quote:

Originally posted by btanchors:
Yesterday I spent several hours trying to get started with the Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 7. I have been running Windows 7 for several years. I bought a license, and tried to download Windows 10 by using the media creation tool. I couldn't even get the media creation tool to work to create an install memory stick. I got frustrated and ordered an installation DVD.

It's pretty damn bad that their tool to download and create install media won't even work. I googled and tried all the recommended solutions for the specific error I kept getting.
I have a BS degree in Computer Science and 35 years experience, (although admittedly long since moved into management rather than twiddling bits, but still...).

Why is this so difficult? If I am having this much trouble, I feel sorry for novice users.

Sigh...Maybe I'm just getting old, senile, and am forgetting how to do things.

The PC I am trying to upgrade is a quad core 3.4GHZ processor and 16GB main memory and an SSD disk for its 'C' drive. It still performs well, no reason to ditch it for a new one (It's a desk top).

For at least a year and a half, there was a free upgrade path from Windows 7 to Windows 10. I don't understand why you waited so long to upgrade.

thanks folks

is there a place ( inside the computer)
that I could find all the specs or components
that this computer offers .

that might be able to shed more light on which way to go ?

quote:

Originally posted by opticsguy:

Any program that pulls this crap won't get my business.

Oh please. It's completely unreasonable to expect every application to continue to build/support versions to run on every OS ever known to man. WIN10 came out 5 years ago. WIN7 11 years ago. Just not happening, and if it did every version of apps like Turbotax would cost $100+ instead of $50.

And THEN we'd be protesting that any application that pulls that crap won't get my support either.

quote:

Originally posted by Broadside:

quote:

Originally posted by btanchors:
Yesterday I spent several hours trying to get started with the Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 7. I have been running Windows 7 for several years. I bought a license, and tried to download Windows 10 by using the media creation tool. I couldn't even get the media creation tool to work to create an install memory stick. I got frustrated and ordered an installation DVD.

It's pretty damn bad that their tool to download and create install media won't even work. I googled and tried all the recommended solutions for the specific error I kept getting.
I have a BS degree in Computer Science and 35 years experience, (although admittedly long since moved into management rather than twiddling bits, but still...).

Why is this so difficult? If I am having this much trouble, I feel sorry for novice users.

Sigh...Maybe I'm just getting old, senile, and am forgetting how to do things.

The PC I am trying to upgrade is a quad core 3.4GHZ processor and 16GB main memory and an SSD disk for its 'C' drive. It still performs well, no reason to ditch it for a new one (It's a desk top).

For at least a year and a half, there was a free upgrade path from Windows 7 to Windows 10. I don't understand why you waited so long to upgrade.

As of last week, it was still free. Haven't checked this week.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

That said, on newer machines with modern processors, 12-16GB of RAM, and an SSD, Win 10 can actually run faster than 7 because it takes advantage of the newer technology.

Absolutely, It is why I carefully evaluate any client machines before upgrading W7 to W10.
The hardware is the key.
W7 + old hardware = slow
W7 + new/modern hardware = faster but could have compatibility issues.
W10 + old hardware = equal speed and compatibility could be worse OR better
W10 + new/modern hardware = much faster and few issues except with old software.

Hardware Improvements with Todays Hardware:
CPU > Dramatic improvements with Intel CPUS, cooler, faster though taking advantage of modern chipsets and architecture.
I only promote INTEL CPU's due to their dominance but AMD are capable.
Each gen gets better. Currently Gen 9 and 10)
I3 is the minimum for my builds.
I5 adds turbocharging (a variable increase for peak needs)
I7 adds hyper-threading (doubling of cores)
There are other versions but most all can be happy with an I5 or I7.
All you need to do is check online for a CPU benchmark at passmark.com for a comparison, same thing for graphic comparisons.

I/O and Storage > most everyone thinks SSD is the thing vs spinning drive - it was. Now the performance is enhanced chipsets and support for NVMe M2 drives. FAR better than a SSD.
NVMe over SATA SSD.


Memory - Current memory is DDR4

Devices - One of the most underrated is the usb ports.
Mostly affecting devices with disks or file transfer.
USB 3.1 can give near HD performance and new motherboards have the new ports.


Graphics- This area has no limit for gamers but now days graphics is built in to the CPU and not a separate chip - much faster and VERY good unless you are an uber-gamer or pro-CAD user.


The advancements and compatibility is why I recommend new hardware most of the time instead of an in place upgrade.

quote:

Originally posted by rusbro:
As of last week, it was still free. Haven't checked this week.

The last time I looked into this, which admittedly has been much, much longer than a week, it was only free if you had a valid Certificate of Authenticity for Windows 7 or 8. If you didn't, you needed to pay for a Windows 10 license.

It has been a long time since I looked into this. So Microsoft may have started to offer Windows 10 for free to anyone who wants it.

The one exception I know of is if you were participating in the beta version of Windows 10. If you were running the beta version you could upgrade to Windows 10 for free at launch.

Just did this, the upgrade wouldn't work on the old PC without some modifications, namely upgrading the CPU, which I can do.

However picking up a new Dell gained significant amounts of RAM, SSD drive, faster USB, more ports etc...

Old PC is now A linux Mint machine with SSD and runs faster than the Win Machine.

If her machine can run it, get a new SSD drive, bump the memory, load the new drive from a USB with Linux Mint, it will provide everything she needs for interweb browsing, word processing, spreadsheets and lots of other programs

However I'd suggest new over upgrade with Win10 if that is your route.

quote:

Originally posted by btanchors:
Yesterday I spent several hours trying to get started with the Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 7. I have been running Windows 7 for several years. I bought a license, and tried to download Windows 10 by using the media creation tool. I couldn't even get the media creation tool to work to create an install memory stick. I got frustrated and ordered an installation DVD.

It has been a while since I've done an install. But I think you need to format the memory stick in FAT32 file format.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:
I won't put Win 10 on anything with less than 8GB of RAM on it...preferably 12-16GB. Win 10 is a pig, and the user experience is horrible if you try to run it on a machine with inadequate resources.

Just for kicks I installed Windows 10 on an old Dell with 1.5 GB of RAM and an 80 GB hard drive.