So right now I have 8.1 and everytime I turn on the computer it wants me to upgrade to Windows 10. I'm guessing I have a finite amount of time to do that for free. Can I just go ahead and upgrade after which everything will work just fine? Or do I have to dig up the discs or download new copies of all my programs? I saw a site that says that you don't have to reinstall programs. Anybody had success?
Thanks everyone. Sorry if this is redundant.
WSS

I was able to upgrade to Win10 without application problems, except for having to wait about 30 days for a Win10 driver for my audio i/f. And my old video adapter was...old. Daily BSODs and correctable driver faults. I replaced the video adapter and haven't had a single problem since.
 
One recommendation you might want to consider is deauthorizing the apps that permit it (by moving the license back to the "cloud"). Do the update and reauthorize the apps. If something bad happens, and you need to do an HD wipe and clean install, you won't have to fight with the software vendors getting new authorizations.
 
FWIW, I really like Win10. Very stable for me.

I'm really happy with Windows 10 - it's been very stable for me.

I went from Win 8 to Win 10 with an in place upgrade ….had all the typical concerns …
Everything regarding the update went smooth .I'm happy that I didn't have to reauthorize any of my software ….
I like Win 10 much better than I liked Win 8 ….
 
Kenny

Westside Steve Simmons
So right now I have 8.1 and everytime I turn on the computer it wants me to upgrade to Windows 10. I'm guessing I have a finite amount of time to do that for free. Can I just go ahead and upgrade after which everything will work just fine? Or do I have to dig up the discs or download new copies of all my programs? I saw a site that says that you don't have to reinstall programs. Anybody had success?
Thanks everyone. Sorry if this is redundant.
WSS

Hi Steve,
 
First, make a backup of the current install (just in case).
Once that's done, you can proceed with the upgrade.
 
Best case scenario is to do a clean install.
You can upgrade (leaving everything in tact), but that leaves the registry a mess.
There's also the option to upgrade and migrate/keep nothing (which is similar to a clean install).
You can do that... and then use Disk Cleanup to remove remnants of the Win8 install.
 
Win10 is running well with virtually all major audio/MIDI hardware, software, and plugins.
 
 

I did an over-the-top install of 10 over 7 on my work machine, no 'technical' problems at all.
 
It's a more familiar interface than Win 8, and that horrible metro thing is pretty much gone (a bit of it has gone into hiding behind the start button) so that's a plus.

It seems the free Windows 10 upgrade ends at the end of July.
 
My Windows 8 Pro license is not being used yet, awaiting my new PC built. Anyone know if the free Windows 10 applies as well to Windows 8 ? All I read about is Windows 8.1 upgrades.

Win 7 is eligible for the upgrade and even a clean install of Win 10, using your Win 7 Product Code. 
See this from the Win 10 forum:
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/23354-clean-install-windows-10-directly-without-having-upgrade-first.html
 

The confusion about the Win 8,0 vs 8.1 applies to in place upgrades. If you have 8.0 installed, it must be upgraded to 8.1 before you can do an upgrade install and keep most of your applications running. It will just say no if you try to upgrade from an installation of 8.0. On a new computer the method fireberd recommends is a no-brainer. 

Thanks everybody. Yes it is 8.1. I have backed up using an application that came on my Seagate external drive.
Audio is on my second drive internally and most video is on an external drive. The Seagate is just for backing up. I'm going to hire a professional "cat" to make sure the Roland V700 Hardware still works.
;-)

WSS