Windows 10 Upgrade

In July 2015, Microsoft has launched its latest OS, Windows 10, with the offer to move from a genuinely installed and activated Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to the new operating system for free. The offer ends on 29 July 2016 so time is running out to get the free version of Windows 10 that will cost $199.99 resp. CHF 149.95 afterwards.

We recommend our customers to upgrade for free before the deadline of 29 July 2016th (do not forget to create a complete backup of your user data before the upgrade). Even users who do not want to upgrade in the near future are advised to migrate to Windows 10 (and then downgrade again) in order to obtain the free Windows 10 license. That way your PC receives a “digital entitlement.”, i.e., your particular PC’s hardware is identified as eligible for Windows 10 going forward and the upgrade can be executed at a later point of time. To activate Windows 10 in the future, just download the Windows 10 installer files from Microsoft and create a bootable USB drive. You can then install Windows 10 and it will activate automatically thanks to that digital entitlement.

Keeping an Eye on the Settings

Windows 10 has been mostly well received by users with the exception of the “recommended” privacy settings that have been a trigger for many discussions between prospective Windows 10 users. The express settings of Windows 10 allow user data to be collected automatically by the operating system. These include voice commands, calendar entries, contacts, location or browsing history. Inexperienced users or those who are in a hurry and do not read carefully often choose the default settings and share so unknowingly their privacy with Microsoft. This can be avoided to a large extent by disabling the corresponding settings right after installing Windows 10. If one has already taken over the express settings, a tool like "DoNotSpy10", which is available for free, can facilitate the access to all relevant AntiSpy settings so that you can change them to let the operating system to learn as little as possible about you. You can find alternatives to “DoNotSpy10” here.

Another point of criticism is that Microsoft collects application data on user behavior or App Store activities to improve their ads, which are then displayed on the lock screen. This is another preset option for Windows 10, which can be switched off in the personal settings menu.
We therefore recommend that all users read the official Microsoft Privacy Statement carefully.

Support from Laptop Manufacturers

HP and Lenovo offer Windows 10 support on their own support pages. The upgrade process is described in detail and can be followed step by step.
First of all, please be aware that the upgrade program will prevent the installation of Windows 10 if your hard drive is encrypted with manufacturer-specific security applications such as HP ProtectTools. According to HP support, you must decrypt it before moving to Windows 10 and can encrypt it again after upgrade. Since the HP Client Security Manager/HP ProtectTools may block the upgrade process, it is recommended to deinstall the Client Security Manager prior to the upgrade in order to prevent error messages. It can be reinstalled after the upgrade again. Detailed instructions for the Windows 10 Upgrade can be found right here. Similar obstacles are not known to us with Lenovo ThinkPad models. The instructions and guidance for an update to Windows 10 can also be found on the support page of the manufacturer. Microsoft’s own devices, Surface 3, Surface Pro 3 and Surface Pro 4 should not cause any problems as far as we know. Here also some helpful guidance can be found on the manufacturers website.

Forever on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1?

As already mentioned, users who are not satisfied with the new operating system, may downgrade it again after the upgrade to Windows 10 (in the first month via automatic downgrade or simply by restoring it from a system image / system backup). Instructions can be found on the official Microsoft website. If you do not want to give Windows 10 a chance at all and would like to remain on one of the previously launched operating systems “forever”, it is not enough to simply close the upgrade reminder. Some users of Windows 7 and 8.1 mistakenly believe that the upgrade to Windows 10 can be refused simply by clicking on the red "X”. Again, it is recommended to read the content of the advertising window carefully and to act accordingly. You can also download a registry patch "NoWin10.reg" which suppresses the upgrade reliably.

If problems occur during the upgrade process, we recommend to contact the manufacturer support or Microsoft support directly. Our support is of course also available for assistance, either at our walk-in Help Points or by e-mail.