Is upgrading to Win 10 to much of a risk?

CmmTch · 10 Jul 2016

Many on this site recommend Macrium for performing backup/image functions, http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Something to consider if the Win8.1 built in function is too much, I believe Macrium is pretty much user friendly

alphanumeric · 10 Jul 2016

I have never, personally, seen a PC damaged by a driver upgrade, OS upgrade, etc. Worst case scenario is a failure to boot up into Windows. Or a BSOD. And anybody that's seen a BSOD will likely remember seeing the "to protect your PC" message. Now, on the other side of the coin, to some people, a BSOD death, or a failure to boot up, is a ruined PC. They will say Windows ruined the PC because they lack the knowledge to know the difference.

DavidE · 10 Jul 2016

I remember when Win 10 preview first came out people did report bricked hard disks.
Here is one article about this:
Microsoft confirms latest Windows 10 Technical Preview bricks harddisks - Myce.com

A simple search for Windows 10 bricks should get more hits.

CmmTch · 10 Jul 2016

DavidE said:

I remember when Win 10 preview first came out people did report bricked hard disks.
Here is one article about this:
Microsoft confirms latest Windows 10 Technical Preview bricks harddisks - Myce.com

A simple search for Windows 10 bricks should get more hits.

I do remember it now that you mention it DavidE, it did foul up some HDD's. Although as mentioned in some of the posts in the link you put up, it was a preview version, nobody would expect a "bricked" anything from installing an OS, even a preview version. But being a preview, it comes with all the risks of a beta.

Frying (in the OP's words) a CPU is completely different, and it's an OS that has been RTM. The biggest problem IMO is/was the bullying by MS to get people upgraded to W10, whether by choice, or deception.

NavyLCDR · 10 Jul 2016

Lets say the Windows 10 destroyed 1,000 CPUs. There are currently more than 350 MILLION devices running Windows 10. So that means 1,000 CPUs out of 350 million is .00029% that got destroyed by Windows 10. (and there is NO evidence that Windows 10 has destroyed a single CPU, let alone 1,000 CPUs.) Your chances of getting struck by lighting in your life is about 5X greater than .00029%. So, personally, I would be way more concerned about getting struck by lightning than the upgrade to Windows 10 physically destroying your CPU.

DavidE · 10 Jul 2016

I understand what you are saying.
This thread did seem to change from Fried CPU to any hardware damage
That's why i posted what i did.
It might explain why the OP was warned, it might just be old info, rumor, fact, etc.

I've seen a Windows program make changes to BIOS and brick a motherboard.
If a Windows program can do that, i believe Windows can also make BIOS changes, and do who knows what.

I never said it was likely, just that people have reported problems, nothing more, nothing less.

Mr Mag00 · 10 Jul 2016

I'm "handicapped," and taking my giant desktop computer in to the Microsoft store is an impossibility. I'm isolated and old. Even if as little as 12 computers has these kind of severe problems, I can't take the chance! A couple of people did say they would help me but then dropped the ball. I can't even leave my house right now because my power wheelchair is in the shop... and it's been there for months. If this stuff is more like loch ness monster sightings than real happenings, how can I know that? And what about the totally unbelievable forced upgrades??? I got that dialogue box, trying to do the upgrade on my computer but I used "Never 10" to hold the new OS at bey until I was ready to let it in. Now I don't think I wanna let it in 'til I understand what's happening!

Even in a best-case-scenario, I'm gonna have to do the install without the Windows magnifier. I can't see any text on my screen without the magnifier. I have a workaround but now with this new issue, I think I might have to hold off until things become much safer. It'll cost me a hundred buck... but that's much better than losing a $5000 computer. I was hoping somebody would say that a clean install had to be very safe, as long as it's done without the in place upgrade. But I just donno what to think. This is beyond the scope of my knowledge.

Update: Windows 10 upgrade bug makes some PCs unusable

Windows 10 Users May Pursue Class-action Against Microsoft - ValueWalk

Microsoft pays out $10,000 for forcing Windows 10 on California woman

Update: Windows 10 upgrade bug makes some PCs unusable

alphanumeric · 10 Jul 2016

DavidE said:

I understand what you are saying.
This thread did seem to change from Fried CPU to any hardware damage
That's why i posted what i did.
It might explain why the OP was warned, it might just be old info, rumor, fact, etc.

I've seen a Windows program make changes to BIOS and brick a motherboard.
If a Windows program can do that, i believe Windows can also make BIOS changes, and do who knows what.

I never said it was likely, just that people have reported problems, nothing more, nothing less.

Any failed BIOs flash will brick a motherboard. I've seen reports of failed Winflash attempts bricking a motherboard. Other than that, I don't know of any other software that will alter BIOS settings to the point that its corrupted. I still don't class that as Windows destroying hardware. I personally, would never ever use Winflash to flash my BIOs. Anyway, lets see what the OP posts back with and go from there.

NavyLCDR · 10 Jul 2016

DavidE said:

I've seen a Windows program make changes to BIOS and brick a motherboard.
If a Windows program can do that, i believe Windows can also make BIOS changes, and do who knows what.

There is a huge difference between what an external program does when running under Windows 10 and what Windows 10 is even possible to do by itself.

BunnyJ · 10 Jul 2016

DavidE said:

I understand what you are saying.
This thread did seem to change from Fried CPU to any hardware damage
That's why i posted what i did.
It might explain why the OP was warned, it might just be old info, rumor, fact, etc.

I've seen a Windows program make changes to BIOS and brick a motherboard.
If a Windows program can do that, i believe Windows can also make BIOS changes, and do who knows what.

I never said it was likely, just that people have reported problems, nothing more, nothing less.

Huh?? Can you supply some link to back up an OS changing anything in the BIOS?

And even if it could do that there is no way it can fry a processor. The only way that I'm aware of to fry a processor is heat and I don't see how an OS upgrade can run the temp of the processor so high it would fry it.