Install Or Download ( Or Reserve ? )

[Old_Geezer]

Was asked to ensure my woman's rarely used laptop was up to date yesterday. As it happened it seemed to take forever and a day just trying to check (!), but that aside; it eventually finished the vital update downloads/installs.

Then, of course, it opened up the spam window about Win 10. It offered the option to install or download. I asked and got agreement to download it for now to install at a later date. Seemed straightforward enough.

But apparently English is not MS's first language. I selected 'download' and it then claimed I had 'reserved' it. As we all know, a download and a reservation is not the same thing. Furthermore it didn't show any progress regarding any download, it just comes up with the same nonsense about having reserved it and not needing to do more leaving the situation completely muddled.

Now it isn't clear if it is downloading in the background or not. Whether the laptop should now be left permanently on, unused, for MS's convenience; or whether it has opted to ignore the download offer that we took up.

Does anyone speak MSish and can translate what they are up to please ? Perhaps clarify what we should be doing ?

[Tuvok]

You'll possibly see something along the lines of "rolling-out"

ie. not everybody would get the update at the same time.

I got fed up waiting for my update to arrive so I downloaded the file manually - have installed it, but not activated it yet, still using Win 7 on that computer.

[Tuvok]

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10ISO

[TheChair]

It means that it will download quietly in background, and let you know when it's done - as it tries to be unintrusive, it could take a few days. If you want to specifically download it yourself, you can do that from the Windows 10 download page. https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

[Togo]

You may be in a queue geezer. If MS are conducting downloads worldwide and are at capacity, you may be on their list of downloads 'to do'. They will notify and ask someone to initialise when your download is imminent.

[Old_Geezer]

Wow, go brew a coffee and 4 answers already :-)

Ah so it isn't actually doing anything to the laptop but expects it to be on line ready. One would have thought a few servers per country would ensure "umpteen queues, no waiting". We kept the thing on for a few more hours but then she insisted we had to put it away.

I guess we have to log online for ten minutes every fortnight and see if they've got around to her then. I'll pass the info on.

Cheers.

[Hypognosis]

@Old_Geezer

I've done roughly the same actions as you; even thought something had downloaded and was ready to roll but I am actually reticent about changing to 10. Win 7 has backwards compatability mode and would enable me to run some favourite pre-2005 software. I am waiting for evidence that 10 would lock me out of the special workarounds required.

Net result is I get the reminder popping up on about 50% of days when I need to use it. I anticipate that the multi-gigabyte download doesn't even commence until I've clicked the button to agree to the free trial.

[TheChair]

"I guess we have to log online for ten minutes every fortnight and see if they've got around to her then. I'll pass the info on. "

As you've indicated that you don't necessarily want to install it yet, just download it, you won't be prioritised, and it won't indicate that that it's downloading - it will tell you when it's done.
It's a big download, so if you just put it online for 10 minutes a day, it will take probably take weeks to download.

If you realy are that anxious to have it, download it manually.

[Old_Geezer]

Not anxious to have it, just not to miss the free upgrade on the rarely used laptop before the deadline. Ultimately it would be foolish to miss the extended period of support that comes as a result. The ten minutes at a time was to check if they are saying we can download now.