With just weeks before Microsoft’s free upgrade offer runs out (possibly), Jonathan Parkyn asks – is now the right time to switch to Windows 10?
Nobody likes deadlines, but for PC users everywhere there’s a very big one looming. July 29 this year marks not only Windows 10’s first birthday, but also the date when Microsoft’s latest operating system stops being free (unless the deadline is extended). Upgrading afterwards would cost as at least £100.
A great many people have already upgraded. At its recent Build conference for developers, Microsoft announced that more than 270 million devices worldwide are now running Windows 10. But, according to Netmarketshare.com, at least five times that many are still running Windows 7 or 8.1 (mostly the former).
There are plenty of valid reasons why you may have opted not to upgrade. Perhaps you’ve been waiting for the dust to settle – and for Microsoft to iron out the wrinkles – or maybe you’ve just been putting it off because of the hassle factor. Whatever the case, you don’t have much time left to upgrade for free – exactly 100 days from April 21, in fact. So, here we’re going to examine the current state of play, explain your options and help you decide whether or not to upgrade to Windows 10 before it’s too late.
Have all the teething troubles been fixed?
When Windows 10 launched in July 2015, it was plagued by problems that put many people off upgrading: installation failures, reboot loops, botched updates, compatibility woes and more. Happily, many of these have been eradicated, thanks to a steady flow of updates from Microsoft, and today’s iteration of Windows 10 is a much more stable operating system (OS).
Have all the controversies been dealt with?
Since its launch, Windows 10 has frequently found itself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, its detractors often drawing attention to the fact that the OS forces updates on its users, while secretly monitoring how they use their PC. Updates are, indeed, mandatory in Windows 10 and this is unlikely to change. While not ideal, automatic updates help to make Windows 10 a lot safer than its predecessors, and there are ways to exert somecontrol over when and how they are installed – for example, click Start, Settings, ‘Update & security’, ‘Advanced options’, then select ‘Notify to schedule restart’.
Plugging all of Windows 10’s privacy holes is daunting, so it’s better to use a free tool such as Ashampoo’s AntiSpy for Windows 10 (www.snipca.com/20151).
Maddeningly, Windows 10 continues to collect certain types of diagnostic data from PCs – something that Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President Joe Belfiore euphemistically calls ‘telemetry’ – even after users have disabled all available tracking options.
What’s the future for Windows 10?
Windows 10 already has numerous advantages over its predecessors. But, even if you’ve resisted the urge to upgrade so far, there’s no denying the fact that Windows 10 represents the way forward for the OS. Apart from anything, Windows 10 will still be supported long after Windows 7 has gone the way of XP.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, recently announced a bright future for Windows 10 too, including the Anniversary Update (previously referred to by its codename Redstone) which will add numerous new features, including the ability to sign into websites using a fingerprint reader instead of passwords, improved support for Microsoft’s stylus-input device and – surprisingly – an integrated Linux command-line shell that you can use to learn coding and build apps. The update (due this summer) will be free to all Windows 10 users.
Will Microsoft extend the free offer?
At the time of going to press, Microsoft has yet to make any announcement regarding whether it really will start charging users to upgrade after July 29. It’s hard to predict Microsoft’s next move. On the one hand, the deadline works in Microsoft’s favour – the company will be hoping for a big rush of last-minute upgraders, keen not to miss out on the free offer. But, equally, it doesn’t make much sense to start charging people for the upgrade after the deadline has passed. After all, the people who decided not to upgrade when the OS was free are unlikely to change their minds once it costs £100 to do so.
Microsoft is desperate to get as many people as possible using Windows 10 - its target is one billion - so we’d be very surprised if it didn’t announce either an extension to the deadline, or a new offer to entice those still holding out. To maximise the boost from last-minute upgrades, however, it’s likely that such an announcement won’t be made until just before 29 July.
What are my options right now?
If you’re leaning towards upgrading, we wouldn’t recommend gambling on the possibility that Microsoft will extend its free offer. So, as things stand, your options boil down to either upgrading for free before July 29 or sticking with your current OS.
If you do opt to upgrade, set aside a decent chunk of time to do so – don’t let Windows Update bully you into upgrading before you’re ready. It’s absolutely crucial to back up your PC before you take the plunge. Make a system image backup of your entire hard drive, using Windows 7 or 8’s built-in tool or a free alternative, such as EaseUS Todo Backup Free 9.1 (www.snipca.com/20145). That way, you can always turn back the clock and revert to your previous OS if the upgrade goes wrong, or if you later decide that installing Windows 10 was a mistake.
On the other hand, if you’re happy with Windows 7 or 8, then there’s no pressing reason to upgrade if you’ve absolutely no interest in Windows 10. If you do decide to stick with an older version of the OS, then you’ll need to be aware that Microsoft’s support cycle will eventually end, effectively rendering your PC unsafe to use. At that point, it’s unlikely that upgrading will still be free.
If you want your Windows 7 or 8 experience to be in any way tolerable, you’ll need to stop Microsoft badgering you to upgrade to Windows 10. One way to do this is by using a combination of two free tools: GWX Control Panel (www.snipca.com/20149) and the just-launched Never10 (www.snipca.com/20148) - which, between them, can banish the Windows 10 ‘nag’ screens and stop Windows Update into loading the new OS on to your PC without asking.
WHEN WILL SUPPORT END FOR MY VERSION OF WINDOWS?
When Windows XP was unceremoniously killed off two years ago, many people learned the hard way that Microsoft’s operating systems don’t live forever. Switch on an XP computer today and, without any up-to-date security fixes to protect you, you’re risking a minefield of malware, hackers and all manner of other unpleasantness. Windows 7 is scheduled to have its plug pulled on 14 January 2020. Support for Windows 8 doesn’t end until 1 October 2023, though you’ll need to upgrade to at least Windows 8.1 in order to remain supported. Windows 10 is supported until 14 October 2025. For more information, visit www.snipca.com/20150.