ACER & Windows 10

[paulklee]

I've had such poor experiences with Windows 8.1 that I was looking forward to upgrading to Windows 10 on both my ACER laptops. Both received the pre-launch notifications but then....nothing.

The problem probably is that although both laptops had pre-installed Windows Enterprise 8.1 (I assume it was the Enterprise version), I had deleted both mainly due to bloatware from ACER and installed a locally sourced copy of Windows 8.1 (ahem). I have tried to go back to the original pre-installed versions with no luck, even although the original Windows Product Code must still be in the BIOS.

Here is the situation - I cannot upgrade to Windows 10 at all. I understand it is hard enough anyway to upgrade from an Enterprise Edition of Windows. I have tried all sorts of manual updating via the Windows (and other) websites, even recovering Product ID info from my current operating system and BIOS using various software programs. No success at all - every Product ID I put in is rejected - cannot upgrade at this time, please try another code....

Any suggestions on what to do? Ive tried contacting ACER but no interest there. I'm not in Thailand at the moment and wont be there for a long while (tho both laptops were purchased in Thailand from ACER dealerships).

Is there a trick to upgrading with pre-installed Windows Enterprise? Should I forget W10 and stick with W8.1? Should I change to another Windows OS (which one)?

I know I shouldn't have installed the locally sourced Windows but that's how it is. But both laptops did have fully legal pre-installed Windows and surely that must count for something?

Any info very gratefully received...

[straycat911]

I know where to get any version of windows iso. Then you can download and install

[Brit_Doggie]

Any upgrade invalidates a rollback valid serial, now there are ways and means on this subject, I say no more.

[arjunadawn]

I have win7x64 on three systems. I never went to 8 or later because it was garbage. Whenever using 8 I would have to find the 7-like user interface to make it meaningful. When 10 came out I was curious and suspicious. MS pretty much indicated it was creating a competing enclosed system of apps, sales, mobile, pad, pc to rival apple. It would not be useful to me because I dont live in a social bubble chasing apps and friends and sync'ing everything nonstop. But I would try.

Installed Win10 in virtualbox/VM in the Win7 system and explored virtually. It is still there, but as a relic. Within hours I realized this is basically the same as leaving the house naked. This big bleeds data but more, it intentionally hemorrhages your data out of your home. One example: Cortana, the voice system to rival Siri actually requires you create a PC local user account and log in with email address before she/he can be used. It is different than apple in that cortana then remains employed and the system collecting data across the full range of your pc experience, from word docs, to powerpoint, to sites visited, porn downloaded, amazon purchases, which cookies, when, who, social networking, etc. All of this is to make your experience fuller. There are a few early tools to disable many of these security leaks but then you are effectively left with win7 again, with win8.1-like overlay.

Windows 10 will frequently pop a tray notification from a downloaded KB______ update but for many, they find the OS already downloaded to the C:\ root. Look for an impossibly odd named folder as the number one folder in C:\ if it looks strange, that is it. It is there. If not, you are lucky. If do not want, stop auto updates and auto checks only. Search online for Windows 10 notification update KB______ then search for that exact update in your updates, and hide. Search for this if installed in installed update, then uninstall, and then hide so it does not automatically seek to install again. Many do not want it.

You seem to want but generally invited the view I offer above. The best part of windows 10 is the windows 7 lying beneath it. There is zero wrong with windows 7, from a consumer point of view. From a developer/sales point of view windows 7 does not remotely leverage the possibilities of closed loop sales, after market, etc, in an all encompassing microsoft ecosystem. Windows 8 & Company sought that but belly flopped. Windows 10 arrives with the stalking horse of the desired and familiar and functional windows 7 base and the overlay of all the useless app crap that MS is trying to establish to compete with apple. It will not work. This market is being challanged by MS and MS will fail.

Do not get windows 10. Another offered on here regarding ISO. He is suggesting you PM him. Perhaps you should. There are still Window 7 builds that are available, legal, and offer updatability. You get one of these on your system and you have what you then want... ah, what MS then wants,...you to have windows 10.

[Chicog]

So we are assuming these two machines have neither a recovery partition/DVD, nor a sticker with an MS product code?

In which case you're realistically looking at buying it. But on the bright side you can buy Pro instead of being stuck with Enterprise.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

In which country were they purchased and what are the full model numbers of both of the machines?

[NeverSure]

OP, I don't believe that the enterprise editions are going to update to 10 as the other versions are. Enterprise admins want more control than what could occur otherwise.

I believe those editions have to be done with Active Directory by a Server admin. I believe it has to be assigned from Server in a domain environment. In any event I believe you'll strike out every time trying to upgrade to 10 on your own with an enterprise edition using any method.

Cheers.

[NeverSure]

Too late to edit. I was recently called back out of retirement as I sometimes am to test Win 10 upgrades on some Win 7 enterprise edition machines. They sometimes call me when they are too busy for a special project. They wanted a test and the tools to push to more computers if it worked well.

I downloaded the 10 upgrade, wrote an .MSI file, put it on the server and assigned it to one small group of computers as a GPO (group policy object) in Active Directory. Then the 10 upgrade was pushed from the server upon the next reboot of each workstation in the group. The installs worked well but not without issues such as drivers and some others, and a decision was made to roll them back and simply stay with 7 until new computers are purchased with updated OS's. When you have dozens or hundreds of workstations you simply can't be tweaking each one for bugs.

With Admin privileges on the Server and each workstation having been joined to the domain, the workstations would accept the upgrade.

I may be wrong but it's my understanding that enterprise editions can't be upgraded to 10 in a stand alone environment. Anyone know better?

[BudRight]

The latest version of Windows 10 accepts Windows 8.1 product keys. Go here https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

and either create a bootable USB device or upgrade within Windows. If prompted, enter your Windows 8.1 key.

Enjoy.

[paulklee]

Apologies to those who replied but I had to go away for a few days and just got back.

A quick recap - the two laptops concerned were ought from ACER dealers in Bangkok, were pre-installed with W8 Enterprise, upgraded to W8.1 and they have all the stickers etc.

NeverSure

My belief is that it is nigh impossible to upgrade the 8.1 Enterprise versions to W10 unless that update comes via ACER. After weeks of searching the web earlier and trying to upgrade, most sensible info I could find completely agrees with your comments above.

Quote from Microsoft: "Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise are not included in the terms of free Windows 10 Upgrade offer we announced last week, given active Software Assurance customers will continue to have rights to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer – while also benefiting from the full flexibility to deploy Windows 10 using their existing management infrastructure," wrote Microsoft’s Jim Alkove in a recent Windows blog update.

I was asking the question in ThaiVisa in case someone had found a way to overcome this inherent problem for Thai branded laptops with Pre-installed Windows Enterprise OS.

Perversely, the only laptop I have that upgraded easily was a dodgy Windows 7 installation on a 3rd laptop! So it looks as though you can easily update to W10 through illegal copies of W7 but NOT through LEGAL copies of Enterprise W8.1!! Go figure....

I will PM as suggested above but in the meantime if anyone can add to the info specifically about Enterprise editions, please feel free and thanks for the answers.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Apologies to those who replied but I had to go away for a few days and just got back.

A quick recap - the two laptops concerned were ought from ACER dealers in Bangkok, were pre-installed with W8 Enterprise, upgraded to W8.1 and they have all the stickers etc.

NeverSure

My belief is that it is nigh impossible to upgrade the 8.1 Enterprise versions to W10 unless that update comes via ACER. After weeks of searching the web earlier and trying to upgrade, most sensible info I could find completely agrees with your comments above.

Quote from Microsoft: "Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise are not included in the terms of free Windows 10 Upgrade offer we announced last week, given active Software Assurance customers will continue to have rights to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer – while also benefiting from the full flexibility to deploy Windows 10 using their existing management infrastructure," wrote Microsoft’s Jim Alkove in a recent Windows blog update.

I was asking the question in ThaiVisa in case someone had found a way to overcome this inherent problem for Thai branded laptops with Pre-installed Windows Enterprise OS.

Perversely, the only laptop I have that upgraded easily was a dodgy Windows 7 installation on a 3rd laptop! So it looks as though you can easily update to W10 through illegal copies of W7 but NOT through LEGAL copies of Enterprise W8.1!! Go figure....

I will PM as suggested above but in the meantime if anyone can add to the info specifically about Enterprise editions, please feel free and thanks for the answers.

What are the full model numbers of both of the machines?

It a headache to get anyone on these forums to do anything other than to install a software hack....

[astral]

No need to bleed data on W10

Just turn off all the options that send you data out,

including Cortana.

I am enjoying the W10 experience