Gordon Kelly
Contributor
Did you sign up for a free copy of Windows 10? Are you running a Windows 7 or
Windows 8 PC? Then you could be in for a big surprise: Windows 10 may have
already started downloading to your PC…
Microsoft MSFT -0.11%’s stealthy download uses a secret folder
– C:\$windows.~BT – and it can be found by opening File
Explorer and going to: Organize > FolderOptions > View > Show hidden files,
folders, and drives.
Windows 10 is a significant download of
almost 6GB which means you can right click on the folder to see how far it has
progressed.
Windows 7
and 8 users signed up for Windows 10 are seeing it automatically downloaded to
their PCs.
That said the size of the download has also prompted some users on
capped broadband plans to complain that they have no control over when the new
operating system downloads. Something which is also a complaint with itsforced automatic updates once up and running.
The flipside to the argument is stealthily downloading Windows 10
to computers over days or even a week means Microsoft can distribute it more
smoothly. This is important when it has stated a long term goal of getting
Windows 10 onto over one billion PCs. It also reduces the bandwidth crush on
launch day had it opted for manual downloads, especially with Microsoft
belatedly admitting some users may have to wait weeks.
Of course whether you should be part of
the day one upgraders is open to debate.
Windows 10 finally strikes a strong balance between the
familiarity of Windows 7 and the advances of Windows 8, but a major upgrade is
already planned for October (likely called ‘Windows 10.1’) and the initial
release isfar from bug free.
Have you taken the plunge to immediately
upgrade to Windows 10 and, if so, have you noticed it downloading into its
secret folder? Let me know.
For those who remain undecided, here is my detailed guide: Windows 10: Should You Upgrade?
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