Windows 10

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Mike F

I bought the i5, 256GB harddrive, 8GB RAM.

The most intensive thing I do is run Photoshop CC, and it handles that (including projects with dozens of layers) without any difficulty. Word processing, Netflix and other video playback, Excel and the like, are all a breeze.

Don't get one if you want to do serious PC gaming, though, or any editing and exporting of large video files.

And if anyone does get one, immediately download Chrome (or maybe another browser) as Microsoft Edge does an unbelievably poor job of recognizing touch input. Trying to navigate Calgarypuck in Edge is maddening.

FWIW, there have been numerous updates to Edge in the newer (read as: Insider RS1, AYOR) builds that have made Edge a lot better for a variety of use cases.

But to be honest, CalgaryPuck is not terribly well optimized for touch. There are a lot of buttons and links with very small hitboxes and the spacing doesn't make things any better. I had to bump the page magnification on my Surface 3 from 100% to 150% to make CP (and a lot of other sites) usable on it. With 2" more screen real estate and a MUCH higher resolution on your SP4, I can only imagine what it looks like on there.

Oh, and make sure you have the latest updates for it. It takes care of that nasty sleep mode issue that was around for a few months after launch.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Mike F

I bought the i5, 256GB harddrive, 8GB RAM.

That's the one I"m considering. Don't really think I need 8 Gigs of RAM but don't want to be stuck with a 128 Gig HD.

And if anyone does get one, immediately download Chrome (or maybe another browser) as Microsoft Edge does an unbelievably poor job of recognizing touch input.

I noticed that as well trying out a Surface we bought for work. I use chrome on my HTC M8 and can browse CP with no issues at all.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

That's the one I"m considering. Don't really think I need 8 Gigs of RAM but don't want to be stuck with a 128 Gig HD.

8 GB of RAM will extend the life of the Surface a bit further than you'd think. Unless there's an easy way to upgrade it, I think you'd regret not going with more RAM initially.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Very good then. 8Gig it is.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

8 GB of RAM will extend the life of the Surface a bit further than you'd think. Unless there's an easy way to upgrade it, I think you'd regret not going with more RAM initially.

Agreed, and no, there's no easy way to upgrade the RAM. Just taking the device apart, there is a very high risk to breaking the display glass. I had briefly considered this to swap out the small 64 GB SSD in my Surface 3 LTE to install a larger capacity, faster access SSD.

Such is the cost for having thin, light devices. The Surface line has never been an iFixIt favorite for this reason.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

But to be honest, CalgaryPuck is not terribly well optimized for touch. There are a lot of buttons and links with very small hitboxes and the spacing doesn't make things any better. I had to bump the page magnification on my Surface 3 from 100% to 150% to make CP (and a lot of other sites) usable on it. With 2" more screen real estate and a MUCH higher resolution on your SP4, I can only imagine what it looks like on there.

It was set to 200% by default, and looks good at that level. But even at 150%, which makes text tiny, Chrome accurately detects touch, even on a site as challenging as CP. It's head and shoulders better.

[TorqueDog]

I was referring to page magnification (set in the browser), not display scaling (which is set by default to 200%).

[I_H8_Crawford]

So I am upgrading to a new desktop.

Old one will be given away or sold, but I am keeping the OS over to my new one.

Question is - old one upgraded to Win 10 from Win 7, do I have to do that again, or can I do a fresh install on Win 10? What do I do about license key then?

Will my Win 7 key work on a clean win 10 install?

[Fuzz]

Is your license OEM(did it come with the system?) If so, you won't be able to use it with the new one. If you bought a full retail version then you can transfer it. You should be able to retrieve your Win 10 license key and install fresh with that, and a download from MS's site.

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I was referring to page magnification (set in the browser), not display scaling (which is set by default to 200%).

Ah, OK. With display scaling at 200%, my browser page magnification (page zoom in chrome) is set at 100%

[Vulcan]

I believe you can now activate Windows 10 with a Windows 7,8, or 8.1 key.

http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-...ll-windows-10/

as said though on a new computer you need the retail windows version.

[I_H8_Crawford]

Yep! My Win 7 Ultimate license worked no problem on the clean install of 10.

Thanks for the help!

Now for a new question - anyone know if I can get my hands on a free Windows server os?

I want to play around with Hyper-V and setting up windows servers in my free time

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I believe you can now activate Windows 10 with a Windows 7,8, or 8.1 key.

http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-...ll-windows-10/

as said though on a new computer you need the retail windows version.

Yup. Make sure you're using the latest available install media, however. The 'RTM' of Windows 10 from July 2015 wasn't able to install with a W7/8/8.1 key. You had to install without a key, pick the proper version to install, then activate once installed.

The November release (media with build 10586) allows using previous OS keys in the Setup program.

[Fuzz]

Since they will be ending the free upgrade in July, I might throw another hard drive in and do the install, just so it is registered as the free upgrade. In case I actually want it in the future.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Yup. Make sure you're using the latest available install media, however. The 'RTM' of Windows 10 from July 2015 wasn't able to install with a W7/8/8.1 key. You had to install without a key, pick the proper version to install, then activate once installed.

The November release (media with build 10586) allows using previous OS keys in the Setup program.

Yeah I had to go through a rather convoluted process to get windows 10 on a new computer. I shut down an old computer that had been already upgraded to 10 and installed windows 7 on the new one with the old ones key. From there I installed a windows 8 pro upgrade version that I paid ($40?) for a couple of years ago. That upgrade didn't go so well with trying to update it, so I went straight to 10 pro and it has been fine. The old computer is back on line and both are working fine, touch wood. Now if I ever want to do a clean windows 10 install all I should need to do is use my 8 pro upgrade key.

[UKflames]

I am still having problems with Win10 freezing on me, normally when I have used something plugged into a USB port but sometime sand can happen after using particular programmes.
I have reinstalled the latest set of USB drivers and ensured all programmes are up to date but still getting problems. Thinking I might try a clean Win 10 install now that I see in the posts above that I can use my Win 7 reg key.
Can someone point me in the right direction of where I would get a Win 10 install from (Official not torrent please) and how best to do this??

[sureLoss]

The Windows 10 media creation tool will create the USB, ISO, or DVD you need.

Instructions on this page:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/soft...load/windows10

[GoinAllTheWay]

Picked up a Surface Pro 4 this weekend. Been using it every day to see what it's like. Overall I'm pretty impressed with it but a couple of issues are bugging me.

1) When the screen auto dims in dark rooms, the screen starts to flicker a bit and also seems to have a hard time deciding what level of illumination it wants to stay at.
2) Scrolling in Excel or Word and Adobe is really jittery. Seems decent in Chrome.
3) Touch response in browsers, even chrome, can be a bit hit & miss. Just this morning I would try to switch between tabs in Chrome, would not pick up on that.Same thing with refresh button. Had to close the browser and re-open.

Other than the above, I've been pretty happy with it. Screen is beautiful, battery life is about what I expected. Haven't played with the pen too much but the limited use I've put it through so far it has been quite responsive and easy to use. A good addition. Clips nicely to the side with a magnet.

[TorqueDog]

Throw Plumbago on your Surface Pro 4 and play with the pen in that:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store...t/9nblggh5gk42

OneNote obviously is handy, but this is more fun.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Thanks for that! That was one question I forgot to ask as I keep forgetting MS has an app store. Any other suggestions for apps would be appreciated. I'll download Plumbago for sure.