The Official Windows 10 thread

[rotNdude]

There have been many threads started because folks are seeing that new little icon in their system tray on older versions of Windows. In an effort to keep all the questions to one thread, this is it.

You will be given a choice to upgrade to Windows 10 over a one year period after it is officially released on July 29th and you're running a qualifying OS for upgrade. You can do it when it's released or wait until later.

If that new icon bothers you, you can get rid of it. If you do get rid of it, you can still upgrade later, assuming you do it within that one year period.

http://venturebeat.com/2015/05/31/microsoft-starts-prompting-windows-7-and-windows-8-users-to-reserve-their-free-windows-10-upgrade/

If you have questions about Steam compatibility, post it here. If you have questions about game compatibility, post it in the game forum of interest.

If you have general questions relating to problems with the OS or upgrading, ask them here.

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Edit by rotNdude for Badmotha
So to further set the record straight, every Windows OS user should go through and understand this:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/ultimate-windows-10-activation-license-faq
This is a much much newer write-up that explains all you really need, in fully details, and is new enough to explain how Windows 10 (and previous OS) terms have changed as well as that with the Win10 1511, u no longer need to install the upgrade first to help ensure proper activation.

My suggestion also, if you downloaded and created a Win10 media backup prior to Nov 2015, make a new one using Win10 Media Creation Tool again. This will make your new hard copy the latest official build. Microsoft will continue to update the downloadable ISO build as later builds become official. If you like the Beta builds, you get those within your OS through Windows Insider Program opt-in.
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Edit from Badmotha
Can u please update the main Sticky to include this important Win10 Users Tip:


Motherboard BIOS Firmware update can trigger Windows 10 Inactive
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/motherboard-bios-firmware-update-can-trigger-windows-10-inactive.html
Suggest that users check and/or update their Laptop / Desktop to latest BIOS prior to Win10 install for best results, and to avoid head-aches.


Also Microsoft is rolling out some major Win10 updates come November; once of which will simplify the way you activate your Win10 by allowing users to simply input their current qualifying Win7 SP1 or 8.1 Product Key during the Clean Win10 Installer, so that Upgrade method won't be required.

http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/next-big-windows-10-release-will-simplify-activation-procedures.html


Also in Nov during these Win10 updates, XboxOne users will see their console get a full Win10 Upgrade; this will not only help the Xbox performance overall, but help with regards to Win10 streaming Xbox to PC. MS is also looking to allow PC game streaming to the XboxOne, so users won't need device like Steam Link (or Streaming PC) if they have Win10 PC and an XboxOne.


In December, Win8 Phone users will get options for full Win10 OS updates.

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Edit by Spawn of Totoro:

For those who wish to do a clean install of Windows 10, here is a nice article explaining how to do so.

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-do-a-clean-install-of-windows-10-1720775893

And for those who want to create a log-in with out a Microsoft Account:

http://www.baldnerd.com/install-windows-10-without-a-microsoft-account/
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EDIT by rotNdude posted by Azza

The Windows 10 upgrade is being rolled out over time by Microsoft, so you won't see the icon until the upgrade is ready for your machine or the icon might disappear on you.

Now you might be wondering why? Your friend got it, but you reserved it before them and still waiting for ages, arrr!!!

Firstly they are releasing the upgrade download in waves (to avoid server overload).

There are two ways to jump this wait. This might actually be slowing down your own turn to upgrade. However, I personal don't recommend using them yourself - even though others might of jumped in front of you, in the long run it doesn't actually help too much (and can seriously cause more issues).

Manual trigger ( wuauclt.exe /updatenow ) - As it causes download issues (not just for you, but the others) and your own activition/unlocking might be still delayed or cancelled. Most people attempting this end up with only a part downloaded, then download error message.

Manual download tool ( if you really can't wait ) - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 - is a better option at least.

Just note: They are taking a measured approach to ensure that we only upgrade users when we have a high confidence level for the compatibility of their device. So the automatic waiting on your Operating System upgrade is in place for a reason to be ensured it will work with all your hardware/software.

I suggest actually waiting, this might take another day or even weeks, but at least then you will not run into so many issues (when first released). They will start off with a lot of support, zero day patching, and issues - as with any new major service. A mad rush to get it, just causes more problems than it's worth.

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If you never got to reverved your copy of Win 10

Ensure if...

Win 7 - You have Service Pack 1 installed.
Win 8 - You have it updated to version 8.1.

Then go to Control Panel > Windows Updates

Ensure patch KB3035583 is installed (This is the GWX notification and download manager)

If that doesn't work, see Manual download tool above.

If all else fails getting that patch (manually):

Start > Run > type "cmd.exe" (without the quotes) and right-click it from the list, run as admin.

Under that admin evaluated command prompt type:
dism /online /get-packages | findstr KB3035583 > NUL

That's just telling Windows Updates to download the patch KB3035583 (as mentioned before). Then once that's installed, update your registry if required...

reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\UpgradeExperienceIndicators" /v UpgEx /t REG_SZ /d Green /f

and try launching it...

%SystemRoot%\System32\GWX\GWX.exe /taskLaunch

then refresh it...

%SystemRoot%\System32\GWX\GWXConfigManager.exe /RefreshConfig


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Since people keep asking me over and over, I'll drop this note here...

Note there's an offical Windows 10 thread:
http://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/618463446162617695/#p21

Mods - Feel free to merge it, I just assumed it might get overlooked there.
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[Spawn of Totoro]

KripTed님이 먼저 게시:

MASSIVE VAC ERRORS KEEP HAPPENING SINCE I SWITCHED TO WINDOWS 10, PLEASE FIX.

That isn't Steam. Something on your system is preventing VAC form working properly.

[Space Coward]

Spawn of Totoro님이 먼저 게시:

KripTed님이 먼저 게시:

MASSIVE VAC ERRORS KEEP HAPPENING SINCE I SWITCHED TO WINDOWS 10, PLEASE FIX.

That isn't Steam. Something on your system is preventing VAC form working properly.

Isn't Cortana always on? Maybe disabling Windows Aero Extensions would fix this in most Source games.

[Wellerman]

I got to Windows 10, it looks really cool, my beloved msi have always been a monster but now it's even working smoother than her first days.

But I have a tiny problem, I saw this in Burnout Paradise, not sure if in any other games...
The thing is I lost my save data began all over again, if anyone knows how to fix this, please help.

[sai Dylan]

@Spawn of Totoro or any mods

SO yeah, I did clean install and still have the same problem.

[massimo-ecs]

massimo-ecs님이 먼저 게시:

Windows 10 games running and not:

Hi all,

i'm testing games with Windows 10 Preview on an Acer laptop V3 571 G (8GB ram, Core I5 Intel HD graphics 4000 + Nvidia GT 630 M), insider preview build 10130

Games tested 100% working:

amnesia the dark descent
battle group 2
cogs
command and conquer 3 kane's wrath
command and conquer 3 tiberium wars
dead horde
dear eshter
defense grid
defense grid 2
defense technica
exodus from the earth
galcon fusion
mars colony: challenger
naval warfare (with disable high DPI in compatibility mode, same as on Windows7)
sanctum
sanctum 2
shadowgrounds
sin of a solar empire rebellion
sol survivor
space rangers HD: A War Apart
stalker clear sky
starlite: astronaut rescue
trauma
wolfenstein


Do not even start anymore: :-(

project freedom
return to castle wolfenstein
supreme commander


Problematic (start, but have problems):

Bullet candy (mouse pointer don't work)
supreme commander 2 (start in /safemode, disable secondary adapter and it works
without secondary adapter/screen map radar)

update:

return to castle wolfenstein works perfectly after deleting:
wolfconfig.cfg under \Steam\steamapps\common\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main

SC & SC2 works perfectly disabling secondary adapter

[KnightSai]

Not sure if this has been brought up, but whenever I open other people's screenshots on the activity feed, I can't close the window afterwards. I'm guessing this is a Windows 10 issue.

[Space Coward]

massimo-ecs님이 먼저 게시:

massimo-ecs님이 먼저 게시:

Windows 10 games running and not:

Hi all,

i'm testing games with Windows 10 Preview on an Acer laptop V3 571 G (8GB ram, Core I5 Intel HD graphics 4000 + Nvidia GT 630 M), insider preview build 10130

Do not even start anymore: :-(

project freedom
return to castle wolfenstein
supreme commander

update:

return to castle wolfenstein works perfectly after deleting:
wolfconfig.cfg under \Steam\steamapps\common\Return to Castle Wolfenstein\Main

SC & SC2 works perfectly disabling secondary adapter

SC1 and Forged Alliances can also be fixed by playing in Compatibility mode for Windows XP SP3. I had the same problem on Windows 7 SP1.

[Mr. Fibble]

hazrd510님이 먼저 게시:

Is it worth upgrading to Windows 10? I'll still on Windows 7 and love it!

I'd say stick to seven.

I was running windows 7 home and since updating to 10 I've found my dvd drive has "broken" as in it refuses to read any disc put into it. My audio was also killed and got that working by removing from device manager and detecting new hardware.

Windows update is now totally draconian in how it does things and will update as and when it wants crippling the capacity for online gaming as it hogs every scrap of bandwidth.

Sleep mode works for a maybe a minute or two before waking up again. I was giving that a try as the power on option in the bios that was waking perfectly at 8am every day prior to the update now does nothing at all.

Trying to install games on steam and I'm getting disk write errors now. Never had any issues like that with steam before, usually it was a missing file if there was one.

Default language was reverted to US from UK and for some reason the speech recognition in the home edition is locked to US only!

The much lauded cortana is apparently not a feature for home users (linked to speech being US only NOT the lie about unsupported region). So I can't even tell her to go play with the busses.

Needless to say I'm going to be rolling back to seven before the month expires.

[Space Coward]

I wouldn't ignore 10 completely, I'd just wait until July 1 to upgrade... or in my case, probably December, since Gears of War Ultimate is a Windows 10 exclusive. It looks like a great platform, it just has a few kinks that the early adopters will have to deal with.

[Nejco]

Mr. Fibble님이 먼저 게시:

hazrd510님이 먼저 게시:

Is it worth upgrading to Windows 10? I'll still on Windows 7 and love it!

I'd say stick to seven.

1 I was running windows 7 home and since updating to 10 I've found my dvd drive has "broken" as in it refuses to read any disc put into it. My audio was also killed and got that working by removing from device manager and detecting new hardware.

2 Windows update is now totally draconian in how it does things and will update as and when it wants crippling the capacity for online gaming as it hogs every scrap of bandwidth.

3 Sleep mode works for a maybe a minute or two before waking up again. I was giving that a try as the power on option in the bios that was waking perfectly at 8am every day prior to the update now does nothing at all.

4 Trying to install games on steam and I'm getting disk write errors now. Never had any issues like that with steam before, usually it was a missing file if there was one.

5 Default language was reverted to US from UK and for some reason the speech recognition in the home edition is locked to US only!

6 The much lauded cortana is apparently not a feature for home users (linked to speech being US only NOT the lie about unsupported region). So I can't even tell her to go play with the busses.

Needless to say I'm going to be rolling back to seven before the month expires.

1 No comment.
2 Not true. You can easily disable service and it won't work anymore
3 Sleep mode works fine here. You've done something wrong. DON'T UPGRADE, DO CLEAN INSTALL. ALWAYS.
4 Had 0 problems like that here. DON'T UPGRADE, DO CLEAN INSTALL. ALWAYS.
5 Had that problem. Look online and you'll see how to get rid off it.
6 Not true. Again look online for solution. You need to match several settings or it won't let you use it.

[Space Coward]

I thought this had been discussed before... Compatibility Mode for Windows 8.1 fixes a lot of the Disk Write Errors.

[[☥] - CJ -]

Waiting a few months to upgrade may be best.. there hasnt been many hotfixes released yet..

And the problem with doing a Clean Install is.. You have to upgrade to Win10 first then use Speccy to get your Win10 key BEFORE you can do a clean install.

Unless Microsoft ties it to you, but im not sure about that.

Getting your current OS's key is also a good idea before installing Win10 as well.
Especially if you're on a laptop that only has a recovery partition and you didnt get an install disk with a Key.

[Mr. Fibble]

You cant disable the update in the home version only pro or above.

Likewise the speech lock was a decision made by microsoft to lock features in the home version same way they decided to screw about with the updates system.

[Spawn of Totoro]

☥ - CJ -님이 먼저 게시:

Waiting a few months to upgrade may be best.. there hasnt been many hotfixes released yet..

And the problem with doing a Clean Install is.. You have to upgrade to Win10 first then use Speccy to get your Win10 key BEFORE you can do a clean install.

Unless Microsoft ties it to you, but im not sure about that.

Getting your current OS's key is also a good idea before installing Win10 as well.
Especially if you're on a laptop that only has a recovery partition and you didnt get an install disk with a Key.

You don't get a key. They take information from your hardware and use that to activate windows after the upgrade.

One of the link in the original post (the one to Lifehacker) has more information.

Mr. Fibble님이 먼저 게시:

You cant disable the update in the home version only pro or above.

Likewise the speech lock was a decision made by microsoft to lock features in the home version same way they decided to screw about with the updates system.

You can't disable it in Pro either. Now Enterprise edition, maybe you can, but that requires special licensing to even get.

You can turn off update sharing in both home and pro.

I don't use speach so, I can't realy say.

Farts That Cause Scars님이 먼저 게시:

@Spawn of Totoro or any mods

SO yeah, I did clean install and still have the same problem.

Did you update all your drivers from their websites? Such as motherboard drivers from the place that made your motherboard?

I had two unknown hardware devices on mine untill I went to the Asus website and download it's latest drivers from there.

[[☥] - CJ -]

Spawn of Totoro님이 먼저 게시:

☥ - CJ -님이 먼저 게시:

Waiting a few months to upgrade may be best.. there hasnt been many hotfixes released yet..

And the problem with doing a Clean Install is.. You have to upgrade to Win10 first then use Speccy to get your Win10 key BEFORE you can do a clean install.

Unless Microsoft ties it to you, but im not sure about that.

Getting your current OS's key is also a good idea before installing Win10 as well.
Especially if you're on a laptop that only has a recovery partition and you didnt get an install disk with a Key.

You don't get a key. They take information from your hardware and use that to activate windows after the upgrade.

One of the link in the original post (the one to Lifehacker) has more information.

Mr. Fibble님이 먼저 게시:

You cant disable the update in the home version only pro or above.

Likewise the speech lock was a decision made by microsoft to lock features in the home version same way they decided to screw about with the updates system.

You can't disable it in Pro either. Now Enterprise edition, maybe you can, but that requires special licensing to even get.

You can turn off update sharing in both home and pro.

I don't use speach so, I can't realy say.

Thats incorrect, you actually do get a key.
They may take info of your hardware n such and tie it to you, but you actually do get a key.

Using speccy verifies this.

Either way, you have to Upgrade to Win10 first, you cant do a clean install without doing that and getting your key.

As ive found out myself.