Windows 10 Install Fest

Windows 10 began showing up on computers all over the country on July 29th, 2015. Our plan was for me to install it on my machine first, make sure it was ok, then hubby would (what we thought was) the big nasty on his machine. NO sense going crazy on both machines, right? Well, that's not exactly how it turned out.

Remember that cute little Windows Notification icon that appeared on most of our System Trays around the beginning of June? That's what started my heart going pitty pat. I love fiddling with a new operating system, warts and all. Even the cussing can be fun, and working out all the little surprises and glitches only add to the excitement. You just never know what can happen. Clicking that little icon opened up a set of dialog boxes that allowed us to "reserve" our copy of Windows 10. Once I began reading more about the process, it became clear it would become "available" to folks some time after the 29th of July. I wasn't sure what that meant, but is sure sounded like fun. I signed up... and hubby signed up... and after I told my friend Ricardo, he signed up. The guys' plan was for old Mrs. Wizard to install it on her computer first. Then, if the cussing wasn't too bad, they would go for it. Sweet huh? I didn't mind... Actually, I volunteered to be the neighborhood guinea pig. Let's face, it. Microsoft has had its share of duds in the operating system department over the years.

Day 1... For us, nothing seemed to happen right away. I did click my little Microsoft tray icon and it seemed encouraging, even let me download the new Windows 10. Then, during the install, I got a nice big fat FAILED message. I had no idea why. My computer was relatively new, no crapware installed, and it passed all the "tests" Microsoft gave it and had been deemed acceptable for the update. Go figure. It did not look like I was going to be able to check it out any time soon. I was just going to have to wait.

My husband, however, had a different experience. When he cranked up his machine that morning, he was greeted with a neat little message letting him know his Windows 10 was ready and did he want to install it now? Well, he clicked (without telling me first) the OK button and was on his merry way before he knew what hit him. By the time he let me know what was going on, his computer had shut down and restarted a few times and was just about finished with the upgrade.

Sooooooo I got to listen, for the next several days, about how "Windows 10 is really very good," and "very intuitive," and, "Hey, can you come here a minute? I have a question!" I tried to 'splain to that man I have been married to (over 40 years) I didn't know any more about Windows 10 than he did. It was brand new to me too, and until I could spend some quality time in front of a machine with it installed, he might as well be talking to a wall.

I did phone my friend Ricardo, and let him know I didn't have it on my machine yet. By that time, I had it in my mind it might have to do with my machine being an "All In One" computer, with a touch screen. I had done a few Google searches and discovered not everyone got the install right away. Most were having great experiences though, so that was a good sign. It sounded like Microsoft was doing it right, paying attention to error messages, and updating the update files as fast as it could to accommodate as many computers as soon as possible. I might just have to wait a while.

Richard decided to not wait and went ahead and clicked through all the tempting Microsoft messages, ended up having a perfect install, just like my hubby. I can admit now, the green eyed monster was eating my shorts... a lot! Ricardo's only issue after a day or so, was his printer drivers were not up to par for Windows 10 yet. Everything else (he reported gleefully) was working great!

In the meantime... there was no joy on my computer. I kept trying to get the "update" but all I got was the "failed install" message. Heck, my Windows Defender was faithfully updating daily, but no Windows 10. Time for some serious Google searching. I might still be waiting but for this little tidbit I found from someone to another fellow sufferer. There was an additional command, but I didn't need it. Simply deleting the contents of the SoftwareDistribution\Download folder, then rebooting, was all my computer needed to redownload the Windows 10 installation file and finally give me a wonderful installation experience. Apparently after that first failed attempt, the file was corrupted, and each new "download" either didn't fix it, or couldn't happen because it was there. I simply needed a fresh start.

The NEW Windows 10 install was just as seamless for me as it was for "the boys." A few clicks of the mouse agreeing to whatever Microsoft wanted to do and I was off and running. I was particularly impressed by the way it seemed to play nice with my already installed software. I had gotten used to pressing the Windows key, then typing whatever I wanted to open, then Windows would find it for me. This still works with Windows 10, but you might need to double check and actually click what you want to get it going. I am thinking my Windows 10 is still in the "learning" mode, trying to decide what I want so it can make me happy.

First Impression was somehow quite comforting. My wallpaper was intact, the shortcuts I had on the desktop (including my renamed trash bin) were still there, and the system tray, while a little different, was still familiar enough to browse. The nicest surprise though, was the Start button. It's BAAAAAAAAK, in all its radiant glory, with even more power than before (if first glances are any indication). That screen of "charms" has been incorporated into the Start Menu and at least isn't as obnoxious as it was when it dominated an entire screen in Windows 8.1. Count your blessings folks, it is in a better place, and as I learn more and more about our new Windows 10, I will pass it on.

Enjoy! I sure will!