Vista Upgrade to Win10?

[RetiredBob]

I have an older desktop running Vista that we only rarely use (I have a laptop, wife has an Ipad). I want to keep it as a backup and for occasional tasks that are easier on the desktop. I don't think MS is offering the free Win10 upgrade for Vista. My question is, should I purchase and upgrade to Win7 and then upgrade to Win10 when available, or just leave things the way they are? I've had no problems with Vista to date.

[MrWizard]

IMO if you could get "drivers" for all the internal hardware
XP would run circles around win 8.1 .. on the same PC

[8_1_Van]

bcsdguy wrote:
Install xp on your new computer after wiping out that damn 8.

I would wait a month and install Windows 10 for free before going back to a 13 year old OS with zero support from Microsoft.

[MrWizard]

Great ..thank you

[AllegroD]

Nice, strollin. Thanks.

[strollin]

MrWizard wrote:
Strollin
I'll try that..thank you

It works in Win 7 & Win 10 as well.

[MrWizard]

Strollin
I'll try that..thank you

[docj]

strollin wrote:
What a complete Programs menu of ALL of your installed programs without a 3rd party app?

Right-click on Taskbar, select Toolbars->New Toolbar...

Put "%programdata%\microsoft\windows\start menu\programs" into the folder box (without quotes) and click "Select Folder" button. You'll now have a Programs toolbar on the Taskbar that has all of your installed programs listed on it. As you install new programs they will automatically show up in the menu.

Cute trick. My list is a bit long, but it's still useful. Thanks

[strollin]

What a complete Programs menu of ALL of your installed programs without a 3rd party app?

Right-click on Taskbar, select Toolbars->New Toolbar...

Put "%programdata%\microsoft\windows\start menu\programs" into the folder box (without quotes) and click "Select Folder" button. You'll now have a Programs toolbar on the Taskbar that has all of your installed programs listed on it. As you install new programs they will automatically show up in the menu.

[MrWizard]

yes Da***** typing search is what i have been doing

BTW that Windows key plus "X"
only brings up the same limited menu that i get by moving the cursor to start and "right clicking"

nothing different nothing extra

thanks for the control panel ICON tip.. that helps

[strollin]

MrWizard wrote:
... want the calculator ? or Notepad ? no more windows accessorizes.. gotta search ...

Instead of fighting it, why not embrace Search in Win 8.1? It can find things very quickly. On my 8.1 machine, searching for calculator, by the time I've typed "ca", it's already located it, doubt I could find it in the Win 7 Start menu any faster. Same with notepad, I type "no" and it's located it already.

bwanshoom wrote:

strollin wrote:

AllegroD wrote:
The pop up menu is back in 10. You won't need Classic Shell.

It cracks me up when I see someone say the Start menu is back in Win 10. The Start menu in Win 10 is more or less a windowed version of Win 8.x's Start screen. The tiles are still there and the apps are still there, the only thing that changed is that the menu isn't full-screen.

I think that might be a bit of an oversimplification. It's not the same as Win7, but it's not just that it isn't full-screen.

Somewhat simplified, yes, that's why I said "more or less". It isn't that big of a departure.

[bwanshoom]

strollin wrote:

AllegroD wrote:
The pop up menu is back in 10. You won't need Classic Shell.

It cracks me up when I see someone say the Start menu is back in Win 10. The Start menu in Win 10 is more or less a windowed version of Win 8.x's Start screen. The tiles are still there and the apps are still there, the only thing that changed is that the menu isn't full-screen.

I think that might be a bit of an oversimplification. It's not the same as Win7, but it's not just that it isn't full-screen.

[docj]

MrWizard wrote:


after 9 full days of usage/frustration.. i'm ready to install classic shell

It does get easier with time. I have two Windows 8.1 laptops one of which I've had ~2 years and I no longer bother to run Classic Start.

A couple of things that you might not yet have discovered:

--The hidden menu that pops up with the "Windows key + x" is one I rely on a lot.

--Configuring my touchpad to prevent the "charms menu" from appearing except when I want it can greatly reduce your frustration level.

--Configuring the Control Panel to display large or small icons rather than categories makes it a lot easier to use.

And BTW, the Restore stuff is in the Control Panel under the Recovery icon once you reconfigure it.

Don't count on Windows 10 until you check to see if your computer can be upgraded. I've already identified potential problems with mine (my Intel HD4600 display, in particular).

Joel (AKA docj)

[MrWizard]

my new replacement PC has win 8.1
that popup so called start menu provides about half of what XP/win7/classic-shell provides
even the control panel sucks
want system restore.. you have to do a search, its not in the control panel choices

want the calculator ? or Notepad ? no more windows accessorizes.. gotta search
want programs folder/directory .. gotta go thru my pc/windows/ etc..
install a new program ? no quick link in the menu

8.1 start menu is joke..
after 9 full days of usage/frustration.. i'm ready to install classic shell

[strollin]

AllegroD wrote:
The pop up menu is back in 10. You won't need Classic Shell.

It cracks me up when I see someone say the Start menu is back in Win 10. The Start menu in Win 10 is more or less a windowed version of Win 8.x's Start screen. The tiles are still there and the apps are still there, the only thing that changed is that the menu isn't full-screen.