An Introduction to Windows 10

Sergio J. A. Ragno IIISystems Librarian, Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library

What is an Operating System (OS)?• Software that renders a Graphical User Interface (GUI) and provides

the user an easy means of controlling many aspects of their computer.• Think of it like cockpit of a plane. It contains all the input and feedback

devices but there is a lot going on in the rest of the machine.

Why does an OS become obsolete?• Computer technology grows at a rapid rate.• Support new hardware (such as Windows 8 for touch)• Support new maximum specs (such as RAM)

• Software standards change.

Microsoft Operating System Release Date Architecture

Windows 1985 DOS

Windows 2 1987 DOS

Windows 3.1 1993 NT 3.1

Windows 3.5 1993 NT 3.5

Windows 95 1995 Windows 9x

Windows 98 1998 Windows 9x

Windows 2000 2000 NT 5.0

Windows ME 2000 Windows 9x

Windows XP 2001 NT 5.1

Windows Vista 2007 NT 6.0

Windows 7 2009 NT 6.1

Windows 8 2012 NT 6.2

Windows 8.1 2013 NT 6.3

Windows 10 2015 NT 10

How was Windows 10 Designed?• Retains goals from Windows 8.• Intended to harmonize with other Windows devices.

• Many features and settings are intended to be shared across multiple devices and in some cases networks.

• Apps remain, as does the App Store.

• Addresses negative customer feedback regarding Windows 8.• Less dependent on touch (though still supported).

• Different default modes for different devices.• Windows 7 features such as the Start Menu return.

• System file compression and other similar measures make for less demands on system resources and faster boot times.

New and Upgraded Features for Windows 10• The Start Menu is back!

• Different than before. Be sure to take a moment to adjust.• Two halves (as was the case with 7). Initially right side contains live panels (as seen

on Windows 8 home screen). These can be rearranged, resized, and removed.• Left side contains frequently used programs and “all apps” opens all other programs

• Arranged alphabetically, not by type (so folders are not at the top)• Accessories are listed under “Windows Accessories” and broken up.

• Better control over settings than Windows 8 (still not as complete as “Control Panel”)• Settings do not contradict “Control Panel” settings• Shut down commands are not hidden here, they’ve returned to Start.

• Apps remain but are now harmonized with the desktop.• Microsoft Edge• Cortana

The Desktop and Apps• Modeled after Windows 7’s Desktop

• No longer an “App”, Windows opens on this screen.

• Apps remain from Windows 8• An Application is a self contained piece of software.• An “App” is software contained in it’s own environment.

• A condition derived from limited resources and input from smart phones and tablets.• Usually not dependant on other resources or Apps.• Apps usually cannot run simultaneously as they demand their own environment.• Usually serves a single function.*• “App” is still being defined and the definition is starting to broaden.

• Whereas Apps in Windows 8 adhered to the “App” detention as we know it, Windows 8 Apps function more like applications, but styled to look like Apps.• Apps function on the Desktop, not superseding the Desktop.

• New Apps can be downloaded from the Microsoft App Store, like with Windows 8• Both Microsoft and third party products.• Some are free, some cost money.

Microsoft Edge• Replaces Microsoft Internet Explorer as Microsoft’s default browser.• Currently exclusive to Windows 10.

• Adheres to web standards (a.k.a. “Modern Browser”) similar to Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.• Adobe Flash and PDF Reader are integrated, similar to Google

Chrome.• Does not support Microsoft Internet Explorer engine or older engine

functions such as Active X.• Old outdated websites may not run properly, as is the case with browsers

such as Google Chrome and Fire Fox.

Cortana• Intelligent personal assistant software.• Recognizes human speech.

• Answers questions with information provided by Bing.• Performs actions based on specific commands• “Flip a coin!”• “Roll dice!”

• Music recognition.• Integrated in Microsoft Edge.• Requires that a few privacy options are turned on, such as allowing

Microsoft to track your location and that you are signed in via a Microsoft Account (not a local account).

What to Consider Before You Upgrade• Will your software run on Windows 10?

• Probably. Especially if it is fairly new or receives updates.• Less likely than older, pre Vista, versions of Windows, but keep in mind that this is a new version of

Windows NT (the first since Vista).• Do your homework. This kind of thing rarely goes unaddressed.• Developers tend to quickly fix incompatibility issues with updates.

• Does your machine meet the minimum requirements for Windows 10?• If you can run Windows 7 or Windows 8 you can run Windows 10.

• End of Life of your OS compared to Windows 10.• Some features are from Windows 7 and 8 are absent.

• Programs like Solitaire are no longer free (Ad-Free Solitaire is $20 a year).• Windows 10 does not have any DVD playback of its own.

• It is now an App ($15, free if you’ve upgraded from 7 or 8).

• Privacy concerns.

Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8 Windows 10

Minimum Recommended Minimum Recommended Minimum Recommended Minimum Recommended Minimum Recommended

CPU(Processor) 233 MHz 300MHz 800 MHz 1 GHz 1 GHz 1 GHz 1 GHz

Memory(RAM) 64 MB 128 MB 512 MB 1 GB 1 GB 4 GB 1 GB 4 GB 1 GB 4 GB

Hard Drive 1.5 GB 4.8 GB 20 GB 40 GB 16 GB 16 GB 16 GB

OtherMouse and Keyboard

Mouse, Keyboard, Soundcard

Mouse and Keyboard

Mouse and Keyboard

Mouse and Keyboard

Mouse and Keyboard

Mouse and Keyboard

Touch Screen

Mouse and Keyboard

Touch Screen

End of Life• “End of Life” means that the OS is no longer supported by updates.

• Will still work, but may be vulnerable to security threats.• Likely to not be able to run new software.

• Mainstream Support: This phase provides updates on all aspects of the OS. • Lasts a minimum of 5 years after OS release date.

• Extended Support: This phase provides mostly security updates.• Lasts a minimum of 10 years after OS release date.

• An OS is still usable after End of Life.

OS Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows 8 Windows 10

End of Mainstream Support

4/14/2009 4/10/2012 1/13/2015 1/9/2018 10/13/2020

End of ExtendedSupport 4/8/2014 4/11/2017 1/14/2020 1/10/2023 10/14/2025

“Windows 10 (‘Windows’) is a personalized computing environment that enables you to seamlessly roam and access services, preferences and content across your computing devices from phones to tablets to the Surface Hub. Rather than residing as a static software program on your device, key components of Windows are cloud-based, and both cloud and local elements of Windows are updated regularly, providing you with the latest improvements and features. In order to provide this computing experience, we collect data about you, your device, and the way you use Windows. And because Windows is personal to you, we give you choices about the personal data we collect and how we use it.”

--Microsoft Privacy Statement: Windows

Privacy• An IT trend emboldened by the popularity of the likes of Face Book, Google,

and Apple is to collect increasingly more and more personal information to either be measured or shared.• Nothing new, but counterintuitive to digital security.• Privacy is your best defense against identity theft and hacking.

• Windows 10 is intended to promote harmony between all of your Windows devices. In order to do that, it makes some unprecedented assumptions (for a Microsoft OS).• By default, devices on the same network are designed to freely share information.• Usage of your computer is metered by Microsoft by default.• Data that had previously been stored locally are stored on a network cloud by default.

• Perhaps the biggest example is your profile (the cloud version is your “Microsoft Account”).

• What separates Windows 10 from other services that collect personal information is that you can disable these functions without losing too much functionality.• Certain programs like Cortana will require information such as your location.

What Changes You Can (And Should) Make• Do not use the express settings when you install Windows 10. Click

“Custom Install” instead.• Don’t worry if you forget or already installed Windows 10, you still have

access to these settings.• Turn off all of the settings on page one and page two.

• Personalization: Sends personal information to Microsoft including typing stats, contacts, and calendars. This, for the most part, serves to customize advertising.

• Location: Let’s programs and other services know your geographical location. Necessary for some services involving navigation. I advise that you turn it on only when you need it if at all.

• Browser Protection: Provides tracking information to Microsoft to allow them to provide page prediction services and protect you from sites containing Malware. You should instead use antivirus software to protect your computer in a self contained environment.

• Connectivity and Error Reporting: These settings will automatically connect your device to your friends’ devices on your network. This is a big risk, because the status of “friend” has great potential to be exploited.

What Changes You Can (And Should) Make (Continued)• You can find the custom install settings in Settings\Privacy. • You should take some extra measures in order to further protect your privacy.

• Settings\Privacy\Feedback & Diagnostics: Switch “Diagnostic & Feedback Data” to “Basic” in order to assure that the minimum amount of data is sent to Microsoft with the error reporting feature.

• Settings\Privacy\Account Info: Switch “Let apps access my name, picture, and account info” to off in order to prevent third parties from obtaining your private information.

• Settings\Account\Your Account: A leftover from Windows 8, Microsoft encourages you to save your profile to a cloud network. This is an extreme privacy risk. Switch this to a local account in order to store all profile data on your local machine.

• Settings\Update & Security\Windows Update: Click on “Advanced Options” and then “Choose How Updates are Delivered.” Disable “Update From More Than One Place.” This setting allows Microsoft to use your computer for peer to peer distribution of Windows 10 updates. You have nothing to gain from this, and it is another potential vulnerability to exploit. Turn it off.

• You should take the time to explore all of Settings\Privacy.

My Two Cents• What does Windows 10 do well?

• Edge is on par with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.• It does indeed run faster and smoother than Windows 8.• You have more powerful and intuitive control than Windows 8.

• What does Windows 10 do poorly?• Privacy, while correctable, is still a major flaw.

• I expect this to be corrected in an upcoming update.• Protect your network with strong passwords and deny access to your machines. • Protecting your identity should have priority over convenience.

• Still retains preference on the cloud from Windows 8 (Don’t use it).• Certain features that have been free since forever now cost money by in large because of the

semantics allowed by calling them “Apps.”• Who should upgrade to Windows 10?

• Anyone who loves Windows 7.• Anyone using Windows Vista or older (End of Life).• Windows 8 users, especially if they do not have a touch screen.• Anyone who prefers applications to apps.