To Upgrade to Windows 10 or Not to Upgrade That is the Question!

By Aysë Stenabaugh of Jester’s Computer Services

Many people are wondering if they should upgrade to Windows 10 and there really is no simple yes or no answer to this question. Instead read on to find out what you can do to determine if Windows 10 is right for you!

Is the Windows 10 upgrade free for me?
If you’re running Windows 7 or Windows 8 you are eligible for a free Upgrade to Windows 10 through the end of July 2016. In order to complete this upgrade your computer must have all Windows updates and Windows 8 users must have installed Windows 8.1 (this can be done from the Microsoft store).

The Windows 10 upgrade is free however if you don’t feel comfortable installing it yourself we typically charge a flat rate of $65* to upgrade your Windows 7 or Windows 8 compatible device to Windows 10. During the month of October we are offering the same service with a $15 discount so you will only pay $50!*

If I’m not eligible for the free upgrade should I consider Windows 10 anyway?

Before purchasing Windows 10 for your older machine, we would strongly suggest that you consider a few things. Firstly, if you are running Windows Vista support ends April 17th 2017. It may be more cost effective to make that computer last until that time and then put money into a new machine unless you have already upgraded the machine in the past 2-3 years. If you are still running Windows XP support ended April 2014 and using your computer online with this system leaves you vulnerable to any security holes that are left un-patched.

If you still want to consider upgrading to Windows 10 with your current XP or Vista machine you will want to ensure that your computer will have drivers available and will be compatible. To do this you will need to visit your computers manufacturers’ website, locate the model of your computer, and confirm from their support page that Windows 10 is in fact supported. If you have changed any computer parts such as your motherboard you will need to check the parts manufacturer website to confirm that drivers are available for Windows 10. If you do decide to install Windows 10 on your XP or Vista machine you will NOT be able to upgrade you will need to perform a FRESH windows installation (which means your data will need transferred and your programs re-installed)

What else should I consider before choosing to upgrade to Windows 10?

Before upgrading, you will want to ask yourself if there is any software or hardware that you absolutely can’t live without. Once you determine any software you need or hardware such as printers or scanners that you must have working then you should check to ensure they are compatible with Windows 10. Most software that ran on Windows 7 and up will run without issue on Windows 10 however, that can’t be said for all video games or hardware. Check with the software manufacturer if you are not sure or do a Google search online to find out if others had issues with Windows 10 and your program. If you have a printer, scanner etc. that you will need to use then visit the manufacturers support page, search for your product, locate downloads and drivers for your device and confirm that Windows 10 is listed as a supported operating system.

What if I don’t like Windows 10 after I upgrade?

If you upgrade to Windows 10 from 7 or 8 you will have 30 days to roll back your installation to the previous version of Windows. You must perform this action within 30 days or Windows will automatically delete your old Windows installation and you will be required to perform a fresh windows installation to get your old operating system back.

Windows 10 will be the LAST version of Windows so if you really don’t like it you will eventually need to learn to live with it. We offer one-on-one technology classes starting at just $25 for a one hour session and we can even provide an introductory course on Windows 10 on one of our computers if you want to take a test drive before you consider it for your personal PC!

If you’ve already upgraded to Windows 10 check out our article “10 things you don’t want to miss about Windows 10” here

For fast computer services from people you can trust contact Jester’s Computer Services located at 5135 Fairfield Road Fairfield, PA 1732. Call us at 717-642-6611 or visit us on the web on Facebook or at www.jesterscomputers.com

*Flat rate fee does not include any additional services that may be necessary to perform the upgrade including but not limited to viruses or malware that are installed preventing upgrade. We will inform you of any additional services required to perform the upgrade at the time your computer is evaluated.