Windows 10

You may have noticed an addition to your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 tool bar that looks like this:

This is your invitation from Microsoft to upgrade to Windows 10. This is a free upgrade and not a subscription. It will be available on July 29th.

For Windows 7 users there are major changes in Windows 10 that you should consider when deciding whether to upgrade. 

You will be asked whether you want to log in with a Microsoft account. You can either create one or choose the link that lets you sign in without a Microsoft account.

The start menu will look very different from Windows 7. The "tiles" found on Windows 8 are there but you can right-click and remove them as you wish. Happily the Start menu will have the features you have come to expect: a list of installed applications and power options.

Universal Apps and the Windows Store

Many of the apps that come with Windows 10 are "universal apps," which are the successor to Windows 8's "Metro apps" or Store apps." Unlike on Windows 8, these apps actually run in windows on the desktop, so you may actually be interested in using them.

To get more of these apps, you'll need to download them from the Windows Store. There's no way to "sideload" these types of apps by downloading them from the Internet, although you're free to avoid them entirely and install traditional Windows desktop applications from the web. You can also mix and match traditional Windows desktop applications and new apps from the Store. They'll all run in windows on your desktop.

Settings App or Control Panel

The Settings option in the Start menu takes you straight to the new Settings app, which is evolved from the PC Settings app on Windows 8. This is designed to be a more user-friendly way to configure your computer.

However, it still doesn't contain every setting. The old Windows Control Panel is still included. Some older settings may only be available in the Control panel, while some newer settings may only be available in the Settings app. To quickly access the Control Panel and other advanced options, you can right-click the Start button or press Windows Key + X.

The Refresh and Reset options also make the leap from Windows 8 to 10. These allow you to quickly get your computer back to a like-new state without having to actually re-install Windows.

You won't be able to disable automatic Windows updates on Windows 10 Home systems. You'll need Windows 10 Professional to defer updates.

Edge Replaces Internet Explorer

In possibly the most earth-shattering feature of the update, Internet Explorer is no longer the default browser, although it's still available for businesses that need access to its older rendering engine. In its place is a modern browser named Edge. Microsoft's Edge browser should be more standards-compliant and perform better. It also no longer supports ActiveX controls, so all those old Internet Explorer tool bars and browser plug-ins will no longer function. If you've been using Internet Explorer, this is the browser you'll be using instead. If you're using Chrome or Firefox, you can install that and continue browsing normally.

Desktop and Security Improvements

Windows Explorer was renamed File Explorer and now has a ribbon -- even if you don't like the ribbon, File Explorer offers many useful features. For example, the file-copying-and-moving dialog window is much improved and Windows can mount ISO disc image files without third-party software.

There are also many security improvements. Windows 10 includes Windows Defender by default -- Windows Defender is just a renamed version of Microsoft Security Essentials, so all Windows systems have a baseline level of antivirus protection. SmartScreen is a reputation system that tries to block harmful and unknown file downloads from harming your computer.

Windows 10 is much easier to navigate than Windows 8, but you may want to wait to upgrade until you have a chance to play with Windows 10 a bit.

Written by Janice Crawford