Windows 10 is now with us, and, whether you've made the move from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, there is a lot to love, but also a lot to hate. With this latest release, there is also one very big difference from previous versions of Windows: it is free of charge.
This is not only likely to encourage more people into making the move to Windows 10, but it also opens up a possibility that many people would simply not have considered before. If you decide that you don’t like Windows 10 (the OS is not without its fair share of problems, after all), you can downgrade to your previous version without ending up out of pocket. The question is, how many people will go -- or have gone -- down this route?
When investing in any piece of hardware or software, there is potential for buyer's remorse. The lack of price tag associated with Windows 10 means that this potential is removed and replaced with the possibility of simple remorse. There is literally no cost or loss involved in rolling back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, so if you take umbrage at the way Windows 10 works, or just decide it's not for you, it has never been easier to step back in time.
It might be that you don’t like the way that Windows 10 automatically updates drivers for you -- although if this is your reasons for considering downgrading, there is a workaround. Perhaps you're not keen on the invasions of privacy Windows 10 introduces, maybe you're experiencing error messages when you try to do every day things, or you just can't get sound working. Or it could be that you just feel that Windows just isn’t ready despite all of the feedback-led changes that have been made.
Windows 10 Service Release 1 is supposed to be just around the corner, and for Windows Insiders there is the promise of new builds that could address issues that people may have, but are you willing to stick around to find out if your gripes will be addressed? If you are ditching Windows 10, there's always of the option of running the OS in a virtual machine so you can keep an eye on what's happening while you continue to use your preferred version of Windows.
So, it's over to you. Have you downgraded, will your downgrade, or are you currently toying with the idea? If so... what needs to change to entice you back or keep you from leaving?
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