Upgrading to Windows 10 from XP or Vista? Prepare for a clean install Later this year, Microsoft will be releasing Windows 10 and if you are running an older version of Windows, you need to be aware that to make the jump to the new OS, a clean install will be required. While not a total surprise for Windows XP users, this holds true for Windows Vista users as well. That's the word from Gabe Aul, the man in charge of the Windows Insider program, as he stated on Twitter that the only upgrade paths supported are from Windows 7 and newer. This should not come as a huge surprise when you look at the desktop OS market share. For starters, Windows XP is no longer a supported platform and Microsoft has left those bits far behind. Even though the OS still holds an 18% share of the desktop market, according to Net Applications for the month of December, Microsoft is not willing to make the transition easier since the OS is over a decade old which could require a significant amount of work to make this upgrade possible. And then you have Vista, with only 2.9% of the market, the user base is quite small when compared to Windows 7 (56%) and Windows 8/8.1 (12.5%) which is likely why Microsoft is passing over the OS when it comes to a smooth upgrade path. While Microsoft has not officially said when Windows 10 will be released, their next major milestone occurs later this month and Neowin will be there. At that event, we will get our first, official, look at the consumer features coming with the new OS. http://www.neowin.net/news/upgrading-to-windows-10-from-xp-or-vista-prepare-for-a-clean-install
Windows 10 to be free for Win 8/8.1 users, low-cost upgrade for Win 7? With Microsoft shamefully preventing Windows 7 from upgrading with apps and settings intact to Windows 8.1, it appears this will be rectified with the Windows 10 OS upgrade. An article at IBI Times points to another at Softpedia which suggests the upcoming Windows 10 upgrade will let Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users upgrade with apps and settings intact. This will be great if it happens, because Windows 7 users are currently unable to upgrade to Windows 8.1 with apps and settings intact. Windows 7 users can only upgrade with apps and settings intact to Windows 8, and guess what? Windows 8 is no longer on sale, putting Windows 7 users who want to upgrade to Windows 8.1 at a real disadvantage, forcing them to re-install all their software. Both IBI Times and Softpedia are also suggesting that Windows 8 and 8.1 users will be able to upgrade to Windows 10 free of charge, and that Windows 7 users will only have to pay a ‘small fee’ to upgrade. They’re getting the upgrade information from a tweet by Microsoft’s Gabriel Aul, who answered David Ball’s question (@Dave_256) on 29 December 2014. @Dave_256 asks: “@GabeAul I know that XP will require new installs but is there a direct upgrade path from Vista to #Windows10 ?”. Gabriel Aul, @GabeAul, answers: “@Dave_256 Same for Vista as XP. The only full upgrade paths currently supported are Win7 and newer.” However, when it comes to what Windows 10 will or won’t cost various users, @GabeAul says in a tweet: “@abhip1703 We haven't announced anything about pricing for Win10 yet, stay tuned.” He also tells another user who asks for more information about Windows 10: “@Stevae We have an event coming up on Jan 21st. We'll share more news and info then.” Our article on the forthcoming new Windows 10 preview, expected to be consumer focused and containing the Siri-like Cortana intelligent assistant and more consumer features can be read here. iTWire's Ray Shaw also published an extensive article today looking at Microsoft's plans for its Windows 10 future, entitled 'The Empire Strikes Back - about time!' which is definitely worth reading - here! http://www.itwire.com/your-it-news/...or-win-8-81-users-low-cost-upgrade-for-win-7?
Microsoft to Offer Direct Upgrades Only for Windows 7, 8.1 Users We've already told you that Windows XP computers can be upgraded to Windows 10 using the standalone ISO provided by Microsoft, but Windows Insider boss Gabriel Aul has just confirmed that full upgrade paths to Windows 10 would only be provided for Windows 7 and newer OS versions. In other words, customers who are still running Windows XP and Vista on their computers will have no other option to switch to Windows 10 than a full reinstall, which means that apps and settings will obviously be lost. On the other hand, those on Windows 7 and Windows 8 will be able to preserve all of these, which is kind of great news for those who are waiting to get their hands on Windows 10 in mid-2015. While this isn't yet confirmed, some people close to the matter revealed that Microsoft is planning to make Windows 10 upgrades not only faster and smoother for Windows 7 and 8 users, but also more affordable. Word has it that moving from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 will be completely free, while those on Windows 7 might only have to pay a very small fee. Everyone else, including those on Windows XP, might have to pay the full price of the product, sources say. Of course, this could really help Microsoft boost early adoption of the operating system and make it a lot more appealing than Windows 8, as the core operating system failed to meet expectations and generated confusion and criticism against the Redmond-based software giant. Windows 10 is expected to come out in the second half of 2015, but more details on this release schedule are likely to be provided next month during an event focused on the consumer experience with the new operating system. http://www.softpedia.com/blog/Micro...des-Only-for-Windows-7-8-1-Users-468704.shtml
