Windows 7 - Upgrade question to Windows 10 - What happens if I don't like WIN10

[chrisbek]

In 2011 I decided to build a pc for my father and with it I purchased a physical Windows 7 Professional 64 bit OEM System Builder Pack CD from our local computer store.

I have been debating whether to upgrade the PC to Windows 10 for him as the upgrade is free or stick with Windows 7.

My concerns are that my father is mostly familiar with the layout of the previous Windows operating systems he has used before such as Windows 3.1, Windows 95, 98, ME and XP.

So when I got him Windows 7 he was very comfortable using it as it had the same feeling, looks, functionality as the previous OS's he has used in the past and is familiar with.

The problem I find is Windows 10 is very different. My main concern is the learning curve he would have to grasp. He's now 77 years old and I would hate to change to something else that he is not familiar with.

However I do want him to have all the advantages of staying current that comes with Windows 10.

My main question is I would like my father to try Windows 10. But say after a few months of usage he does not like Windows 10 what happens?

Can I then take my physical Windows 7 OEM CD I own and go back to Windows 7. Will that product key still be useable?

I know there is a rollback function that allows you go back to Windows 10 to Windows 7 but that only lasts 30 days. What happens after 30 days.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Martell1977]

You can install "Start 10" and make Windows 10 look like Windows 7 or just revert the upgrade back within 30 days. After 30 days, you will have to do a full reinstall of Windows 7 to revert. But you can always go back.

 

[Geekwad]

Upgraded an 84-year-old Aunt's laptop and desktop (had similar concern), but she did just fine with it.

I Win7'd it as much as I could with Start menu and features, and she very much liked that both were now linked so that a change on one made it on the other. Better and easier security, and updating too, was nice.

I would suggest a 'clean' upgrade though (the keep nothing option), and then just backup and transfer any data/files/bookmarks over afterwards. Do make an image on an external though just in case. If it really doesn't fly, then you can always reinstall from the Win7 disc and restore the old image.

 

[geofelt]

You will have 30 days to decide if you want to go back.
After that, your windows 7 key will no longer be valid and you will need to buy another copy of windows 7.

I tried 10 on my wife's pc.
I rolled it back to 7 when I discovered windows 10 was waking up by itself and installing things on it's own.

If you do not already have a ssd, I would suggest you first take a clone image so you can return to windows 7.
I hear mixed reports. Many have no issues, and some have all sorts of problems.
It is hard to sort out what the cause is.

You can make things look more like 7 with windows classic shell, a free app.
Moreover, if you do go to windows 10, be certain to turn off a dozen default intrusive instrumentation options.

My take is if you do not need some particular capability of windows 10, stick with windows 7.