How would you hope to see W10 arrive for the average user ?

I can see it just coming as a windows update, with the latest updates preparing for 10 I can see it being automatically installed if auto updates is turned on, so any problems it should just rollback from before the update, it would then just download in the background a prompt for restart to set up
After installing, if any issue just uninstall the update from windows update

I cant remember how the 8.1 update came out, but I think this was via the store, so this is not an option for people using win 7 (don't think so anyway)

What I would like to see is, have a prompt shortly before it gets released, asking if it should be installed automatically, perhaps have this pop up a few times so people are aware, after a few messages about it then give an option for people to opt out, if opting out it just hides the update so it can be got back later if wanted

not sure on clean install, personally I would say this would be via manually downloading as it is not something I could see most people wanting (average user)

Dave44 said:

hoping they release a ISO so can clean install

From what I recall, there was information on the release path that an ISO would be available for Win10.

I would want an ISO and the ability to clean install. I'm not a fan of in place upgrades.

It's irrelevant to me since I don't have plans to upgrade any of my machines anyway, I will wait until I build or buy a new machine with Win 10.

Going up a bit, if you are worrying about compatibility which led to your question of rollback and how it will be rolled out, first, you should try Win 10. Take advantage of the Technical Preview to answer your compatiblity questions first hand. It will be both rolled out as an update for existing 7 & 8 but there will also be an option to do a clean install with ISO. These upgrade methods depend on the users' knowledge with computers. Of course the online upgrade is a no brainer.
So far, there is a rollback option on Tech Preview. But I am not sure if this will also be available on official release.

If I can jump in...
Why even worry about a rollback. One should always make a system image before ANY major updates/system changes and that goes specially for an upgrade. The only software more important than a good AV is a system imager. On a fresh install that's my first thing I install, but I seems most "average users" don't think of this, because if they did, the amount of threads in all the Windows Forums would be much smaller.

I would think for the average user an ISO upgrade would be perfect or if he wanted a clean install . All the would have to do is download -> unzip to a thumb drive -> click setup.exe. Another advantage would be a shorter download time and Microsoft could embed the key to it, so if the user needed to reinstall.

I've experimented with different install methods, multiple times, with Win10, and found the fastest method for a complete setup, to get to a desktop with all my software, was the ISO upgrade method.

Mooly said:

I mentioned the 'roll back' because I'm trying to think how the average user is going to go on. I personally know folk that can just about remember how to work with a photo or how to send an email... imagine taking the familiar (and I'm thinking more W7 here) interface from them and them suddenly being faced with W10. That's the reality for many.

Speaking for myself, I'm sure I'll try the in place upgrade just for the heck of it, but only because I know how to 100% undo anything I try. The folk on forums like this are the exception, most know how to go about solving problems, in fact many (myself included) simply see a problem as a challenge whereas the average person at home certainly doesn't.

When you upgrade your existing Win 7 or 8 to Win 10 tech Preview, you will have a boot up option (like dual boot) to Rollback.





As for Win 7-like interface, it shouldn't be a problem if you install Classic Shell on Windows 10.