Windows 10: Windows 10 When Quits

You can also look for this path,
Upcoming Windows 10 Technical Preview build include ISOs
I would imagine the update way will create a restore point to remove the build if you want too,
How reliable that restore point is :/

 

Technical Preview (TP): Released to a limited audience, i.e., Windows Insider Program. Limited? At last count I noted that 1,500,000 are testing and about 450,000 are very actively testing and providing feedback to Microsoft. Generally those using a TP are very knowledgeable about computers in general.

Consumer Preview(CP): Released to the masses. I'm guessing that "the masses" won't be required to join the Insider Program. Generally those using the CP are not a whole lot knowledgeable about computers in general.

I think the Tech Preview equates to "beta". Whether it's called Technical Preview (TP) or Beta, there are regular new builds, most of which stay internal . . . once a certain "milestone" has been reached, a new TP will be released. Our next one will be on January 21.

So far, each successive TP has been buggy, buggy, buggy! However, I'm betting that the January 21 TP will be a whole lot less buggy than in the past and will have many, many more features. I'm guessing here (as a longtime Beta Tester [BT]) since the change from Beta to TP could encompass more than a name change.

So, at some point, the developers will decide that the TP is ready for CP. So, it's thrown out there. And here's where the rubber meets the road! There ain't no way to say it nicely; consumers aren't very smart when it comes to operating systems and computers and if it can be broken, it will be. That said, not only are consumers included in the CP, but also people like the denizens here in TenForums, IT people, corporate entities, etc., etc.

When the time comes to switch from TP to CP, we'll be told what we need to do. As always, when working with new stuff, "Expect the unexpected!"

 

The TP currently has an expiration date of April 15. With the January 21 release of the TP, there could well be a new expiration date. We just don't know at this point.

In the past, no matter which product was being tested, the Beta, TP, whatever it's called, must be uninstalled before installing the final product, sometimes called RTM (Release to Market). One thing to note is that Microsoft is getting better and better at this; it may well be that we'll be able to just upgrade, but don't count on anything to be written in stone.

However, if it were me, I would not replace my Windows 7 or 8.1 OS with Windows 10 at this point. As Jeff said, you can always install on a VM (virtual machine).

 

The consumer preview is just a more mature version, with (hopefully) less bugs, and more features.

You will eventually have to remove it, unless you upgrade to the final version, which MS has said they will offer an upgrade path... still, I would start over from scratch as that is the best option. I second that, Mystere! Upgrading (especially from a TP/Beta or even Windows 8.1) may be convenient, but you stand a huge chance of including some of the things (the sleep problem in Win 8.1 comes to mind) you hated.

 

Hi there

Back in the dim and distant past when W7 was in beta / trial the trial was extended by an update for a few months.

If W10 is to be released in Q2 / Q3 / Q4 of 2015 its probably likely that there will be an extension or at least an updateable new version with a later expiry than April.

Of course all bets could be off on this one - but as so many people seem to be running SUCCESSFULLY W10 on a daily basis (even though advice was given against people doing this) Ms will possibly want to avoid mega aggro if all these people have to revert to their previous OS or re-install all their programs again.

I've been very pleasantly surprised at the stability of W10 - considering it's pre-beta even and (again all things being equal) will ditch W8.1 in favour of it if the cost isn't horrendous.

My main faults with W10 have been essentially when running it as a VM -- Unity mode is "Flakey" but can be made to work and USB3 support causes the VM not to be able to attach USB devices - whether that's due to the HOST USB 3 support or W10 or VMWARE I haven't a clue but running with USB2 mode works just fine.

I still see a lot of diehards on the W7 Forum who seem unwilling even to give W10 a try as a VM - well it's their choice of course.

I can't wait to see the CONSUMER preview to see what Touch enabled features have been improved but I've very few problems with W10 running in "Desktop mode".

Touch on W10 on a VM only seems to work properly for the on screen keyboard. I can't start applications by touching the desktop or taskbar icons (works via mouse of course). W8.1 as a VM doesn't have problems with touch applications. My HOST OS fully supports the Touch features of the laptop I'm testing this on.

Not a mega deal but can't wait for the next release.


Cheers
jimbo