windows 10 home

Every Lenovo laptop with Windows 10 Pro features BitLocker disk encryption. It adds a special, extra layer of protection for your files and other data – making it a great feature those who work remotely and need to keep sensitive business and personal data protected. Get faster start ups, a familiar yet expanded Start menu, and great new ways to get stuff done even across multiple devices.

You're already an expert with the familiar Start menu, task bar and desktop. Stay productive with enhancements to Snap, new Task View, and Multiple desktops. You will also love the innovative features like an all new browser built for online action, plus Cortana, the personal digital assistant who helps you across your day.

Use of this OEM System Builder Channel software is subject to the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. This software is intended for pre-installation on a new personal computer for resale. This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed.

To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings. I have tested this scenario multiple times on hardware that originally shipped with Windows Home and was upgraded to Windows 10 Pro. When prompted, be sure to choose Windows 10 Pro as the edition to install. 10, called feature updates, are released twice a year as a free update for existing Windows 10 users. Each feature update contains new features and other changes to the operating system.

The pace at which a system receives feature updates is dependent on the release branch from which the system downloads its updates. Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise and Education can optionally use a branch that receives updates at a slower pace. These modes can be managed through system settings, Windows Server Update Services , Windows Update for Business, Group Policy or through mobile device management systems such as Microsoft Intune.

OneDrive lets you back up and sync the Desktop, Documents, and Photos user folders automatically. You still can't designateanyfolder on the system for backup, as you can with Google Drive or SugarSync, but those folders contain most of what people want to protect. OneDrive's new Personal Vault feature rolled out to all users in October 2019. It uses strong encryption to safeguard your most sensitive files.

Buy Windows 10 Pro if you need the extra security and management improvements over the Home version above. It includes Hyper-V for virtualization, BitLocker whole disk encryption, enterprise mode IE, Remote Desktop, a version of the Windows Store for your own business and assigned access . Network admins can also schedule updates so they don't happen at important times. This edition was introduced in July 2016 for hardware partners on new devices purchased with the discounted K–12 academic license.

It also features a "Set Up School PCs" app that allows provisioning of settings using a USB flash drive, and does not include Cortana, Microsoft Store suggestions, Windows Sandbox, or Windows Spotlight. Whether you're using your voice with Cortana, gesturing on a touch screen, writing with a digital pen, building a 3D model, or playing a AAA PC game, Windows 10 offers a wealth of choices. The platform offers the most form factors, too, from the tiny Raspberry Pi to massive gaming PCs to the large Surface Studio to the giant Surface Hub. Add to those completely new Windows devices like HoloLens and Mixed Reality headsets. But is Windows 10 Education any different from Windows 10 Home?

Windows 10 Education is the same as Windows 10 Enterprise, which Microsoft calls the most robust version of Windows 10. The OS has features targeting security, device control and management and deployment that Windows 10 Home lacks. Unlike Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Education has client and host remote desktop and remote app i, Hyper-V (Microsoft's hypervisor) and extra apps, like AppLocker and BitLocker. Although, it's likely you won't ever use any of those bonus features.

Getting hold of the Windows installer is as easy as visiting support.microsoft.com. Whether you've paid for Windows 10 already or not, anyone is allowed to download a Windows 10 ISO file and burn it to a DVD or create installation media on a USB drive for free. Once that's done, you can boot from your installation media and load Windows 10 onto your PC. You can skip it, but eventually, Windows will start alerting you that your install isn't activated.

If you wish to upgrade your Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro to enjoy advanced security features, you will need a valid product key or digital license for the Blade you are upgrading. See the Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro page for details on how you can obtain the key. Hyper-V is a Windows-only hypervisor used for running virtual machines on CPUs that support virtualization. While Hyper-V is included with your Windows 10 Pro license, it needs to be downloaded and installed separately. It comes with a number of new features including the revamped Start Menu. The company decided to chop it off from Windows 8 three years ago, but on popular demand, this feature is making a return to the desktop operating system.

You also get a full-fledged version of Cortana, the digital voice assistant formerly exclusively available on Windows Phone. Other than that, the Home edition also gets you features like Battery Saver, TPM support, and company's new biometrics security feature called Windows Hello. For over a year, Microsoft has stated that it doesn't see Cortana as an Amazon Alexa competitor, but instead as a productivity tool. The May 2020 update removes support for voice control of smart home devices and music streaming services.

You can still ask it general information and weather, set reminders, check your calendar, and create to-do lists. It sets alarms and timers, opens apps, adjusts settings, and can still tell you a joke. Many would argue that downloading Windows without paying for or already owning a product key is ethically wrong.

That said, Microsoft has made this process easier over various Windows iterations and lessened the limitations and nagging that happens when you don't activate. The company isn't trying to close this loophole, probably because it's more interested in driving user numbers. I've even seen well-known vendors and Microsoft partners do press presentations with watermarks on their desktop. After you've successfully performed a Home-to-Pro upgrade, you can file that product key away. Your upgrade is now a digital license, attached to your unique hardware.

If you perform a reinstallation of Windows, Microsoft's activation servers will recognize the hardware and activate Windows 10 automatically. Best of all, you only need to use the older product key one time. Get fast start-ups, a familiar yet expanded Start menu, and great new ways to get stuff done even across multiple devices. You'll also love the innovative features like an all-new browser built for online action, plus Cortana, the personal digital assistant who helps you across your day. I didn't find out until afterwards that if all you need is just the license key, there are cheaper ways to buy them that cost 10 times less, so don't make the same mistake as me if you're in that boat. The only reason you should buy this is if you want to have a DVD to install from rather than create your own DVD/USB install.

You'll also love the innovative features like an all-new browser built for online action, plus Cortana, the personal digital assistant who helps you across your day. For many home PCs, Windows 10 Home can be a satisfactory edition that meets the needs of most users. But the big disadvantage with Windows 10 Home is the lack of control, particularly when it comes to the Windows Update service . The upcoming Windows 10 Creators Update is starting to make the Home edition less desirable for several reasons we will discuss in this article. Plus, large organizations deploying Windows 10 in bulk will choose what you use on your computer at work, which can be either Pro or Enterprise.

That decision in itself can also factor into what you use at home. Windows 10 Education includes features from Windows 10 Enterprise that are ideal for advanced security, and the comprehensive device control and management needs of today's educational institution. Windows 10 Education also enables simplified deployment in the education space; this edition provides a direct path for many devices to upgrade from Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro. Other features like group policy management, Assigned Access, and the ability to join a domain are unlikely to be very useful outside of the workplace.

Assigned Access allows an admin to lock down Windows and allow access to only one app under a specified user account. Group Policy meanwhile allows you to restrict access to any number of Windows features and configure any setting within the operating system. While this is great from an admin perspective and a good way to set a co-worker's wallpaper to something fun remotely, it's not very useful in a home environment. If you're concerned about security and want to protect your data from intruders, or you're coming from MacOS and want something comparable to Apple's Filevault, you'll want to spend the extra money on Pro. Bitlocker provides full disk encryption so you can keep your data safe from hackers.

The latest iteration of Bitlocker also allows for the encryption of individual files for more flexibility than the all-or-nothing approach of previous versions. Again, other software can accomplish similar encryption, but it's not built into the OS. Be sure to get an SSD that supports the necessary hardware acceleration for Bitlocker if you don't want to lose performance. Microsoft has offered a Pro version of Windows since the XP days, bringing with it additional features for power users that Home doesn't offer.

Here's a breakdown of the most useful features that you get with Windows 10 Pro, as well as free alternatives, when applicable. BitLocker is an encryption tool that protects the files on your hard drive or external USB flash drives. This feature is especially useful if you have private data on your PC or laptop, because only you will be able to access these files with a password. Your computer or laptop does need a TPM chip, because you can't use this feature without one. Another differentiator is that programs have their own menus, rather than using the operating system menus along the top of the screen as macOS and Ubuntu do.

Utilizes unique identities of files to create rules that permit or deny the running of select applications. This feature is vital in restricting access to important files and applications and improving security. In today's increasingly mobile business environments, improper use of mobile devices often leads to costly security incidents. Central management of enterprise mobile devices is crucial in subverting these security incidents. MDM is able to monitor all enterprise mobile devices at once, analyze usage data for individual users, and apply appropriate security policies.

Another tool that might find more use with normal users is Assigned Access, a Pro-only feature that lets you lock down an account on the machine to using a single app. It's designed for kiosks or other restricted environments, but it could be a great way to kid-proof your computer. Letting your child play a game while knowing they can't access the web is a nice feature. Windows 10 Pro adds several advanced features, including Hyper-V for virtual machines, BitLocker device encryption, Remote Desktop for remote access, and a suite of features intended for business use. The same is probably true of your laptop, which you use at home and work.

Features like Domain Join, Network Backup, and File Encryption are primarily used in business environments; not all should be considered as necessarily business targeted. Again, File Encryption and Network Backup might actually be useful for protecting sensitive files or backing up precious family memories to a NAS. Remote Desktop is another feature included in Pro; Home offers Quick Assist, but Remote Desktop is a lot more flexible and could actually be a better support tool for remote family members or friends.

Even though the defaults are similar to Windows 10 Home, Pro offers more control over your Windows Updates. The Windows 10 Pro Creators Update, for instance, lets you pause updates for up to 35 days. I live in the sticks, and I have to work with a limited 3G metered connection. Windows 10 sometimes doesn't care even when I adjust my connection as Metered and still slips through with those large updates the operating system is notorious for. You may still be running your computer on Windows 7 or 8, and if so now's the time to buy Windows 10. This isn't just a performance update, Windows 10 brings new features and security settings to your machine that are crucial to getting your work done in today's operating systems.

From the ease of the Cortana assistant to the speed boost you'll notice instantly, upgrading your older system to Windows 10 will be well worth your while. Windows 10 OEM is a full version of the operating system not an upgrade. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product.

Microsoft recommends all files and programs be backed-up prior to installation. Home users will also be able to utilise the all-new Virtual Desktops option and Snap assist feature with up to 4 apps on one screen. Furthermore, they can also give a whirl to Continuum, a flagship feature of Windows 10 that lets you quickly switch from desktop mode to tablet mode. You are also bestowed with Microsoft Edge, the brand new browser in town. Mac users have had one for several years, and it offers the advantages of automatic updating and a single source for finding programs you need.

Acceptance to the Windows Store also means an app has been vetted by Microsoft for security. You can even install apps to external memory—something tablet users can appreciate. If your hardware doesn't already have a Pro license, you'll get an activation error and you'll need to supply a proper product key or pay for an upgrade. It should be noted that if you have a Windows 7 or 8 Home license, you can only update to Windows 10 Home, while Windows 7 or 8 Pro can only be updated to Windows 10 Pro. If you have used up the three recovery's that you get with Window's 10 free install and you got the blue screen of death you need to purchase this one.

This is what you need with your internet to get back started again. If you upgrade your hard drive to a new on then you will need this software. I am 64 years old and if I can do it and read instructions then so can you youngsters. This is only licensed for the one computer and you would have to purchase another for others.

Also I recommend " The Kure " lifetime anti-virus protection. Before selecting a Windows 10 edition, the first step in any migration plan is an assessment of your IT environment. With Lakeside Software's SysTrack, you can quickly and accurately collect data on your users' PC environment to better inform your Windows 10 migration plan. This allows enterprises to determine the necessary costs and scheduling of the migration process. Allows users to create an imaged version of the corporate Windows 10 environment on a USB flash drive and run it from their personal Windows 10-compatible device. Else, choose Go to the Store to buy a license from Microsoft.

Did you know that even if your computer is password-protected, someone with access to your hard drive could read all the data saved on it? This is where encryption comes in---it scrambles all the files on your computer and makes them unreadable to anyone without the key. Windows 10 is familiar, innovative, and adaptable to the size and capabilities of the hardware on which it's running. Because it manages to include so much exciting new technology while remaining familiar and intuitive, Windows 10 earns PCMag's Editors' Choice endorsement, an honor it shares with the polished and impressive macOS. The leading desktop operating system continues to improve, adding refinements, tool updates, new visuals, and more control over updates. There are also advanced features that power users in home environments might find they need.