I 'm considering the Windows 10 upgrade on my Dell Latitude E6410 laptop with Windows 7 Pro and 4 GB ram , but I'm concerned about several issues including whether the laptop is even compatible with W10. I'm on a data cap plan with my isp so W10 update sizes are also a concern. Will Windows Update still allow the option to check for updates but allow me to choose whether to download ? (I usually get large updates near the end of my data quota cycle). Also, does the disk require repartitioning , and if not, can Windows 7 be restored from an image backup ?
RE : Will Windows Update still allow the option to check for updates but allow me to choose whether to download ?
No. Windows Updates are to be installed automatically.
With Win 7 Pro, you will have the option to "delay" updates installation for 30 days. But after that, updates will be downloaded and installed automatically.
RE : Also, does the disk require repartitioning
No. Not unless you want to dual boot Win 7 Pro and Win 10 Pro.
For the time being, you need to do an upgrade install of Win 10 over your Win 7, or the installed Win 10 will not get activated.
This restriction is soon to be removed so that user can clean installWin 10, and activate it with the valid Win 7, or Win 8/8.1 product key.
RE : can Windows 7 be restored from an image backup ?
Yes. You can reinstall Win 7 Pro anytime if you are not happy with Windows 10 Pro.
My suggestion is to make sure you create a Win 7 installation disk, or a set of Recovery disks which you will use to reinstall Win 7.
I have a Acer Aspire pre-installed with Win 7 without an installation disk. I created a set of what they call it Factory Default disks. It is a set of 4 DVDs in my case.
I had used the set to reinstall Win 7 twice over Win 10.
If the connection is WiFi, the connection can be set to metered and only priority updates will be downloaded automatically.RE : Will Windows Update still allow the option to check for updates but allow me to choose whether to download ?
No. Windows Updates are to be installed automatically.
Thanks for the responses.....Under the circumstances I think I'll have to stay with Windows 7 at least for now.
The choice is yours. There is no hurry anyway. The free upgrade offer is valid up to July 29th, 2016.
I know you did that already, just to make sure that you will keep Windows update set at Manual.
Please read this excerpt ...................Source
We will soon be publishing Windows 10 as an “Optional Update” in Windows Update for all Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers. Windows Update is the trusted, logical location for our most important updates, and adding Windows 10 here is another way we will make it easy for you to find your upgrade.
Early next year, we expect to be re-categorizing Windows 10 as a “Recommended Update”. Depending upon your Windows Update settings, this may cause the upgrade process to automatically initiate on your device. Before the upgrade changes the OS of your device, you will be clearly prompted to choose whether or not to continue. And of course, if you choose to upgrade (our recommendation!), then you will have 31 days to roll back to your previous Windows version if you don’t love it.
If you are on a metered connection on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, then you have the option of turning off automatic updates. We strongly discourage this in today’s connected world because of the constant risk of internet threats. If you choose to do so, we recommend manually checking Windows Update frequently, perhaps when you are on a non-metered network and consider the installation of all “Recommended” and “Important” updates. Windows 10 will not automatically download updates on a metered connection unless there is a security issue addressed within the update. In addition, Windows 10 contains a number of features for those on metered connections, including monitoring data usage by application and setting data usage quotas.
