Should You Upgrade to Windows 10?

If you have a computer running Windows 7 or 8.1, you have probably seen the "Get Windows 10" icon in your system tray.  Even if your computer is running a different operating system, you have probably heard the news covering the release of Windows 10 later this month.  However, Windows 10 is not for everyone.  Here are some reasons why you might not want to click that icon and take your upgrade.

1) Your Computer Is Old - Windows 7 was released in October 2009, meaning that there are some Windows 7 computers that are almost six years old.  While this is not an extremely old age, some of your hardware might not be designed to work with Windows 10.  Although, Microsoft has promised support for older devices, and the number of people testing Windows 10 right now probably means that it can be supported across a wide range of devices, computers more than two or three years old might encounter some glitches with the Windows 10 upgrade.  Since Windows 7 is promised support for another five years, it might be a good idea to stick with an older copy of Windows.

If your computer is running Windows 8, it will probably be new enough that the transition to Windows 10 should be relatively smooth.

2) Your Connected Devices are Old - The operating system doesn't just have to support your computer; it also has to support the other devices you connect to it.  Windows 10 may run fine on your computer, but it may not support an older printer, scanner, gaming device, etc.  If you have some older devices, you may want to stick with Windows 7.

3) Windows 10 Doesn't Have What You Want - Windows 10 is dropping support for some programs and features.  For example, if you use Windows Media Center, it will be removed if you upgrade to Windows 10.  It will also lack support for native DVD playback and desktop gadgets (although both can be added through the use of free programs).

4) You Aren't Technical - While Windows is supposed to install over your existing operating system, some people may experience glitches once the installation process begins.  In this case, your only option may be to install a fresh copy of the operating system.  If the thought of having to install Windows sounds scary to you, upgrading may not be something you want to do.

Even if Windows 10 installs correctly, there may be things that will not work like they are supposed to, or you may need to install extra drivers to regain functionality.  If you are not comfortable trying to troubleshoot these problems, an upgrade may not be for you.

If you do decide to upgrade, I don't recommend upgrading right away unless you are capable of figuring out your own solutions to most problems.  There will be glitches with the rollout process and support, especially for older devices.  It will be best to wait two or three months and let others deal with the problems before you upgrade.

I have used the preview version of Windows 10 since it was first released last year, and I am currently running it as my main operating system.  I think it is an excellent operating system, so it is certainly worth considering an upgrade.