Windows 7/8.1 OEM to Windows 10 Retail (Free) Discussion

Question

Microsoft has made it known that Windows 10 will be a free upgrade to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. I think its time we have a discussion on the Dell Community Forums about Windows 10.

Post #1 Windows 10 Digital Deployment and How to Leave Feedback to Microsoft

Windows 10 will likely be released in Late Summer.

The deployment methods of Windows 10 are still not yet fully known. I advise Microsoft deploy Windows 10 in a certain way so end-users can readily repair an installation or reinstall on a new hard drive or a corrupt install.

Please Add your Votes so Microsoft Address this Critical Feedback

If you have the concerns this page has on Windows 10 Installation Media then please support my ideas so Microsoft Addresses them:

1. Windows UserVoice

go to this link and vote this idea up and share so everyone else votes it up.

https://windows.uservoice.com/forums/265757-windows-feature-suggestions/suggestions/7236772-windows-7-oem-to-windows-10-retail

2. Microsoft Answers

Also if you log in with your Microsoft Account on Microsoft Answers and hit "Me Too"

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_install/how-will-the-final-release-will-be-rolled-out/73c37498-5124-4f9b-85cc-c75468d7c37a

3. Windows 10 Feedback App

If you are a Windows Insider Feedback please also use the Feedback App.

Launch the App.

Select Windows Installation and Set-Up

Search for Windows 7 OEM

Comment including any issues you've ever had attempting to download Windows 7 or procure installation media:

On the Dell Community Forums we are getting concerned at how Windows 10 will be released in particular the Windows 7 OEM UserBase.

YouTube Video - Windows 7 to Windows 10 via Windows Update

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvY_VjFZATk

How Could Microsoft Release the Update?

Scenario 1 and 2 will cause issues.

Scenario 1: "Windows Update (Only)"

Update 19/03/2015 Microsoft have made it known they will provide a .iso and hence not enforce a Windows Update only Upgrade path. Looks like they are taking some steps in the correct direction.

This .iso should be available for download and reinstallation but it hasn't been stated how product keys will be issued. Provided a key is issued correctly (i.e. sent to a user in an email or linked to a Microsoft Account as in scenario 3) the user should be able to download the .iso at a later date and not need to carry out a double install for reinstallation.

Source:

http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/WinHEC/2015/OWD100

Scenario 2: "A Key for a Key"

Update 18/03/2015 Free Windows 10 Upgrade for Chinese Pirates: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31940716

In such cases the Windows 7 Product Key probably won't be needed. Microsoft aren't likely to appease pirates while simultaneously making life difficult for genuine customers.

COA Issues

If users have to input their 25 digit Windows 7 product key from their COA. In theory this would work.

In practice however if this is the only method of installation for the free upgrade then there is a problem for a large fraction of the Windows 7 OEM userbase. Microsoft provided OEMs such as Dell with COAs of terrible print quality. This didn't matter for Windows 7 OEM as OEM installation media input a generic Dell OEM SLP key.

A case like this is not uncommon and is more common for other OEMs as Dell shielded COAs by placing them under the battery.

Scenario 3: Windows 10 .iso and Product Key Linked to Microsoft Account

This is the only logically working scenario that I can see is a utility which performs the following functions:

Checks the Base Windows License is Genuine*
Tells user to Sign in with a Microsoft Account
Assigns a Product Key to the Microsoft Account (similar to Office Online)
Gives the user an option to install Windows 10 via Windows Update or to Create Installation Media for Clean Installation
End User can later sign in with their Microsoft Account to Download a Windows 10 .iso and obtain their product key

* Update 18/03/2015 Free Windows 10 Upgrade for Chinese Pirates: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-31940716

Philip_Yip · Answer

# 7 Windows Updates

1. Easy way to Configure "No Auto-Restart"

Update Build 10041 - Microsoft have added this setting.

Microsoft should implement a way for users to easily configure a no auto-restart. As a scientist, at the start of my PhD when I set up my experiments in the lab to run overnight. Only to come back to the Windows login screen with a green balloon saying your computer was automatically restarted to install updates. Lets just say it was disheartening and I quickly looked into registry edits for example the local group policy editor to remove this setting.

http://www.howtogeek.com/139993/prevent-windows-8-from-restarting-your-pc-after-windows-updates/

This setting should be made available under settings → Windows Update.

2. Monthly Update Update Packages and/or Full Installation .isos

It would be nice if full standalone update packages were released every month aswell as a full installation .iso. Theres a number of benefits to this besides the case of Windows 7 when installing >200 updates takes at least 10 times as long as the installation.

There is also the need to support new storage controllers (include updated storage drivers) aswell as other devices. These changes will make Windows installation significantly easier.

Philip_Yip · Answer

#5 Clean the Drive Fully During Windows Installation

One of the nice features about the Windows 8.1 Reset is that it allows one to "Clean the Drive" Fully during the installation.

It would be nice if users could run this during the Windows setup by booting from Windows 10 installation media (without using DiskPart) and not just through a reset. This would help them wipe out their previous Windows Vista/7/8.1 installation.

To see the current ways of performing a Reset in Windows 8.1 see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB3cmIXAs_U

To see how to perform it during clean installation with DiskPart see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJU8Gn4nSf0

It would be nice if Microsoft had a utility to securely wipe a SSD before installation related to the clean drive fully. There should also be a what you see is what you get interface for wiping a number of drives.

Philip_Yip · Answer

#4 Creating a Refresh Image

Will Microsoft create an easy what you see is what you get interface for creating a refresh image?

To create a Refresh image there should be a user interface/wizard opposed to utilisation of the command prompt. The ability to make a refresh image (or multiple refresh images) is an incredibly useful feature overlooked by many a user as it requires use of an elevated command prompt Window.

See here for the procedure in windows 8.1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlHUrG72rx0&index=4&list=PL1RkaknDn7v9wEeh0YXFqOFsrmws-9fYn

Philip_Yip · Answer

#10 Other Microsoft Services and Apps

1. Microsoft Mathematics - Calculator App

Look at the functionality of Microsoft mathematics compared to the Windows calculator especially when it is set to “scientific”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ecH-vXpvWo

I don’t know why Microsoft aren’t prebundling it compared to the rubbish Windows or Metro calculator.

2. Windows Live Movie Maker

Windows Movie Maker, should be revamped and integrated into Windows 10.

Fix Movie Maker so can have Powerpoint Shapes or integrate Movie maker with the shapes into office 2013. make it easier putting 2 videos side by side.

3. Screen Recording and Webcam Software

It would be nice if Windows had native screen recording software although third party software such as Debut is really nice. This could be integrated into Windows Live movie maker.

4. Microsoft Mouse without Borders

Microsoft Mouse without Borders which is a free Microsoft utility to control multiple Windows systems with one keyboard and mouse. It should be inbuilt into Control Panel → Mouse.

5. Media Centre

It should not require one to spend £100 to upgrade to Professional and then £10 further. Media Centre should be used mainly by Home i.e. non-Professional users.

Don’t make Media Centre an upgrade for Home users require an upgrade to Professional.

6. PDF Viewer

It would be nice if the PDF viewer could open more than one PDF so they can be read side by side. Likewise for the Photos App.

7. Office WebApps

There should be a shortcut to Office WebApps on the Start menu unless Office 365/2013 is installed.

Philip_Yip · Answer

#8 The Start Menu and User Interface

1. The Start Menu

Allow Drag and Drop from the left list to the right pinned icons. Update build 10041, Microsoft have done this.

The Start menu is bloated with Metro Apps, making it more cumbersome to find useful installed programs. Example of Start Menu to the left bloated with Metro Apps.

These should all be in a Windows Apps folder similar to all the (more useful) items in the Windows Accessories folder.

2. Windows and X Menu (Right Click Start)

Please add your votes to my Windows UserVoice suggestion here.

Add the following to the “Windows and X” menu:

Windows Defender
Windows Defender Offline
Devices and Printers
.iso to Bootable USB Utility
"Settings" → This definitely has to be here

Make the Windows and X Menu look like part of Windows 10.

3. Windows Defender

Add it to the Windows and X Menu as described above and also add right click context menus like Microsoft Security Essentials had:

4. Minor Feedback

I'm not a great fan of the new icons, the folders are too bright and it looks like they have been drawn in Microsoft paint. The Recycle bin particularly looks terrible.

Philip_Yip · Answer

#9 Multimonitor Settings

Windows 10 is supposed to be designed for power users. Many of us power users use multiple monitors.

There should be a unique taskbar for each monitor. Each taskbar should allow independent pinning... and should only show items open on that screen.

If a pinned icon is clicked on "Taskbar 2" it should open on "Screen 2". If a pinned icon is clicked on "Taskbar 1" it should be opened on screen 1:

There should be a unique start menu for each monitor. Each start menu should allow independent pinning...

If a program is opened by clicking on the start menu, desktop or taskbar residing in that monitor it should open in the monitor.

Simple suggestions that will improve productivity significantly, can be extended to however many screens attached.

Philip_Yip · Answer

#6 Virtualisation

It would be nice if Microsoft allowed Windows 10 to support virtualisation. i.e. allowed users to install older versions of Windows that were fully patched and offline in a Virtual Machine without having to jump through hurdles trying to pay for a license that is no longer being sold. i.e. if VMs were present with complete Windows licenses for free and these VMs could use USB devices, serial ports, parallel ports, floppy drives and CD/DVD drives. The VM is the way forward to completely rid of incompatability issues.

Professional versions should give free Windows 3.1/95/98/2000/NT/XP/7/8/8.1 and 10 license for a sandboxed installation of a VM. Even the lowest end new PC has the hardware to visualise multiple OS and the most difficult thing for an end user (not in an organisation with large volume licensing agreements) is to get a genuine Windows license for their VM.

This should be extended to allow the license to be used in better services such as VMWare Player and VirtualBox. Supporting virtualisation will help IT professionals who want to do testing, the biggest issue at present is obtaining installation media and a license.

It can also be important when migrating users from legacy hardware. I demonstrate the use of Virtualisation to run legacy hardware only supported in Windows 98SE on Windows 7 64 Bit:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/installation-of-windows-and-linux-on-a-virtual-machine-using-vmware-player/

Philip_Yip · Answer

Post #3 SSD and HDD configurations

Update Windows 10 10041

Microsoft have made the Windows 10 OneDrive application as functional as the Windows 7 Desktop application but it seems options only show if the main drive is small...

This shows on my 60 GB VM:

You can now quickly choose what folders to sync and importantly quickly relocate the drive locatrion of OneDrive.

This shows on my 256 GB SSD Inspiron 13 7347:

Its hoped that Microsoft can implement a similar user interface to relocate local user files and OneDrive files no matter the size of the C:\ Drive.

The relocation should automatically apply junctions at the original locations to redirect to the specified locations so no third party programs recreate user directories in C:\Users\Philip.

It would be ideal if both screens above showed during Windows Installation (after inputting your Microsoft Account details) aswell as the option to customise them later.

Windows Uservoice Suggestion

http://windows.uservoice.com/forums/265757-windows-feature-suggestions/suggestions/6968276-windows-10-installation-feedback-ssd-hhd-combina

Current Method for Relocating User Files - Post Install

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQXlya8Lljo&index=5&list=PL1RkaknDn7v9wEeh0YXFqOFsrmws-9fYn

Philip_Yip · Answer

Post #2 The Windows 10 Technical Preview

Backing up your previous installation with Dell Backup and Recovery

Before trying out Windows 10 Technical Preview its advisable to make Recovery Media with Dell Backup and Recovery. You should make a Rescue Disk (Bootable External Hard Drive) or Factory Backup (Bootable USB). The Factory Backup is recommended for older systems that can't boot from an external hard drive (<2010 systems).

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/dell-backup-and-recovery/

Windows 8.1 Installation Media

The Windows 8.1 with Update 1 Media Creation Tool can be used with all Windows 8.0 and 8.1 license (with the Exception of Windows 8.1 with Bing):

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-windows-8-1-retail-and-oem-iso/

Windows 7 Installation Media

Microsoft have removed the Digital River .isos and replaced them with a Microsoft Software Recovery Tool which does not work with the Dell OEM license. Windows 7 can be thought of as non-downloadable.

Windows 10 Technical Preview - Download Links

To initiate Windows 10 Technical Preview via Windows Update go here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/preview-download

To download Windows 10 Technical Preview in .iso format go here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/preview-iso

Demonstration Installation

I demonstrate an installation on an Inspiron 13 7437 with a UEFI BIOS with SecureBoot via a Windows 10 .iso here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1RkaknDn7v_SJaBuleIyodZD7Nt_IgqM

human1111 · Answer

17 votes left. I hope there will be driver support for my laptop (XPS 15z).

Philip_Yip · Answer

I have several more ideas here:

https://windows.uservoice.com/users/63448028-philip-yip

One of them was to make Microsoft give OEMs such as Dell an incentive to upgrade the drivers for their systems:

https://windows.uservoice.com/forums/265757-windows-feature-suggestions/suggestions/7482403-windows-10-oem-ssd-hardware-upgrade

Windows General