Windows 10 Upgrade Not Working Like Microsoft Hoped, Adoption Rate Dropping Off


A Windows 10 upgrade was offered to users of older operating systems last month. However, many are opting out of the free offer. Microsoft has even realized that the number of people upgrading has fallen off.

Is this a sign that the latest Windows OS is just that bad?

That might not be the case, but most users of Microsoft’s software are hesitant to leave their favored OS behind. The Windows 10 upgrade was offered to owners of Windows 7 Pro and Windows 8.1 Pro, and it was activated as a “recommended” update rather than “optional.” Apparently, a majority avoided it, feeling that the OS they had was working for them.


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Arguably, the best version of Microsoft’s operating system was Windows 7, released back in 2009. It took everything from previous versions and simplified it, adding a well-received search function to the “Home” button at the bottom left. It was one of the most user-friendly ideas ever implemented. The idea was so popular that even when users were “stuck” with Windows 8, they opted to drop the new interface and bring back the “Home” search function.

Prior to this, it was the backlash from Windows Vista which drove many users to reinstall XP. Vista had been so horribly received that it prompted Microsoft to fix the issues and give it an official upgrade. Most of the people disappointed with Vista were usually gamers, whose access to the internet had to be validated, and who were restricted to how many times they could press one key. The administrative problems still made their way into Windows 7, but they were eventually patched out.

It appears that users still prefer Windows 7 functionality over the Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft is hoping to change that as they continue to roll out the option, but they’re running out of time. They had promised a free upgrade last year, and the Guardian claims they only have five months remaining.

The goal for Microsoft is to have all PCs running Windows 10 with the latest updates, but many users appear to be blocking them. Businesses especially have been known to prefer to test new software before adapting it, so Microsoft created WUB (Windows Update for Business). What it does is delay updates without blocking them, giving businesses time to see if everything works before going ahead with it.

The problem with many not running the latest Windows 10 upgrade is that Microsoft is attempting to make it more like smartphones, and if everybody isn’t running the same software, it creates costly and user-unique problems. It’s the same thing Google does with Android, offering the latest updates whenever possible so everybody is running the same configuration through their online services. Not everybody’s Android is running the same software, but those who are tend to be using a unified configuration.

While businesses have the option to delay updates up to eight months, Microsoft has a regular rotation of updates being tested through Windows Insiders, starting in Fast Ring, advancing to Slow Ring, and finally releasing as an official update. This way, they won’t have the same problem with the Windows 10 upgrade that Windows XP users faced with Service Pack 2, the infamous update which crashed if you didn’t patch it immediately.

Extreme Tech claims that some users might not accept the Windows 10 upgrade simply because they’re skeptical about it being legitimate. If it’s being offered through the Windows Update menu, be assured that it’s official Microsoft software.

[Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Windows 10]

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