Announcing Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14279 Insider

jeffrj33 said:

Well, im tottaly lost in Windows versions and releases!!, i hope someone could help me!!!
im installing all Insiders versions that hit the Web, if someone upload it, then i download and install...
everything runs ok, i didnt lost any file, my PC structure are OK...
last week, another build hit the web...i've downloaded but couldnt install it, cause it didnt allow me to keep my files and folders!!!
my build is 14279 / release 160229-1700, then....which build should i install to update it without lose my files and folders??
should i wait for another build??
whats the difference between 14279 and last week build??

Thanks!!

Welcome to TenForums, Jeff.

First off, let me "scold" you a little bit. :) Grabbing Windows from anywhere but Microsoft is an invitation to disaster. You may have been lucky so far, but you almost "fell into it" with this last download. If you hadn't found that you would lose your files and folders, you'd be in a world of hurt.

Edit: Never, never, never test anything on a production machine!

Here's what you do:

First off, go to Home page - Windows Insider Program and sign up for the Windows Insider Program if you want to test each new version. Just follow the yellow brick road from there.

The current Windows Insider version is Build 14279. I have it on pretty good authority that we may get a new build later this week, but you know how wild guesses sometimes end up.

linw said:

Great advice, Wyn. You beat me to it!

Thanks, Lin. I edited to tell him not to use a beta on a production machine. :)

jeffrj33 said:

Hey!!
thanks for the reply!!
then, let me understood it...
if i want have a "stable" life, i shouldn't install insiders versions...ok
then, which should i install?
how to know which version is an insider build, and which are a "stable" build...
what's the difference??

BTW, my "insiders" section are like that....tottaly grey, im not allowed to do nothing!!

If you want a "stable" life and do not want to use Insider build then use Microsoft's Media Creation tool.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10 scroll down and click Download tool now.

When you finish downloading, installing and running Windows Update you should arrive at build 10586.164 and not be in the Insider program. Build 10586.164 is the current non-Insider build as of March 16, 2016.

jeffrj33 said:

Hey!!
thanks for the reply!!
then, let me understood it...
if i want have a "stable" life, i shouldn't install insiders versions...ok
then, which should i install?
how to know which version is an insider build, and which are a "stable" build...
what's the difference??

BTW, my "insiders" section are like that....tottaly grey, im not allowed to do nothing!!

I think I may not have made things clear enough for you, Jeff.

For the most part, Windows 10 Insider builds are safe (and mostly stable) as long as they're downloaded from Microsoft.

I'm going to be brutally honest with you; there's just no other way to say this . . . You said, "im installing all Insiders versions that hit the Web, if someone upload it, then i download and install..." What your statement says to me is that you saw Build 14xxx on "Ye Olde Piracy Site" and downloaded it because you wanted to try it out.

Now, wanting to try Windows 10 out isn't a bad thing; however, "Ye Olde Piracy Site" is a bad place to get Build 14xxx! They've broken the law by putting Microsoft's product up on their website. If Microsoft chooses to do so, they can sue "Ye Olde Piracy Site" for a few gazillion bucks. And, if you had downloaded the RTM and paid them for it, you'd be out the bucks you paid. However, that's not the worst that can happen to you . . . your computer could get something so nasty that Gramma's lye soap wouldn't be able to get it off. Once that happens, you stand to lose everything . . . all your files, programs, etc. to a virus or malware.

Now that we have that out of the way, let's talk about Windows Insider Builds vs Windows 10 RTM (final product released to market or manufacturing). So far, Microsoft has released two RTM versions of Windows 10; one on July 29 and another in November. Windows Insider versions are released every few weeks; sometimes a couple or three and sometimes maybe six weeks.

If you want and need stability, then the RTM version is what you want. If you want to live on the cutting edge (read that dangerously), then the Windows Insider Builds are what you want. Just be sure that you get them from Microsoft and not "Ye Olde Piracy Site".

Bottom line:

For Windows Insider Builds, follow my instructions above. You will become a valid and official Windows Insider with new builds coming to your computer regularly.

For Windows 10 RTM, follow Tacit99's instructions. I should say also, that if you have Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you can upgrade to Windows 10 RTM.