Windows 10

[Eddie]

Well, I've gone and done it. Last night, thanks to an issue that prompted me to do a Windows reinstall (I was due one anyway) after reinstalling Win 8.1 I upgraded to Win 10.

So as I'm almost certainly the first within the 476th, I thought I'd post a quick review/commentary thread.

The Windows install process itself went well with no issues, and is essentially the same as installing Win 8.1 (I use a Microsoft account to login rather than a local offline account) and basic setting like destop image etc. were tranferred.

Initial driver installation went reasonably smoothly, the only issues were that I had to download the latest UNIfied drivers for my sound card as ASUS still don't have official Win 10 drivers, but not a factor to me as I've used the unofficial drivers for some time already. nVidia graphics drivers were a bit of a fiddle as they intially wouldn't install and I ended up having to grab an older set of drivers and let letting the gforce experience update to the current release, after that however no issues.

I spent most of yesterday evening installing general software such as Office/Adobe CC suite etc. Again, all that went without any issue at all.

As for DCS specific items, the following software and utilities are confirmed as working (for me at least).

• Teamspeak 3.0.16
• TacView 1.3.4
• LotAtc RC2
• Track IR 5.2.2
• JoyToKey
• JSGME
• Thrustmaster TARGET (Although I don't use it for DCS itself)
• Current Saitek Pro Pedal Drivers (Win 7/8)
• Current TM WH Drivers (W7/8)
• Aries 1.976a
• LotAtc 1.0.0 RC2
• And most importantly - DCS World 1.2.6

Other gaming/general software confirmed as working

• Open Broadcaster Software
• TeeBoard
• Adobe CC 2015
• Office 2013
• Copy Cudadrive
• Apple iCloud for Windows
• FRAPS 3.5.99
• 1Password
• VLC
• 7Zip
• Google Chrome
• Steam
• GTA V (Rockstar direct installer)
• Armored Warfare Early Access

As for the new features in Win 10, although I haven't really played around much yet as I'm still getting things up and running, the new start menu is quite nice (I'll no longer need Start 8 at least) and a good balance between the old traditional start menu as in Win 7 and the silliness of Win 8/8.1.

The new Edge browser that comes with Win 10 to replace Internet Explorer is at this stage at least, very good. It's certainly faster than Chrome, although at present there is no support for extensions.

Win 10 Desktop


Win 10 Start Menu and MS Edge Browser


I will update/add to this thread as things progress.

[Snoopy]

Thanks Eddie! I'm just waiting on Microsoft to tell me I can download the update.

[Dojo]

Excellent, Eddie! As a reminder for everyone, the update is free for now, as along as you have a valid 7, 8, or 8.1 license. Do take advantage of registering for it, even if you don't update right away.

[Eddie]

Aries confirmed as working, the same install process and tweaks still apply.

[Oliver]

Eddie, do you know if Classic Start Menu works with W10? Because based on the few screenshots I've seen, I'm going to use that for W10 too.

Also, do we have general performance indications of W8.1 vs W10?

[Ashy]

Im just wondering about performance with 10. Will it be better/same/worse than 8.1 if its the same or worse. Off to windows 7 I go.

[Eddie]

Well, so far it seems faster than 8.1, which in turn was considerably faster than 7. Honestly, you couldn't pay me to go back to Win 7.

No idea about any start menu mods/plugins I'm afraid Oliver. Quite liking the new Win 10 start at the moment anyway so haven't tried any.

[Stuka]

Do the Thrustmaster Cougar MFD's work also? (don't see them in the list)

[Eddie]

Another small observation, the general text rendering is much "nicer" in Win 10. Everything just appears more crisp and clear than it did in 8.1.

[Eddie]

Do the Thrustmaster Cougar MFD's work also? (don't see them in the list)

Yes they do. Even better than in Win 8.1 in fact as you don't need to run the registry tweak to stop them powering on and off every few seconds.

All my hardware is working without any issues at all.