Special ? about Windows 10 Nobody Else Will Answer

[IrishAyes]

I have great friends on another website (as well as here). Some are very tech savvy, and they honestly mean to answer my question but they still don't although I've rephrased it twice. I hope someone here can do it.

Here's what I posted elsewhere:
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"Tech question! With Windows 10 now available for free download, I've learned some things but still haven't found the answer to a major question.

Okay - if you download and install the program, you have something like 9 months or so to switch back to your previous OS. Fine. You also have up to a year (?) to download and install.
What I still feel unsure about is exactly what happens when you do download. Does the program demand to be immediately installed, thereby wiping out your files etc., or does it download and just sit there quietly until you're ready to install later? I have plenty of room for 10 but also tons of files that I don't have time to move out of potential harm's way just yet."
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All sorts of great advice follows, such as wait the full year allowed to download a free version so the bugs will already be addressed, etc. But no answer to the question I asked! Maybe they assume it no longer matters since they're telling me to wait. But I still want to know!

Part of the trouble is that I don't 100% trust MS to give us that year-long period for a free download. And I do have a massive hard drive with tons of memory so if the download will sit in the corner quietly and NOT auto-install on download, I could easily go through the patch process after downloading.

Oh, and I'm running a 64-bit Windows 8.1 btw.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[steve2470]

1. answer

This is going to get a bit geeky, but it's a good answer.

Do your upgrade manually. That means, download the .iso file and install it if and when you are ready. Be back with instructions.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

That website explains the whole process pretty well. You can either download the .iso file and burn it on an empty DVD disc, or go with a USB stick. If you have questions, please ask. This way, you have 100% control over if and when you install Windows 10. eta3: You can also do the way Microsoft suggests (as in PoliticAverse's post), but to me personally, this way gives me more control. My quirk I guess.

eta: If you upgrade your machine that has a valid Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 license, you will pay nothing to upgrade within a year. If you try to install that .iso file on a blank hard drive on a machine that is not familiar to Microsoft at all, you will be forced to pay for Windows 10. My understanding is you can do a clean install on a machine known to Microsoft. Clean install means, you totally wipe the hard drive after saving all your important stuff, and then install Windows 10 fresh. Upgrades tend to bring problems, but I'll let you take the safest route if you wish. Even if you upgrade and run into a problem, you can then definitely wipe the hard drive and do a clean install.

eta2: A THIRD way to install (which I usually use) is to download the .iso file directly to the hard drive you wish to install on, back up all your stuff first of course, mount the .iso file by right click, find the setup.exe file within the folder it creates, click it, choose either the upgrade or clean install, and go from there.

[IrishAyes]

4. Thanks - I actually understood that!

You explained it so well. I like control and safety too, and that's the way I'll go.

I'd really had no idea that clean installs were better than mere upgrades.

[PoliticAverse]

6. Upgrades are easier, clean installs are otherwise preferable. n/t

[PoliticAverse]

2. 3 comments...

1 - I trust Microsoft to give the full free year-long period. The cost to them of
going back on their word on this would greatly exceed the cost to them for providing
the full-year period.

2 -You can download the free version now and install it later.

From the FAQ at: http://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-faq

When the download is complete, you’ll get a notification on your desktop. At that point, you can choose to upgrade right away or at a time that’s good for you.

3 - You have 1 month after upgrading to 10 to revert to your previous version of Windows,
From the FAQ:

Can I go back to my previous version of Windows if I don’t like Windows 10?

Yes, while we think you will love all the features of Windows 10, you will have one month after upgrading to revert back to the previous version of Windows on your device.

[IrishAyes]

5. Thanks - I actually looked at the Windows 10 website BUT

somehow (being up to my ears in alligators half the time) I managed to miss #2. Go figure. I should be spanked and sent to bed w/o dinner for that.

[eppur_se_muova]

7. #3 sounds peculiar to me.

If you have a licensed copy of 7 or 8, you should still have the install disks. MS is saying you're not allowed to go back to those after one month ?? Does that mean they will block registration if you attempt to back-pedal after a month ?? Or only that you will have to do a clean install after that point ?

[Warren Stupidity]

3. The install is by default "in place" - it doesn't wipe out any of your stuff.

If you don't like it you can go back to whatever it is you are running now, and again that will not destroy your stuff. You have 30 days after the upgrade to make that decision.

Win10 is pretty nice. You will have to adjust a bit to the UI, but they seem to have finally gotten it right.