In just one short week, Windows 10 will be rolling out to millions of computers, and for the first time, it’s a FREE upgrade for most current Windows users. While most of you reading this will be eligible (sorry to those of you still on Windows XP!), there’s a few things to know before expecting an auto-update next week.
First of all, completing a major update on the operating system of your computer is a big deal, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Make sure all of your programs will work in Windows 10, and perform a backup of your machine in case something goes wrong. Finally, before next Wednesday, click that little windows logo down by the clock in the lower right corner to “reserve” your copy, and get a notification that your machine is ready to update. Very few will actually get the notification to download the update right on launch day, but the rollout is expected to take a few weeks.
More importantly, just because there’s a new version of Windows being released doesn’t mean it’s for everyone- and especially not right away. If you’re a business owner, or have specific software that you rely to run on your machine, use extreme caution in being an early-adopter. As with any new program, there are sure to be bugs and problems in the first weeks of use, and waiting to upgrade until those are smoothed out (or better yet, until there’s a service pack or updates released), will greatly reduce your risk of crippling problems. A perfect example is Windows 8…it’s certainly not a crowd favorite, and many people who purchased it early on went back to Windows 7 as soon as they could.
Lastly, do your homework before installing this update. ZDNet published some additional thoughts about when to upgrade and what to consider before doing so in this article- which is a great read if you’re planning for this upgrade anytime soon: http://www.zdnet.com/article/when-should-i-upgrade-to-windows-10/.
If you are considering upgrading, or need help in understanding if it’s right for you, contact us at www.canyonero.org to review the pros & cons of upgrading your specific machine.
