Just got windows 10

[New Kentish Campers]

In the absence of ghost I will say it Ditch windows and go for Linux I switched a couple of years ago and can`t imagine using windows again

I'd second that. Ghost helped me install it Mint v.13, I think) on my old W7 machine and it works a treat. No need for antiviral software either so it runs fast. Comes with its own office type software, and more.

[CovKid]

I've so far upgraded 200 PCs to Windows 10. Don't forget the search box (bottom left) as you can find everything via that. Had no issues so far, and no lost files on any of the terminals I've done. Had to do it as they'll charge for 10 beyond June which is a lot of money otherwise. I administer a lot of PCs across four towns in Warwickshire, part of a national organisation and I'm the ONLY one who has managed to upgrade to 10 and make all their software run on it.

If you need any remote support Meggles, I'm happy to help. Also, you don't have to live with the 'Edge' browser. You can find IE (if you use it) in the program files folder still. Microsoft just hid it.

I've actually found 10 to be my saviour as I used to have to manually put through updates every month. Now they're on auto which has massively reduced my maintenance workload. I still 'look' busy but man is it easier.....

[ghost123uk]

I've been away for a long weekend, but I'm back now.

These days I try to avoid anything to do with Windows 8 or machines upgraded to 10. As has been mentioned, best approach is to save documents (and "Windows live" emails if the customer has been using that (which is a bit of a faff btw) and do a fresh install, but then you would need a valid licence key.

However, there is so little that Linux (Mint 17.3 now) can't do, it's often a no brainer.

Local shop said hard drive was kaput and I'd lost all of my photo's and documents. Probably caused by the hard drive misinterpreting the info in the upgrades.

Nah, can't possibly be that. Almost certainly they either messed up and made a mistake, or the drive was physically worn out and failed (quite common on modern 2.5" sata drives). The very first thing I do with a customers machine, before I even turn it on, is to make a copy of their entire "home" folder. This then includes all personal documents, pictures, music, local email files, Internet favourites etc etc. They obviously didn't do that