On July 29th 2015 users of Windows 7 and 8 were able to start the free upgrade process to the latest version of Microsoft’s Operating System, Version 10. Since then, in our service department and onsite with our business clients, we have seen multiple instances where a Windows 10 upgrade has gone wrong. This is normal from our vantage point as with every major operating system upgrade there are always failures. Windows 10 is no different. It takes time for software vendors and hardware manufacturers to make the appropriate compatibility upgrades to their products.
Security Concerns
Beyond the incompatibilities of upgrading are the vulnerabilities that arise with Windows 10. By default once installed there a number of security issues in Windows 10 that need to be addressed. These issues deal specifically with how future security patches are received and shared with others in your network of computers or publically. In addition, what information is mined from your system and uploaded to Microsoft is a topic of discussion and concern by many security experts in the industry.
One of the biggest concerns is the amount of personal data collection that happens with Windows 10 according to this article from Yahoo. And now with Windows 7 and 8 since the same security routines for Windows 10 have been retroactively pushed out to the previous two versions through the standard update process. With the Windows 10 evolution, there are a number of additional security concerns identified here that are very useful.
According to Terry Myerson, Microsoft’s head of Windows and devices at the beginning of 2016, Windows 7 and 8 users will be given just one notice to upgrade to windows 10 before it automatically happens. Windows 10 will become a “recommended” update and will happen automatically. This according to an October 29th, 2015 interview with The Verge.
Unwanted updates to Windows 10 could cause un-necessary outages where incompatibilities exist with software or hardware manufacturers who have not upgraded their software to be compatible with Windows 10 or end users have not upgraded to compatible software or hardware. Either way, the end user may be impacted to a point where recovery could be difficult or impossible if proper precautions have not been taken (ie; backups).
Removing Microsoft Windows 10
There have been and continue to be multiple incompatibilities that are only realized after the upgrade has finished. Within Microsoft Windows 10 is an area created that corrals all of the programs or apps that didn’t transfer. This gives a starting point but can be catastrophic if the software or hardware is business critical. Thankfully there’s a parachute clause that allows users to “revert” back to the previous version they were using before upgrading. Not so fast! While the majority of those who have decided to remove Windows 10 and revert backwards have done so successfully, there have been those who were left with systems that would not boot to the original operating system, leaving them without a usable system.
Our “Solution”
As recent as May 2016, we have already seen an daily uptick in service calls where people have turned on their monitor in the morning only to find that their computer now has Windows 10 loaded and they never requested that their computer even be upgraded.
As of Q2 2015, for our industrial, corporate and commercial clients, we have implemented specialized remote management tools and services designed to automate all of the day to day wellness processes. We have a plan in place to block necessary updates which control the Windows 10 upgrade thereby stopping it from happening.
When tied to routine maintenance and a multi-tiered backup plan, our remotely managed service provides for a complete monthly IT/IS Management Solution.
Contact us here for more information.
