Windows 10: Updating from Windows 10 Home to Pro: Do I Need it? How Painful is it?

I've been doing independent consulting from home. I've been using various open source tools to build ontologies and do Java development and have been able to get by with Windows 10 Home. However, I'm starting a project that is much more technical and the person I'm working with at the client sent me an image that runs on a Linux Virtual machine. When I try to run the image I get the error message: "This host supports Intel VT-x, but Intel VT-x is disabled". I looked through the documentation and it seemed that I needed to go into the BIOS and enable VT-x. I did the steps where you restart into the BIOS mode the very basic UI and looked for the option to enable VT-x but I didn't find it.


As I looked through more questions from other users who had this problem I think the issue is that I need to upgrade from Windows Home to Windows Pro. I'm fine with doing that, it's a trivial amount of money and I think I'll be doing more things like this where I'll need the Pro version. However, there are a few things I want to check on, I think I know the answers but wanted to double check before I start:


1 In case this matters, I'm currently running Windows 10 Home Version 1903 OS build 18362.657. It's an HP Desktop with an Intel i7-6700T CPU @ 2.80 GHz


2 Am I correct that the upgrade is needed or is there somewhere else I should be looking to enable VT-x?


3 It looks like doing an upgrade is essentially the same as just loading an update to the OS I already have. I.e., if all goes well it won't put my machine into a state where all my existing programs and files are gone, is that correct? I back up to an external drive automatically so it wouldn't be a disaster if that did happen but just want to know what to expect.


4 Is there anything else I should think of or do before doing the upgrade? I'm pretty technical on CS theory and on tools like Eclipse and the Protege ontology editor from Stanford but have never been great with this kind of stuff so any tips would be appreciated.


Thanks in advance for any feedback.

:)

 

Microsoft to make Windows 10 updates mandatory

Well, at the moment at least, you can choose to defer upgrades. Under Settings > Windows Updates > Advanced options you need to check the box labeled "Defer upgrades". What does that do? Good question. The answer I've found might illuminate it to a degree.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/defer-upgrades-in-windows-10

I hear this only applies to Pro and Enterprise editions. But I can't verify that.

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.

 

Windows 10 Update

Well just noticed a pretty large one pop up coming in at 914MB, seems it makes some pretty serous updates.

KB3172985
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3172985

This security update includes improvements and fixes in the functionality of Windows 10 Version 1511 and Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4. It also resolves the following vulnerabilities in Windows:

• 3175677 MS16-094: Security update for secure boot: July 12, 2016
• 3174060 MS16-093: Security update for Adobe Flash Player: July 12, 2016
• 3171910 MS16-092: Security update for Windows Kernel: July 12, 2016
• 3170048 MS16-091: Security update for .Net Framework: July 12, 2016
• 3171481 MS16-090: Security update for Kernel Mode Drivers: July 12, 2016
• 3170050 MS16-089: Security update for Windows secure kernel mode: July 12, 2016
• 3170005 MS16-087: Security update for the Microsoft Print Spooler: July 12, 2016
• 3169999 MS16-085: Cumulative security update for Microsoft Edge: July 12, 2016
• 3169991 MS16-084: Cumulative security update for Internet Explorer: July 12, 2016