All time best find ever: Ninite

It allows you to install most of the programs discussed here with one single executable. You select the products you want, click “download”, and get a tiny executable which then downloads and installs your selections automatically in the background. Plus you get the basic clean versions of all the programs, not the packaged bloatware. It cuts system build and configuration times dramatically.

No one needs to do the assistive technology workaround. Both the upgrade in place and the clean install of 10 both work today. If you have a working 7 or 8 system you can do the upgrade without the key. I always recommend doing a clean install unless you have a compelling reason not to. If you have the old key, you can download the media creation tool from MS, install a clean version, enter your old key when prompted, and it will activate fine. If you don’t have the key, you can use Magic Jelly Bean to retrieve the old Windows key from any working system. MS has no intention of stopping the upgrades because they want as many people as possible on a common version.

I have no idea why redmed’s install didn’t activate. I’ve done tons of these, as recently as this weekend. You do have to be careful about versions. If you have a home key, you need to install home. Business to business. I’ve seen 32 bit keys activate with 64 bit, but also seen them fail.

I still have no idea why people are so worked up about W10. I hate the interface as much as anyone. It’s terrible. A 30 second download of Classic Start makes it look, feel and act exactly like 7 with all of the security and speed benefits of 10 under the hood. Interface aside, 10 has significant benefits over 7 in many areas and in a few years MS is going to drop support for 7. Based on recent actions and statements they are likely to accelerate that move compared to the support they provided for previous legacy OS’s.