Will the free upgrade to Windows 10 break my games?

[Tannhauser]

I'm skipping like most of the posts here to answer: Generally no going 7->10 won't break your games. I'd recommend a clean install anyway but anything that ran natively in Win7 will work in 10. Ancient games from GoG should work fine since they target win7/8.

If you've got stuff like original copies of System Shock 2 which require a rain dance to make work in Win7 you might have issues.

Thanks Fab.  I'll upgrade my old laptop with 10 and see how it goes.  If all is well I'll ditch 8.1 HOME SERF EDITION for on my new laptop.

[JRave]

I've been running a Minecraft server on a Windows 10 box for a few months now with no issues at all, other than the occasional unannounced restart to install updates, but hey, techincal preview.

So if you want to play games that run in a Java console I can confirm that they'll probably work fine! 

From what I understand, Win10 Home will always have forced updates.  Only the Pro (and Enterprise) version will have the ability to prevent it from updating on its own.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifications

Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.

[Sophismata]

Nothing about what I posted involves piracy of any kind. It is a completely legitimate way to use media center as a dvr.

Sorry for being an ass.

[Samwise]

From what I understand, Win10 Home will always have forced updates.  Only the Pro (and Enterprise) version will have the ability to prevent it from updating on its own.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-specifications

Windows 10 Home users will have updates from Windows Update automatically available. Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 Enterprise users will have the ability to defer updates.

Ahhh, there it is.

So the free upgrade to Win 10 will work fine.  Then a free mandatory update will break all your games.  Then you have to pay for Pro to fix them again.   

[Yegolev]

Brilliant!

[Sky]

Since I didn't pony up for Pro, looks like I'll be deferring 10 since I can't defer updates.

*shrug*

eta: Because my clean upgrade path sucked, iirc; I had upgraded from XP Pro which gave me 7 Home or something like that.

[Merusk]

Who uses the Home version of a Window release besides people who don't know how to computer?

Home shipped with a lot of the low power netbook type computers... I think that's what I had on there before I zapped it so linux could have the whole drive. Still for the people using the most basic version I could see an argument for making upgrades automated and invisible.

I'm not seeing any reason to jump on this early so I'll be waiting for the fine print to eventuate.

Yeah, that was kind of my point, in a very passive way. All the laptops I've bought during the win7 cycle (about 5, since I did it for family too) gave me the option of which edition to install. The ones that don't come prebuilt from best buy or the like. If you're buying machines that way you're doing it because you're not big on computering, you're treating them like a device. Expect the OS designer to do the same.

[Mandella]

Okay, a bit of Googling around finds that, at least for the current test Win10 release, an easy registry hack will bring up the option to schedule updates as you wish. As long as the full release doesn't try to block this we Home users should be okay.

And even if it does there seem to be enough computer savvy folks out there that haven't fallen into the "Go Pro or get out!" attitude who will come up with another work-around.


[rhetorical outburst] Is Microsoft contractually (with Satan, apparently) obligated to have one dealbreaker with every release that the community has to hack around? One screen fits all for Win 8 (Start button? who needs a Start button?), now screwing with update options...[/rhetorical outburst]

And just a side thought: no option on what gets updated means that, use it or not, you will have a full version of the Edge Browser, and gods know whatever other near uninstallable kludgeware MS is pushing at the moment...

[eldaec]

Few years ago I would have this was a silly discussion because there is no way sane people would make it impossible to delay updates. Awkward and reliant on understanding byzantine menus sure, but not impossible.

Then microsoft released a version of windows where the start menu can only be used in full screen mode....

[Sophismata]

Okay, a bit of Googling around finds that, at least for the current test Win10 release, an easy registry hack will bring up the option to schedule updates as you wish. As long as the full release doesn't try to block this we Home users should be okay.

It's just… why would you ever use the home edition of any Windows, ever?

[Merusk]

Careful, some people are sensitive on that topic. 

[koro]

Because "free" trumps "whatever Win10 Pro costs."

[HaemishM]

Because "free" trumps "whatever Win10 Pro costs."

This.

[kaid]

From what I hear win 10 at least currently breaks rift and archeage due to their hack buster code REALLY not liking win 10.

[Mandella]

Okay, a bit of Googling around finds that, at least for the current test Win10 release, an easy registry hack will bring up the option to schedule updates as you wish. As long as the full release doesn't try to block this we Home users should be okay.

It's just… why would you ever use the home edition of any Windows, ever?

So sell me. Why shouldn't I?

And please bear in mind that I'm not a programmer, so I use my machines for gaming and media. Some 3D modeling. Gimp. That's pretty much it. And as far as I can tell, any utility I'm missing by not having Pro I can easily fill in for with third party programs, and have more control over what I am getting to boot.

Oh, I do have one copy of Win 7 Pro from a machine I picked up secondhand. Haven't really noticed much difference in it and my regular Home version gaming rig.

But maybe I just don't know what I'm missing. So I'm listening.

[Viin]

I tried Googling for 'why stupid people use Windows 7 Home Edition" but didn't find anything.

[Lantyssa]

From what I hear win 10 at least currently breaks rift and archeage due to their hack buster code REALLY not liking win 10.

How was that bug found?

[KallDrexx]

I have Pro because I get it for free through MSDN, but if it wasn't free why the hell would I have Pro?

[Chimpy]

I have Pro because I get it for free through MSDN, but if it wasn't free why the hell would I have Pro?

A) You are one of those people who want more than 16GB of RAM
B) You want the ability to connect to your machine with RDP
C) You need XP mode
D) You are a weirdo and have your own domain at home
E) You have a two socket motherboard

[KallDrexx]

Pretty sure most people don't fall in any of those categories, even on this board.

[apocrypha]

I use RDP all the time at home, it's incredibly useful.

[Sky]

I tried Googling for 'why stupid people use Windows 7 Home Edition" but didn't find anything.

At least you're not being a cunt about it. At Windows 7's launch the upgrade path for XP Pro was to 7 Home for $50. Not needing the things Chimpy listed, I decided not to spend the extra $150 on Pro. If you are interested in sending me the $150, I can pm you my paypal deets.

Apoc, RDP is handy but you could also VPN for free, yeah?

[croaker69]

Apoc, RDP is handy but you could also VPN for free, yeah?

There are other options like http://www.tightvnc.com/ if that's your only requirement.

[HaemishM]

Ok, so I currently use Remote Desktop Connection to VPN into my work computer from home. Are you guys saying that if my home computer upgrades to Windows 10 Home, I won't have the RDC software anymore? Or that I can't remote into my HOME computer from somewhere else (which is something I never do).

[croaker69]

The feature disabled in the Home editions is the RDP server component so you can't connect in to the Home version pc. The RDP client is still there.

[HaemishM]

K, then no reason for me not to get Home. Good to know.

[Chimpy]

I still think that people are getting hung up on "can't defer" meaning "it will install updates immediately and not let me postpone them based on my schedule. Microsoft could very well intend defer to mean "choose whether or not to install specific updates."

I have not seen a clear definition from MS on this so I don't know the answer.

I have Win7 Ultimate and don't plan on updating to 10 on my existing machine because I planned on building a new one at some point.

[Rendakor]

Defer means postpone, it doesn't mean filter or opt out. So them saying you cannot defer updates is literally

it will install updates immediately and not let me postpone them based on my schedule.

[KallDrexx]

Defer means postpone, it doesn't mean filter or opt out. So them saying you cannot defer updates is literally

it will install updates immediately and not let me postpone them based on my schedule.

Not necessarily.  It may mean that you can't indefinitely defer *specific* updates and choose which you want installed and which you don't (for example, all the people trying to not install the update that puts in the windows 10 nag application).  It does not necessarily mean that all updates must be downloaded and installed the second your computer is notified of them.

Since MS has always had scheduling for what time of day you want to download and install updates I'd be shocked if they took that out. They just don't want home users to indefinitely put off specific updates.

[Mandella]

I have Pro because I get it for free through MSDN, but if it wasn't free why the hell would I have Pro?

A) You are one of those people who want more than 16GB of RAM
B) You want the ability to connect to your machine with RDP
C) You need XP mode
D) You are a weirdo and have your own domain at home
E) You have a two socket motherboard

Thanks Chimpy.

Well, I'm okay with 16G (for right now), I use TightVNC and Splashtop for my remoting needs, I'm not even sure what XP mode is (Win XP compatibility?), I don't have my own domain, nor a two socket motherboard (although that would be neat).

So yeah, looks like my money is well saved.

I do agree that the instant update "feature" is so bizarre that it is hard to believe it would be implemented as stated, but no more than the full screen app "feature" of Win 8. And just like the reaction to the forced tablet-like OS of Win 8 I expect numerous community driven workarounds to be available, so basically it's business as usual for the Home Windows user.

[Teleku]

Pretty sure most people don't fall in any of those categories, even on this board.

I fall into several of those categories, heh.

[Merusk]

He also missed:

F) Location-aware printing; Necessary (imo) if you move between networks, which I do a lot. This reassigns default printers and remembers which network a printer is on.
G) File system encyption - freelancers might want this
H) Network backup (granted, this is Windows backup so, meh.)
J) Presentation Mode - Lock some of the features, like screensaver and auto-dim on your laptop without fiddling in multiple spots.


XP Mode is needed for some folks running legacy programs. Architects in particular know the pain of trying to find someplace to run the certification programs which were written for 32-bit Win98/ XP.

[kaid]

From what I hear win 10 at least currently breaks rift and archeage due to their hack buster code REALLY not liking win 10.

How was that bug found?

Well the two people I know who have prerelease copies of win 10 who play those games say the games won't launch and error out commenting about that and a person I know who works for trion mentioned it was a known issue. I am guessing that probably gets fixed pretty soon once windows 10 is out but for the moment those two games just don't work on win 10.

[Lantyssa]

The joke was supposed to be who plays Rift or Archage to have found out it doesn't work on Win 10.

[Mandella]

He also missed:

F) Location-aware printing; Necessary (imo) if you move between networks, which I do a lot. This reassigns default printers and remembers which network a printer is on.
G) File system encyption - freelancers might want this
H) Network backup (granted, this is Windows backup so, meh.)
J) Presentation Mode - Lock some of the features, like screensaver and auto-dim on your laptop without fiddling in multiple spots.


XP Mode is needed for some folks running legacy programs. Architects in particular know the pain of trying to find someplace to run the certification programs which were written for 32-bit Win98/ XP.

Some of those I could see as rather useful, just not for me. You might even say that people who use their computers to Professionally Produce have a use for Windows Pro.

You can be sure I would demand it if I were employed by someone who was supplying me a machine for work.