Should I upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?

[good_moleman_to_you]

I've been wary of Windows 10 due to all the privacy concerns when it first came out. Is it still bad? Or is there a way to make it not as bad?

 

Also I'm using a Ryzen 5, so Windows 8.1 isn't officially supported for it any more.

[TheV_Machine]

DO IT ALREADY! win8.1 was at the start of win10 better and yes, you sacrifice privacy, but that sadly becomes more and more common in our modern world. Google already knows you better than you. so just hit "no" or "off" everywhere in the settings and after installing win10 and you will have about as much privacy as you had with win8.1 aka none. But win10 is by this time just the better os

[Tech N Gamer]

I say yes. Especially if you plan on playing any DirectX 12 genes. For the privacy thing, I really don't care if they see the porn I look up.

[Mira Yurizaki]

You can disable a lot of the supposed data mining, but not completely disable it. And don't sign in with a Microsoft account.

[Sauron]

Yes, and don't think windows 8.1 is any better when it comes to privacy - most of the telemetry was added to it through updates a while back.

[YedZed]

ShutUp10. Good application.

[vorticalbox]

8 minutes ago, good_moleman_to_you said:

I've been wary of Windows 10 due to all the privacy concerns when it first came out. Is it still bad? Or is there a way to make it not as bad?

 

Also I'm using a Ryzen 5, so Windows 8.1 isn't officially supported for it any more.

If you want support yes, You can turn most of the settings off though the "basic" telemetry is still about 80% of what the full one does so hardly "basic".

 

It depends on your point of view, it uses user usage to feed into Cortana to make it's AI better. Google does the same when you use any of their services.

 

Recapture is literally there to feed their AI with labeled data no one seems to care that apple or google do it. iOS and android both send usage statics to their respective company. Almost all of the programs you use on your computer have a "make this program better" pop up when you first start in but if Microsoft does it everyone jumps on the hate train.

[good_moleman_to_you]

Thanks for the replies everyone! Going to update to Windows 10 now...

[GoodBytes]

3 hours ago, good_moleman_to_you said:

I've been wary of Windows 10 due to all the privacy concerns when it first came out. Is it still bad? Or is there a way to make it not as bad?

 

Also I'm using a Ryzen 5, so Windows 8.1 isn't officially supported for it any more.

Privacy has not really changed between Windows 8.x and Windows 10. The only difference is that the options were put front sand center, privacy policy was written in plain English, and Windows 10 is popular. So it got people attentions, and because it attacked views, you had countless click-bait articles.

 

Microsoft mistake was that they didn't mention all the details due to the conversion to plain language. But Microsoft has since setup a page telling you everything that they collect in details:

https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-ca/privacystatement

Since, this has calmed the public, when they realized that actually no personal information is sent, and everything makes sense (You use OneDrive? Your files will be on Microsoft servers and therefor have access to it for backup, and syncing between its data centers, obviously, and things like that).

 

So, look through the privacy policy if you want, and if you are comfortable upgrade to Windows 10. If at some point in time you had the Get Windows 10 app, your copy of Windows 10 was likely reserved already, so you can upgrade for free.

 

Before proceeding to the upgrade (ignore if you plan to do a clean install instead):

1. Make sure that ALL your drivers are fully updated, including chipset, networking, and audio.
2. My recommendation: Uninstall your security software (install it back after Windows 10 has been successfully upgraded... normally it is no problem, but it's been found some of them, with specific versions, has bugs and makes them act up during the upgrade process and screws up the upgrade process). This excludes Windows Defender, of course.

If you plan to do a clean install.

1. Make sure your system is configured properly (UEFI mode enabled, CSM disabled, Secure boot enabled, etc.)
2. Install Windows 10 as normal. If Windows setup can't find your drive, it is simply missing the SATA controller drivers. Insert your motherboard disk and their will be inside somewhere, and click on "Load Drivers" blue link on the same screen in the setup, and pick the correct .inf file, and it should detect your drive.
3. Windows 10 will ask you for a product key. You'll have the option "I don't have one" (or something like this), and this will resume the setup. Your key is a Windows 8 key, not 10 so it won't work here. Once in Windows 10, go to Start > Settings (Gear icon) > Update & Security  > Activation, and you'll have the option somewhere to put in a product key. Now put the Windows 8 one, and it should activate. If not, do a phone activation, and someone will help you.
4. Check for updates, once done, install any missing drivers, and anything you want to make sure it is the latest versions, and you are ready to go.

 

Privacy options will be prompted to you at the first startup of Windows, and it tells you what affects what. And you can view them under Start > Settings (gear) > Privacy

 

[Donut417]

7 hours ago, good_moleman_to_you said:

I've been wary of Windows 10 due to all the privacy concerns when it first came out. Is it still bad? Or is there a way to make it not as bad?

 

Also I'm using a Ryzen 5, so Windows 8.1 isn't officially supported for it any more.

Its not the privacy thats really the big issue. Its the fact they dont validate their updates as good as they use to. You just need to be wary of big Windows 10 updates like the creators update. Make sure you back up all your important data. Also, dont do an in place upgrade, reformat and reinstall. 

[Ashley MLP Fangirl]

Windows 8.1 & 7 Collect the same data as Windows 10 i believe, that was in the news about 6 months ago i think...