Windows 10 - notes for post-installation

Start Menu is back!!!!!

(I am not to customizing anything yet, so very quick warning report.)

The following problems I had that could occur (Windows 8.1 upgrade):
1.) Qualcomm drivers/wi-fi - you may need to reinstall them after if you lose wifi. No, no one seems to know why (well Alienware tech support didn't). If you're under warranty, get tech support to do it and save yourself some stress.
2.) Nvidia drivers might not work. I didn't have this problem, but I've seen it mentioned and upgraded min before install and then uninstalled and reinstalled them after when I had the below problem, just in case.
3.) In Windows 8/8.1, if you downloaded the program Aero Glass, which mimicked Windows 7 Aero Glass in Windows 8/8.1, UNINSTALL IT FIRST.

In case anyone is googling, entering here the symptoms: after upgrading to Windows 10, splash screen displays and starts to flash to grey every three seconds. It continues through trying to login and eventually the screen freezes but not the pointer or touchscreen. It's weird. UNINSTALL AERO GLASS. It solves everything.

If you are already having this issue, do the following:
1.) When you hit the splash, get to the login as fast as you can before the freeze (you have about 10 to 30 seconds).
2.) On the login page, the restart is on the bottom-right; click on shift and hit restart.
3.) You're at a new page. Select Advanced, and in the right column of options that I can't remember the name of is one that lets you get to a screen that has different options for restarting. Just click until you see one that lists a whole bunch of things including safe mode.
4.) Click restart.
5.) You'll get a list of options. Select safe mode with networking (mine was F5).
6.) Login screen displays, login.
7.) Right click on Windows icon at far left bottom corner.
8.) Select Programs and Features.
9.) Uninstall/Remove programs page displays.
10.) Uninstall Aero Glass.
11.) Restart normally.

By the way, these instructions will work for anything you need to uninstall after installing if you have problems.

Notes:
1.) this killed all my restore points. The second you're done and its' stable, start recreating your restore points. This may not be universal, but figured I'd toss that out there in case of emergency.
2.) More later while I stare blankly at it and try to decide my level of like, which is definitely higher than 8.1 but that's about it so far.

I'll probably spend my break tomorrow doing my customizations.

ETA:

Per blueraccoon in comments:

One sort of important thing to note: At this time, DO NOT run a clean install that wipes your drive. There's a bug. If you're just upgrading and not reformatting, you're fine, but DO NOT wipe your drive and start over. If you do the computer will not recognize that you have a valid copy of Win10.

They're working on it, and I think it should hopefully be fixed in the next few hours, but it's still a problem as of the last information I have.

Comments

[blueraccoon]

One sort of important thing to note: At this time, DO NOT run a clean install that wipes your drive. There's a bug. If you're just upgrading and not reformatting, you're fine, but DO NOT wipe your drive and start over. If you do the computer will not recognize that you have a valid copy of Win10.

They're working on it, and I think it should hopefully be fixed in the next few hours, but it's still a problem as of the last information I have.

[seperis]

Added to entry, and thank you!

[sffan]

Do you happen to know if Office 2003 still works on it? I'm sitting on my upgrade because I'm afraid I'm going to lose Outlook.

[blueraccoon]

Er. My guess would be not, but I am not certain. I can check if you want me to, though. (Or I could send you a copy of Office, if you wanted that.)

[blueraccoon]

I did some searching. Microsoft says Office 2003 is not compatible with 8.1, so my guess is that it won't be compatible with 10 either. However I did some more searching and found people saying that Office 2003 does work with 8.1 but doesn't give you access to a lot of features, and it won't be able to open files created in Office 2007 or later (ones that end in .docx instead of .doc, etc.)

MS also stopped suporting Office 2003 a while back, so I'm not laying odds on it being compatible with Win10.

However, as I mentioned above, I can get you a copy of Office 365, which gives you the current applications plus online access and OneDrive storage. Let me know if you'd like it.

[sffan]

That would be amazing. Yes, please :D

[blueraccoon]

Ping me via email (blueraccoon at outlook dot com) because I'll need some info :)

[grammarwoman]

I am so leery of new releases; as much as I dislike Win8.1, I'm going to wait a week or two to upgrade so they can hopefully iron out most of the issues.

Thanks for the news and warnings!

[neotoma]

I think that I am going to do this as well. I've already heard that the upgrade resets your browser default and makes it harder to set it back to your own preferences. Which isn't pleasing, by any means; if I like Firefox, I don't want to change that for MicroSoft's attempt at a browser.

[minim_calibre]

I will say, this is the first time I've felt vaguely sad that I'm no longer at the EE. First time since Vista SP1 that I haven't been involved in a Windows release. Then again, I also didn't have to wake up at ass o'clock after napping for two hours and go straight to a release war room. (Windows 8.1 involved me having to push something out at 11pm and then be in the physical office at 2am.)

I'll install it in November, I guess. I should probably boot and patch the Windows machine before then.

Warning: Cortana apparently is sucking the life out of batteries, per those still in the trenches.