right in line now as well

Lenovo

 

 

Sony Systems Windows 10 Upgrade Compatibility

Sony

 

 

 

Toshiba Systems Windows 10 Upgrade Compatibility

Toshiba

Edited by roadrage, 20 August 2015 - 09:43 PM.

[roadrage]

MS has a client application called Windows Media Creation Tool where it would download the Windows 10 ISO and then convert the load files to a thumb drive for straight usb installs on a Windows 10 setup instead of a DVD with no hassle,  as of now it is not working and they have no explanation as to the why that it does not work (or figuring it out) but I think it is gone now, but thats ok just download the ISO file and use Rufus or another favorite program if that is how you prefer to install, I am not saying that a usb install will not work,  I am saying that it ( the creation tool) errors out copying the final Windows 10 Media setup to usb to be able to use it for a usb install, if anyone else can vouch for that please let me know.  Also for that tool download it did have a site to get it from but no longer as it was on the same site as the ISO download or another one.

 

 

Edit:

Ok...now the download site is up again for the media Creator,  same url,  here today gone tomorrow and back again,  oyy!  just can't keep up with MS websites these days

 

Windows 10 ISO Download

Edited by roadrage, 12 August 2015 - 10:21 PM.

[roadrage]

How to uninstall and hide drivers in Windows 10 from re-installing till they are ready and compatible.

 

This is an on going issue with Driver Updates for Windows 10 and there are several ways to bypass the update,  if you just uninstall the driver Windows will just install it again on the Scheduled Windows update,  I will tell you the main one because the others involve Group Policy and Registry Value changes and it depends on what version you have,  and it may also cause you misery as Windows will send you out the nag screens.

Ok for this option MS has a client app for download,  basically you will look for installed updates and then delete the driver update then you will need to hide it,  this will prevent MS Updates from downloading that driver until a time that the driver patch or update is ready to roll out and compatibile for Windows 10,  get it from below KB3073930.  I included a screen print for you as well.  You will need to install the driver though again manually that you do want installed.

 

Edit: 08/17/2015

Then hide it again, sorry it is that update thing

 

KB3073930

 

 

Edited by roadrage, 17 August 2015 - 10:21 PM.