Ask Leo! #567 – Windows 10, Windows 10, Viewing Hidden Files, and more…

Well, my only experience so far with Windows 10 comes from two clients who upgraded and had the computer unusable after the update. (And, of course, neither of them had bare-metal backups, or any backup at all for that matter.) So, my extremely small sample size agrees with your "not yet" assessment.

On the other hand, a few co-workers upgraded to 10 without any issues.

It seems to be really hit or miss. I've not found any really good common threads or indicators of who will or will not have a problem. Many are upgrading without issue (i.e. the two machines I've upgraded here), many are installing without issue (i.e. the three virtual machines I have here), and others are having real problems. Part of me wants to say that those most likely to have a problem are those who didn't prepare with an image backup. :-)

"Back up. If it's only in one place, it's not backed up." is a good argument in favor of the cloud. You may have a good local backup in place, but a fire or a robbery can destroy all that. An additional backup on the web can save your backside.

Leo,

I haven't commented here before, but this article prompted me. I have been reading your newsletter for years. I don't usually read all of it, but the parts that interest me. I work on computers and am self taught. I'd like to feel I've helped a fair # of people over the years. A large part of why I am able to do so is BECAUSE of your newsletter. You explain things in a manner "normal" people can understand. I cannot see a day I won't be reading your newsletter and using your information to help others. In other words, thank you, you DO make a difference in my extended world.

Tom

A number of years ago I learned two important concepts that relate to change.

The first was in a college class about industrial engineering. The first day of class the instructor wrote on board, "There is a better way to make everything except babies." He later explained the word "do" can and should be substituted for the word "make" depending on the issue being addressed. Finding and developing "better ways" involves change, but is a requirement for improving your own life as well as keeping a business viable. (He said he liked the way babies were made and suggested, with a smile, that process be left as is.)

The second concept I learned was taught by Roger L. Kirkham. In teaching a class titled "How to Manage Change", he summarized the need for change by the following few words. "Things that don't change, stay the same or get worst." He expanded the concept by adding that not every change is an improvement, but every improvement requires a change of some type.

The business landscape it littered with failed organizations that failed to change. One classic example of failure to change is Kodak. That organization invented digital photography, but failed to make the changes needed to remain viable as their invention was embraced by their customers.

Regards and thanks for a great informative site.