WINDOWS 10 A FIRST LOOK September 2015

INTRODUCTION This session is intended only as a basic introduction to the Windows 10 experience. As such, it will focus on primarily on those features that are typically used by members on a day-to-day basis To this end, only features that are “front & centre” or “mission critical” will be reviewed. Some we will look at can, as in previous versions of Windows, be carried out in more than one way – we will discuss as time permits The intent is to provide members with an overview of Windows 10 sufficient to start the decision process as to IF and WHEN upgrading is desirable There are numerous other changes. These will be reviewed as time permits & further sessions can be arranged as needed

INTRODUCTION [Cont.] REMINDER: There is no FREE upgrade path from XP, Vista or Windows 8. You can upgrade XP/Vista – if you have the necessary hardware specifications – but it means a clean install and costs $110 [Home] or $150 [Pro]. You can first upgrade 8 to 8.1 – at a cost -then to 10 FREE We found some comments on the web on how to upgrade XP/Vista free but [a] we do not know if this is real, [b] it needs detailed technical knowhow & [c] it STILL needs a clean install. AT YOUR OWN RISK! Windows 8RT/8.1RT are orphans! There is no way – at the moment at least – to get Windows 10. There is supposed to be an update later this year that will add some Windows 10 functionality

INTRODUCTION [Cont.] For members who choose to take this step in the immediate or near future, we would remind you of one of the features the club offers that is especially appropriate when dealing with a major change such as Windows 10 It is, one suggests, self-evident that – for a time at least – questions that members may have will often need time for research Questions can be sent by e-mail to sccquestions@hotmail.ca They will be answered at the next meeting – to the benefit both of the member concerned and other members present

A CRITICAL NOTE If you do not like Windows 10 you can “roll back” to Windows 7/8.1 BUT it appears that this must happen within 30 days of the install A special procedure: You are advised to back up everything first. Then Click Start>Settings>Update & Security>Recovery – You see “Go back to xxx”; Click “Get Started” After the 30 days you will have to do a “clean install” which means [a] having a recovery disk or system image or the original CD [and serial #], [b] backing up all your files, contacts, e-mails etc. before you do it and [c] making sure you have all your other program CD’s with serial #’s

A LITTLE CLUB HISTORY When we discussed Windows 8.1 some months back, we recommended it be set up to boot directly to the Desktop – for familiarity – but that the new “Start” be used We suggested this approach for the following reasons: We liked the flexibility of customization this offered; we felt it enhanced the user experience We felt that the new METRO [Tiles] look would be the on-going approach due to the proliferation of “touch” devices- Tablets & Smart Phones; therefore it would be good to become familiar with it SO WHAT HAVE WE GOT NOW?

WHAT ARE WE SEEING? Windows 10 boots directly to the Desktop as in Windows 7 & our recommendation for Windows 8.1 The Task Bar has some new default items and now has the capability of multiple lines. The significant items are the new Edge Browser, the so called “Task View” & the Search Box – probably the reason for the multiple lines. We will be looking at these later What we do not see is “Cortana”. Cortana is the voice activated digital assistant – think Apple’s Siri – but it is not yet available in Canada. An immediate negative – the Search Box reduces room on the Task Bar making everything else smaller - & customizing seems “variable”

HIDE THE SEARCH BOX Right click the Task Bar Click Search to reveal the three options Search is also available by right clicking the Start button [Power Menu] so is solely user preference

IS THE START MENU REALLY BACK? A significant part of the hype for Windows 10 has been the return of the Start Menu– this “fact” has been a principal theme in most of the media also – but is it true? If you used Windows 8.1 as Microsoft preferred the answer is either YES or MAYBE If you used Windows 8.1 the way we suggested then the answer is either NO or MAYBE It seems to us that what Windows 10 provides is a rearrangement of our suggestion IS IT REALLY WINDOWS 8.2?

LET’S COMPARE WINDOWS 7 WINDOWS 10 – Before Personalizing

WHY NO OR MAYBE? Needs both left & right clicks to display all that is shown with one click in Windows 7 – same as Windows 8.1 - the Power Menu Uses Tiles rather than Program Icons/Text – same as Windows 8.1 Lists “Most Used” programs instead of “Most Recently Used” Describes as “Power” rather than “Shut Down” – same as Windows 8.1 – but also have “Shut Down” on the Power Menu Adds “Settings” – was in “Charms” in Windows 8.1. “Charms” has gone Still describes “All Programs” as “Apps” – but now is “All Apps” Lost the ability to sort “All Apps” in different ways – big deal?

INTRODUCING “EDGE” PERSONAL OPINION – IT’S NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME! Edge is the “Browser of the Future” for Windows – said to be faster and easier to use It appears to be a revision of the cut down version of Internet Explorer introduced in Windows 8/8.1 An interesting new feature – making & saving notes on a web page BUT: It does not seem significantly faster than Internet Explorer, setting your Home Page - NOW CALLED START PAGE - is far from intuitive, there are no Tool Bars [although some sources say there are – probably confusing Tool Bars with Favourites Bar which is available] and some functions seem to be inoperative PERSONAL OPINION – IT’S NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME!

NOW THE GOOD NEWS! RECOMMENDATION: GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW! In fact, Internet Explorer is still available in Windows 10 – which is fortunate because Edge has – AND APPARENTLY NEEDS – an “Open With Internet Explorer” button for Web Pages that don’t display correctly! Click Start>All Apps>Windows Accessories – click the drop down arrow Right click to Pin to Task Bar or Start Menu or drag & drop to the Desktop REMEMBER: Edge is the default Browser – need to change to your choice in Control Panel>Default Programs. Or when you open another Browser, it may ask if you want it to be the default. Note that Control Panel>Internet Options refers to Internet Explorer NOT Edge Internet Explorer will have security updates throughout Windows 10 support lifetime but probably no enhancements Chrome & Firefox work with Windows 10 RECOMMENDATION: GO WITH WHAT YOU KNOW!

MORE GOOD NEWS! One negative of Windows 8.1 was the inability to automatically do a SYSTEM IMAGE backup But if we now go to Control Panel we see this: we have the capability to carry out both the Windows 7 style back-ups including a System Image & File History backups File History only backs up copies of files that are in the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos, and Desktop folders and the OneDrive files available offline on your PC. If you have files or folders elsewhere that you want backed up, you can add them to one of these folders. CHECK THAT YOUR BACKUP SETTINGS HAVE BEEN KEPT AFTER THE UPGRADE

TASK VIEW Located on the Task Bar, Task View permits the creation of multiple “Virtual” Desktops Basically this permits multiple programs running at the same time to each have their own Desktop The Task Bar on each Desktop shows only the Apps “pinned” to the default Task Bar or actually running in the individual Desktop Since this can – effectively – be done on the Task Bar it does not seem to offer us much that is new. May be useful if you do not like the Task Bar – especially the new small size More oriented to “power users” or when multiple physical screens are required – typically in certain business environments Can “drag & drop” running programs between Virtual Desktops

TASK VIEW Right click the Task Bar to hide the Task View button

ACTION CENTRE The Action Centre is located in the Notification Area It continues to give notifications of various matters potentially needing action But it now gives access to a number of functions Can be customized – recommend to leave as is

ACTION CENTRE

WINDOWS UPDATE No longer accessed through Control Panel There is a major change in Windows 10 Windows 10 Home version basically gets all updates whether wanted or not Windows 10 Pro sets up the same way BUT you can choose to “defer” non- security related updates. Defers “some months”. MAY NOT BE GOOD [initially, if ever] as many changes expected for some time Can schedule Restarts – probably more valid for business Windows 10 defaults to automatic updates for other Microsoft products Can set to have updates to one PC automatically update others on a network

WINDOWS UPDATE Type “Windows Update Settings” in the Search Box & click

WINDOWS UPDATE

WINDOWS UPDATE Probably best to set this to “Off” unless you are sure of what you are doing

WINDOWS UPDATE THIS HAS SOMETIMES BEEN A MAJOR PAIN! It appears to check immediately after booting and starts downloading regardless of what you are trying to do Depending on what is being downloaded, you may experience considerable slow down or even be “locked out” In one instance of the latter it was 10+ minutes before could resume This may be due to “large” updates initially – certainly some improvement more recently – but is likely to reoccur for a while

SECURITY REVIEW BASED ON PREVIOUS CLUB RECOMMENDATIONS: WINDOWS 7: Windows Defender [basically anti-spyware] + Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus + Malwarebytes anti- malware + COMMON SENSE WINDOWS 8/8.1: Windows Defender [combines “old” Windows Defender & Microsoft Security Essentials] + Malwarebytes anti- malware + COMMON SENSE

WINDOWS 10 SECURITY Windows Defender, as in Windows 8.1, is standard There is a growing consensus on the internet that Defender is no longer “state of the art”. Likely due to Microsoft concentrating on the development of Windows 10 & Edge. Will it be improved? Opinion seems split as to how critical this is. Independent tests show a wide variance in degree of “deficiency” Some recommend replacing with 3rd party software – typical suggestions are Kaspersky [$60 per year] or Panda [free version] Others suggest for “most users” Defender + good anti malware + COMMON SENSE will do the job

WINDOWS 10 SECURITY Extra Browser protection is being advised by some sources. A recommendation is Malwarebytes Anti-Exploit This is a FREE download - go to www.Malwarebytes.org/antiexploit and scroll down to the free download button This is a good idea for Windows 7 & 8/8.1. as well OUR CURRENT RECOMMENDATION: Windows Defender + Malwarebytes anti-malware + Malwarebytes anti-exploit + COMMON SENSE. We will continue to monitor this. A Windows 10 appendix to the “Keeping Your Computer Safe” manual will be circulated a.s.a.p.

WHAT YOU DON’T GET Windows Media Centre: No way to play DVD’s unless you download a 3rd party player although there is talk of a new one – possibly this month. A number of sources suggest VLC as a FREE alternative – download from www.videolan.org The standard games of Hearts, MineSweeper & Solitaire in Windows 7 disappear. Skype for Modern Windows is no more. Use Skype for Desktop – download if necessary Some devices [especially external Floppy Drives] and software will not run under Windows 10. This can be checked in advance – see the Microsoft web site. If you have reserved you can check this via the “Get Windows 10” icon

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS REMINDER: The upgrade is FREE until July [29th?] 2016 THEREFORE THERE IS NO RUSH Our sense is that there are a number of “pieces” that are going to need tweaking. We would expect to see a number of substantive updates in the next few months There appear to be some speed issues If you want to upgrade or must upgrade now, we see no major problem If not, we suggest to wait three to six months for things to settle down. Remember that support for Windows 7 will continue until 2020

IF YOU ARE READY: Run Belarc Advisor [download from www.belarc.com/free] and PRINT the results. This will give you a record of most if not all of the serial numbers needed for your software Make a back up of your files before you start. A system image back up is the best idea. If it should happen that you change your mind, these will be very helpful if a simple “roll back” doesn’t work

IF YOU RESERVED:

IF YOU RESERVED: THERE’S NO “CANCEL” BUTTON! – YOU MUST CARRY ON CLICK “OK LET’S CONTINUE” - BE AWARE IT ONLY GIVES YOU THE CHOICE BETWEEN “TODAY”, “TOMORROW” & “THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW” & THE TIME OF DAY TO DO IT THERE’S NO “CANCEL” BUTTON! – YOU MUST CARRY ON

IF YOU RESERVED: If you are seeing this there may be a problem. It does seem that you need to be set to U.S. English for your keyboard – many computers sold in Canada are not. Suggest to check [Control Panel>Keyboard] and see if it changes in the next couple of days

IF YOU DID NOT RESERVE OR RSERVATION SEEMS STALLED: You may have to download Check the keyboard setting first – set to U.S. English – it appears that it will reset to Canadian English after the install Make sure that you are on the Microsoft web site! Download will take time – 7 hours on a club computer with basic Nextcom service. Is fully automatic once started Install needed 2 hours on the same machine – your intervention needed a couple of times. There will be several restarts during the process

DOWNLOADING:

DOWNLOADING:

DOWNLOADING:

JUST FOR LAUGHS!