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Here are the features you’ll lose by switching to Windows 10

Windows 10 is right around the corner, with its release date set for the 29th of July. With a change in operating systems comes a change in features so Microsoft has outlined exactly what customers will lose during the transition to Windows 10.

Those using Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will be entitled to a free upgrade to Microsoft's latest but if you value these specific programs and features, then you may want to hold off. In a post on Microsoft's Windows 10 blog, the company said that Windows Media Center, the game ‘Hearts' and the Windows 7 desktop gadgets will be among the software casualties. None of these will appear in Windows 10.

Windows-10

If you are massively stuck in the past and still using floppy discs, then you will need to download a new set of drivers for them to work, so they haven't been thrown out the window entirely. Additionally, since Windows Media Center is gone, you will need a separate program for DVD playback, so you are better off continuing to make use of VLC or GOM.

Aside from that, there are some limitations involved. Cortana won't be available in every country, at launch it will be available in the UK, US, Germany, China, France, Italy and Spain. Media apps, like Music or Video, will have their usual region locks due to licensing agreements as well.

Updates are now going to be handled differently as well. Windows 10 Home edition users will automatically have updates downloaded as they become available, while Pro and Enterprise users will have the option to turn this off and only download them as they see fit.

You can read the full Microsoft post, HERE.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: Windows 10 is looking good but I imagine some users will want better control over their updates and will end up springing for the Professional Edition. 

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46 comments

  1. Home users having downloads forced will be a problem that they will renege on later. Some people still have awful internet connections. Some of the larger updates will cripple their home’s internet.

  2. The reason Media Center will not be available on 10 is because they have rewritten a brand new media player. Since WMC was based on Windows Media Player technology, it can’t be in 10. I am sure that eventually they will add a new media center of some sorts or just buy a third party media player suite. They are usually hugely superior anyway. Media Player stopped being stable for me when upgrading to 8 Anyhow, so a new media player is a great relief to me.

  3. Dual Boot.-

  4. What the hell!? I don’t want to lose the desktop gadgets! I rely heavily on the ALL CPU/Network Meter for monitoring…

  5. Use rainmeter

  6. Heartless Hero

    That’s not true. You can watch dvd’s with WMP12, so you aren’t forced to install 3rd party. You can also get a codec pack like Shark007, and play any video file under the sun.

  7. dfghjkl;'ASDFG

    Not anything i will miss

  8. That is already how Windows works. If its not an issue now, then it won’t be an issue later.

  9. No it’s not. You can say “let me know when updates are ready and choose whether to install them” on all versions of Windows 8… quite rightly since it’s a convenience for low bandwidth users. I personally have it do them automatically.

  10. I have Windows 7 Ultimate,and plan on upgrading, but I’m a bit unclear on a few things – namely, what equivalent version of 10 do I get as an upgrade from 7 Ultimate, and with reinstalling Windows fresh, do I get a new serial key when I upgrade and just download an ISO from MS for the Windows 10 install, or do I use my old 7 serial? Anybody know?

  11. Gary 'Gazza' Keen

    Only thing I would’ve missed is windows media player but not-too-recently by the day its refusing to play my music files, forcing me to either switch to youtube/soundcloud or vlc

  12. You’ll get Windows 10 Professional, and no I don’t believe you will need a new serial key. From what I understand of it, Windows 10 will be counted as an update via Windows Update.

  13. OK, that’s good – so will I keep the freedom to reinstall from ISO as when I want to? It’s not going to behave like an OEM version, where it’s tied to one motherboard?

  14. Sad to hear about Media Center, though. I’m sure if you have a WinTV-HVR-2250 like I do, that might hurt a bit. Hopefully Hauppauge will come up with some alternatives for those that have a TV card in their rigs that want to watch television with a similar interface to that of Media Center’s. We’ll have to see what happens…

  15. Stephan Chase Morsanutto

    Wait…Cortana wont be in canada? What?

  16. Tabeica Octavian

    One of the main reasons why i wanted W10 was for Cortana … and i think it’s bull for the romanians to be unavailable for it since … you know … romanian is the 2nd language spoken at Microsoft.

  17. I’m not sure, but I would assume that as long as your copy of Win 7 isn’t OEM you will be able to download the ISO and use your key to put it on other computers.

  18. No it doesn’t. You have the option to completely disable windows updates so that it never so much as looks at you, let alone automatically updates.

  19. Sigh…..

    Where do these people come from?

  20. You obviously know nothing about tweaking your own system configurations.

  21. Interesting about the media center, I mean I bought the cheap upgrade for windows 8.1 Pro to Pro with Media Center. So if in the odd chance I have a DVD to watch/test I can using media player!

    I understand that they removed the codecs so they don’t have to pay royalties – with an option to buy them back in (at least on 8/8.1) so surely they will add that in later…

  22. And so I can try to use my PlayTV dual tuner on my PC!

  23. Well Now im stuck with not wanting this upgrade now. I use Windows Media Center as a DVR. I have a Tv tuner and so While im at work I have it set up to record my Shows. Windows Media center works the best with this. I am also a Gamer though and have been exited for this new OS to come out due to the performance boosts its suppose to be giving with DX12. But yet My Shows overide this unless i can find something else more or of equal Reliability

  24. I imagine some users will want better control over their updates and will end up springing for the Professional Edition.

    Techies yes, but mom’s and dad’s won’t care.

  25. the majority don’t give a sh*t about that.
    and not having an option will actually make computers safer by making sure they get updated.

  26. the majority don’t either.

  27. That’s a relief. I went on MS technical help forums and a moderator did answer that question for somebody else, but they phrased it badly and it ended up just confusing me further, but I think that this is what they were trying to say.

  28. I’d assume they mean North American rather than the US. If it’s not in Canada then they’re very stupid.

  29. Demon Highwayman

    Gadgets had a major security flaw to the point where microsoft advised users to completely disable them. I’m not sure if they were ever patched but i’ve never bothered with them again. As Halosheep ponts out there are alternatives around anyway.

  30. Demon Highwayman

    I thought it was only media centre that was being axed ? if they get rid of media player too, that’ll really put me off ever getting it.
    Oh try downloading the K-Lite codec pack, it makes windows media player play anything you want. Be sure to carefully select what you want installed though as it installs media player classic by default.

  31. Demon Highwayman

    I’m sure I read somewhere just yesterday that all versions of windows 10 will be tied to a specific PC, just like previous OEM versions. I may be wrong but be cautious.

  32. its just for launch so its not that big a deal. It’ll come eventually.

  33. The ALL meter is better

  34. Only certain ones were unsafe, NOT most of them.

  35. Use KODI is better! damn media center.

  36. Learn to use KODI simple

  37. wtf is everyone crying about media center,
    i have never use it, learn how to use KODI instead.

  38. No Windows media player still here.

  39. Chaotic Entropy

    Pretty much any of these features can be either partially or fully be replaced by, in many cases, a freeware or open-source alternative. Doesn’t really strike me as concerning.

    For the updates, I can appreciate Microsoft wanting to improve the security image of Windows, since previously regular users could happily cripple their computer security in one fell swoop.

  40. < col Hiiiiiii Friends…——–.???? ?++der++ < see full info='……..''

    ???????????????????????????????????h

  41. Or… OR don’t “upgrade” to an arguably inferior system. Why have to learn new shit because Microsoft is getting greedy. WMP+Codecs is the easiest and nicest looking media center of any downloadable one and all my downloads get handled by iTunes.

    Stop going around advertising fucking KODI

  42. Gary 'Gazza' Keen

    Really I heard it was the whole media suite. Ah well we’ll see how it goes

  43. give Plex a try, that’s what i use and i can do 6 at once, and the UI is really nice. and i agree with Javier, i hate media center, plex can bypass your problems of the codecs, or atleast it does with mine.

  44. give Plex a try, i use that, and its nothing but fantastic for me

  45. We’ll see 😉

  46. Are you crazy i have use every single OS that have been available until now
    and none can compare with windows 10 none not even windows 7.