Windows will suggest that you install some optional features. Our sister site Infoworld offers a great introduction to Hyper-V. Windows 10 Home pushes patches to your PC immediately, allowing you to defer installation for a few hours, but no longer. For some, that might not be the most desirable option. Windows 10 Professional offers an option, as our tutorial in how to manage Windows 10 updates explains. While Microsoft has now made many of these options now available to Windows 10 Home, the ability to defer feature updates for up to days is still reserved for Windows 10 Pro.

There’s a small, annoying change as part of the Windows 10 May Update, however. Normally, Windows allows you to defer feature updates by days. That policy is still in place, but that option has been removed from the Windows Update advanced options page. Now, you’ll need to go into the Local Group Policy Editor, which is normally a tool for enterprise admins, and make the change.

Type edit group policy into the Windows Search box. You might not be able to download a file, unless you change a policy setting. Essentially, Sandbox provides a simplified way to launch a self-contained virtual environment, without the need for license keys or anything else.

Sandbox debuted in the Windows 10 May Update. But the security is worth it. Sandbox carves out part of your operating system for its own use, and when you close the window, everything within it vanishes. Sandbox files can be downloaded to your PC, and are still accessible when you close the Sandbox app. That makes everything slightly less secure, but more convenient.

That amount of cash can easily be a third of a budget PC build. Make sure to check our Home and Pro listings before settling for full price. But with less developer support for Linux and the end-of-life deadline rapidly approaching for Windows 7, Windows 10 is an inescapable necessity for most of us.

If you have an old Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC lying around, you may still be able to reuse its key to activate Windows When Microsoft first launched Windows 10 back in , it offered Windows 7 and Windows 8 users a truly free, no-strings upgrade to the new operating system.

The promotion was only available for just one year—presumably to accelerate push up Windows 10 adoption rates—and expired in July But even though Microsoft officially ended this program three years ago, it still has yet completely shut everything down.

The activation servers have been allowing Windows 7 and 8 keys on some Windows 10 installs. The Windows 7 or Windows 8 product keys that commonly work for this method are the retail and OEM varieties, while only sporadic reports exist for volume license keys i. You can read our step-by-step guide for how to use that particular program here.

License types are different than operating system versions: They dictate what you can do with the software, while OS versions are distinguished by the features available. Multiple Windows license types exist, but the two commonly available to a home user are the retail and OEM varieties. If you visit an online retailer like Amazon Remove non-product link or Newegg , you can find both retail and OEM licenses for sale. All the features of the operating system version are the same for both license types.

The difference is that with a retail license, you can transfer the license key to a different PC later on. This includes error messages, blue screens of death, software failing to install, and so on. Microsoft Teams – Office Team communication service subreddit. Windows 10 – biggest Windows related subreddit for all things related to Windows Windows Redesign – a subreddit for design concepts and Windows mods.

Xbox One – dedicated to Xbox One console and its peripherals, news and discussions. Excel – dedicated to Excel, powerful program of Office suite. This subreddit is suitable for both Office warriors and newbies. Bing – dedicated to Microsoft’s Bing web search and its news and discussions. Tech Support – dedicated to solving problems and helping others out. Is it worth spending the extra money for Windows 10 Pro?

What are your thoughts on both? What’s the feature you would want from Pro? Most people say for BitLocker, but then I just point them to Veracrypt anyway.

 
 

Windows 10 in S mode: Pros and cons | TechRepublic

 
› Windows › News. (Microsoft charges $ for direct downloads of Windows 10 HomeRemove non-product link and $ for Windows 10 ProRemove non-product link.) You.

 

Is windows 10 pro worth the extra money free download.How to get Windows 10 cheap (or even for free)

 

The restrictions on third-party apps and a capable antivirus program add to the security. Another good reason to use Windows 10 in S mode is that you can opt out of using it anytime you want without purchasing any new software.

Other reasons to use Windows 10 in S mode include longer battery life, faster boot times and consistent performance. With all the advantages that come with using S mode, there are also some clear disadvantages, especially for users who want to use certain applications not offered through the Microsoft Store. For example, users who do not want to use Edge or Bing might not continue with S mode. The lack of operating system personalization and configuration tools could be a deal breaker for some users.

Users who are comfortable staying within the Microsoft ecosystem and who need extra security can certainly benefit from running Windows 10 in S mode. In contrast, users who are accustomed to the freedom offered by the full version of Windows may feel restricted.

You should carefully weigh its pros and cons and how they impact your IT operations before making your decision. These resources can help you and your team make better use of your Windows systems:. Do you have other questions about Windows 10 or other Microsoft products? Our team of experts has written thousands of Microsoft tutorials on a variety of topics. Take a look at our Microsoft content resource library to continue learning about Windows products and functions that matter to your team.

Be your company’s Microsoft insider by reading these Windows and Office tips, tricks, and cheat sheets. TechRepublic Premium content helps you solve your toughest IT issues and jump-start your career or next project. Looking for the best payroll software for your small business?

Check out our top picks for and read our in-depth analysis. Next year, cybercriminals will be as busy as ever. Are IT departments ready? The company, which for several years has been on a buying spree for best-of-breed products, is integrating platforms to generate synergies for speed, insights and collaboration.

But for enthusiasts—especially those who wish to continue testing Insider builds without risking their main system—Hyper-V is just the thing.

In fact, virtualization is a key technology that appears in several ways within Windows 10 Pro. Virtualization creates a secure operating environment within your PC that allows you to run different operating systems, including Linux, future builds of Windows 10, and even older versions of Windows.

Just make sure you still have valid license keys for the operating system and a PC processor that supports virtualization—not all older models do. Windows will suggest that you install some optional features. Our sister site Infoworld offers a great introduction to Hyper-V. Windows 10 Home pushes patches to your PC immediately, allowing you to defer installation for a few hours, but no longer.

For some, that might not be the most desirable option. Windows 10 Professional offers an option, as our tutorial in how to manage Windows 10 updates explains. While Microsoft has now made many of these options now available to Windows 10 Home, the ability to defer feature updates for up to days is still reserved for Windows 10 Pro. Normally, Windows allows you to defer feature updates by days.

That policy is still in place, but that option has been removed from the Windows Update advanced options page. Type edit group policy into the Windows Search box. You might not be able to download a file, unless you change a policy setting. Essentially, Sandbox provides a simplified way to launch a self-contained virtual environment, without the need for license keys or anything else. Sandbox debuted in the Windows 10 May Update. But the security is worth it. Windows 10 has a traditional tablet mode that makes your PC go to a full-screen Start Menu experience.

In Windows 11, this is removed. Instead, Windows 11 behaves more like an iPad , where when you switch your device to a tablet, things become easier to touch. Microsoft also added gestures for opening and closing windows, switching between desktops, and new options in the Windows Ink Workspace. The app store in Windows 11 and Windows 10 is based on the same design. On both Windows 10 and Windows 11, the store still allows you to download Windows apps across both operating systems.

Win32 apps like Firefox, though, are exclusive to Windows 11 for now. This is part of a larger effort from Microsoft to bring more apps to the Microsoft Store. In statements, Microsoft has said this is to make the Microsoft Store a one-stop shop for all of your PC apps. For many, the difference between Windows 10 and Windows 11 comes down to compatibility.

Windows 11 marks the first significant shake-up in supported CPUs since the release of Windows 8. That might be the deciding factor between it and Windows Other system requirements include TPM 2. Microsoft has required these features from its manufacturing partners for years. Windows 11 broke from the semi-annual update cadence of Windows 10 in favor of a single annual update. Microsoft is committed to supporting Windows 10 through , and it recently announced that Windows 10 will only get once-a-year updates as well.

The next update is scheduled for release in November If you really want the latest and greatest version of Windows, then Windows 11 is where you want to be.

You might also want to update to Windows 11 if you want the most secure version of Windows. Microsoft has talked a lot about how Windows 11 is secure due to TPM 2. Windows 11 is worth it for most people. It comes with a wide range of new features, performance improvements, and design changes.

As the latest Windows OS, it usually gets more attention than Windows 10, too. With some planning, you can easily uninstall Windows 11 and go back to Windows The best ultrawide monitors for The best gaming speakers for Improve the sound on your PC or game console. The best budget laptops for Best inch laptop deals for September We may have just seen the Meta Quest Pro, and it looks super sleek.