Windows 10

Ok, anybody running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 can currently upgrade from that OS to Windows 10 for free. You get like for like in the upgrade so W7 pro to W10 pro etc.
Rather than wait for its gradual rollout, you can download and install direct from the MS site below.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softw...load/windows10

Just ensure you have a USB stick with 4gb or more free (details on the link). It is also worth paying the hardware manufacturers support page/driver section a visit and noting any requirements for updating software.

So im running this on my test machine that consists of an AMD FM1 APU chip, an SSD and 8gb of RAM, so far all is running well, no driver issues after a brief AMD driver and program update. W10 is nice and fast like W8.1 and if you ran the Classic Shell interface the look is very familiar.

Il test some more today for any compatibility issues and if all is good il roll it onto my gaming laptops and other machines.

Anybody else running it

[Moznov]

Be warned, there is already quite a major bug in Win10. If you have more than 512 items in your Start Menu before upgrading (this includes all sub menus) then after the upgrade all items will be missing with no way to restore them. Currently you would have to roll your system back to pre-Win10 and remove some items or wait until Microsoft, who are working on a fix, releases an update. Check various forums to find workarounds and tests for the 512 limit.

[Superfly Guy]

This may already be sorted, I cant imagine many will be affected by this anyway.

[Moznov]

There is no fix as yet and it is very easy to end up with over 512 entries in the start menu. Remember it's "entries" not actual number of apps in there that's the key. Installers dump loads of entries in the start menu, not just a shortcut to the app. Forewarned is forearmed as they say.

[Superfly Guy]

Maybe those who instal an inordinate number of progs could have that many but tech savvy types will be better organised.

Ive just checked my gaming rig, my gaming laptop, my HTPC and my server and none have that many entries, nowhere near. I very much doubt my kids gaming rigs or their laptops do either.

[Superfly Guy]

Found a minor bug, anybody running a Gigabyte system with their network software may have an issue connecting to the internet, just uninstall it and the issue is resolved.

[robbo51]

My computer, Windows 8.1, still hasn't downloaded the update
I thought I would have it by now

[Superfly Guy]

My computer, Windows 8.1, still hasn't downloaded the update
I thought I would have it by now

The queue is mahooosive, just follow the link I posted and DL it straight away, I put it onto a USB stick then used that on my various PCs.

Il post a few tips later, found a couple of minor bugs although easily rectifiable.

[Superfly Guy]

http://bgr.com/2015/07/31/windows-10...ow-to-opt-out/
This is worth a read as well, W10 does a lot of reporting back with standard settings.

[Superfly Guy]

Follow this guide to disable MS data collection.
http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-disab...in-windows-10/

[Superfly Guy]

Follow this guide to disable MS data collection.
http://winaero.com/blog/how-to-disab...in-windows-10/

[Dangerousfish]

It's a shame that Microsoft have taken the stance they have with regards to hording user information, SFG's guide above is a good start to disabling this however it'll also result in some of the new features in Win10 such as Cortana

[Superfly Guy]

To be honest ive had a good root around now, takes a fair bit of tweaking to get rid of the tablet orientated bloatware.

Ive killed off all the bundled apps and sorted out the start screen, interestingly it has been a different experience on the three machines I have currently installed it on.
My gaming rig that runs a very striped down and tweaked W7 64 was fine except I had to change some sounds device settings, also my configs for BF4 were reset and I lost my saves for Company of Heroes. Also the file system was changed so I had C drive folders prioritised over my D drive, 5 mins pinning and unpinning sorted this out.
My HTPC running a vanilla W7 64 was fine.
My gaming laptop running a tweaked W8.1 64 lost all internet connectivity until I deleted a freshly installed file.

I think il change the start menu back to the W7 one and maybe strip out some more unwanted stuff on my gaming rig, back into the Shell and Registry I go.

PS, Guru 3D have run a load of gaming tests and W10 is at most a few % faster currently, if I was on W8.1 i would stay on it at the moment.

[Dangerousfish]

PS, Guru 3D have run a load of gaming tests and W10 is at most a few % faster currently, if I was on W8.1 i would stay on it at the moment.

This should be the norm moving forwards with more publishers utilising DX12.

I'm gonna let other guinea pig for me for a few months before I switch over

[Superfly Guy]

This should be the norm moving forwards with more publishers utilising DX12.

I'm gonna let other guinea pig for me for a few months before I switch over

DX12 will/should make a huge difference, Il keep the kids gaming PCs and the laptop/HTPC connected to my main TV on W7 for the mo and see how the other rigs get on.