What is the difference between window 8.1 and windows 10?

[shinhosuck1973]

Can some explain the main difference between windows 8.1 and windows 10? The reason I'm asking this is because I just deleted windows 10 and installed windows 8.1 to compare boot time on a normal laptop HDD. The difference was huge. The windows 10 normally took between 11/2 to 2 minutes. But on windows 8.1, it took between 20 to 40 secs. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

 

[brummyfan]

Windows 10 is the newest OS and it's more suitable for newer hardware, mainstream support ended in 2018 for Windows 8.1, so you will not receive any security updates, otherwise if you are happy and more familiar with the way 8.1 works you can continue to use 8.1, the boot time depends on the hardware in your PC, I think your PC is more suitable for older OS.

Lifecycle FAQ - Windows

Answers to frequently asked questions about the lifecycle policy for Windows products.

docs.microsoft.com

 

[Bree]

Can some explain the main difference between windows 8.1 and windows 10?

mainstream support ended in 2018 for Windows 8.1, so you will not receive any security updates

No, the end of mainstream support means there will be no further development of Windows features. Extended support means you will continue to get new security updates, but nothing else. Extended support ends on 01/10/2023.

Windows 8.1 - Microsoft Lifecycle

Windows 8.1 follows the Fixed Lifecycle Policy.

docs.microsoft.com

 

[carl55]

Exactly: there are still Security Updates and Windows Defender signatures updates. However it is not the same Windows Defender running Windows 10. on WIndows 10 there are several services and processes that could drain your hardware. Anyway my suggestion would be to update your HHD to a SSD for better experience on both the OSes.

 

[Stealth]

For that laptop I would stick with 8, and if you like 8, even better! Windows 10 is a pig, and is not good on old hardware, laptops especially. Some laptops fair better than others, and some require an SSD IMO. Windows 10 is a big PITA!

 

[TechnoMage]

In playing around with different OS's, I've found that the only real benefit, for me, using older PC's, is that Windows 10, pig that it is, has a GREAT Hardware Driver Package. It will install the correct hardware drivers on just about any old PC.
However, Windows 8.1 is a more user friendly OS, and it seems to have the same Great Driver Pack as 10.
Just for fun, I've installed Windows 8.1/Pro/x86 on a very old Dell Laptop, that originally came out with Windows XP on it. Everything on the laptop works great now, with Windows 8.1 installed on it, without me having to chase down any drivers. Then I installed the new Classic Shell on it, and it looks just like it has Windows 7/Pro on it. I prefer that!

Cheers Mate!
TM

 

[CB]

One among the differences is that Win 10 has no option to disable the update. It can only be paused per 7 days. And arrange the active hour so that it won't disturb working time. Other trick is set the connection property as metered connection.

Just for fun, I installed Win 10 64-bit to an old ASUS K42F bought in 2011. Core i3 with 4gb memory. Replaced HDD with 240gb Kingston SSD. It takes only 45 second to complete the boot sequence.

Kevin

 

[Bree]

One among the differences is that Win 10 has no option to disable the update. It can only be paused per 7 days....

That's anything up to 35 days in the Advanced options. In both Home and Pro the update to the next version of W10 remains optional until shortly before your current version reaches end of support. And there is as lot more control in Pro than in Home through Group policies.

Then there are also 3rd-party options to completely control updates in Home or Pro.

Enable or Disable Windows Update Automatic Updates in Windows 10

How to Enable or Disable Automatic Updates for Windows Update in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

 

[CB]

I read that out.
Thanks @Bree

 

[TechnoMage]

There IS a script, that permanently disables Auto Updates in 10. I install that on every Win-10 Setup.
And then, there are NO unwanted updates. Minus updates is COOL!

Cheers Mate!
TM

 

[SCANNERMAN]

In playing around with different OS's, I've found that the only real benefit, for me, using older PC's, is that Windows 10, pig that it is, has a GREAT Hardware Driver Package. It will install the correct hardware drivers on just about any old PC.
However, Windows 8.1 is a more user friendly OS, and it seems to have the same Great Driver Pack as 10.
Just for fun, I've installed Windows 8.1/Pro/x86 on a very old Dell Laptop, that originally came out with Windows XP on it. Everything on the laptop works great now, with Windows 8.1 installed on it, without me having to chase down any drivers. Then I installed the new Classic Shell on it, and it looks just like it has Windows 7/Pro on it. I prefer that!

Cheers Mate!
TM

Windows 10 will take out the web cam drivers on an old Toshiba Satellite laptop and you'll never get 'em back - at least not on Windows 10. I love Classic Shell. I still use Windows 7 as well. For some reason I'm still getting extended support with it too so no complaints there.

 

[davexnet]

I tried it out and looked for myself -
PC is a 2014 AMD FX-4300 system, 8GB RAM, onboard video
I used the MIcrosoft Media Creation tool and made a Windows 10 install USB stick.
Used Macrium Reflect Rescue CD to backup the 8.1 system to a removable drive.

Booted 8.1 to the desktop, inserted the USB stick, ran setup.exe, and upgraded the system to the latest
Windows 10 (Took about 90 minutes).
Some observations. It takes about 1 minute 15 seconds from the BIOS post to the usable desktop (Vs. 45 seconds 8.1)
It's an upgrade install, probably not as efficient (clean) as a fresh install, but MS. did a really good job
of transferring my settings and all the desktop apps.

10 has a more refined feel about it, hundreds of settings that didn't exist before,
with reasonable defaults except for the Privacy-related; they're firmly in MS's favor .

Installed 10 Pro, so I have GPEDIT at my disposal, and I've already set a few of the policies
My impressions, based on a few day usage, are that it is very polished, performs well and worth a look.
I haven't decided yet whether I will revert back to 8.1 via my backup

 

[erpster4]

Windows 10 (Took about 90 minutes).

90 minutes? (that's about 1 hour & 30 minutes which is super long)
do you mean seconds?

 

[davexnet]

NO, it took 90 minutes to do the upgrade install, 8.1 > 10 keeping all my apps and settings

 

[Bree]

90 minutes? (that's about 1 hour & 30 minutes which is super long)
do you mean seconds?

NO, it took 90 minutes to do the upgrade install, 8.1 > 10 keeping all my apps and settings

That sounds about right for a system that has an HDD. A more powerful processor and an SSD would be quicker, but still be in the tens of minutes.

90 seconds for a full upgrade would be a miracle, even a recent clean install I did on a system with a 10th gen i7 and an m2 NVMe SSD took 10 minutes.

 

[SCANNERMAN]

Microsoft grants their blessing on one (and only one) complete copy of your operating system. You cannot physically run both the cloned copy and the original on a PC at the same time without consequences. Microsoft recovery tools are dubious to say the least. ALWAYS: Make a drive image of your operating system precisely as it is while it is yet functional before upgrading to a new operating system. It isn't that expensive and it ensures safety from a whole pile of potential issues. By "drive image" I mean precisely that. I don't mean "let Microsoft decide". I don't mean "make a system image". I don't mean "make a back up". I don't mean "make a restore point". I mean make a perfect CLONE of your hard drive. There are very good third party programs for this, R Drive Image and Minitool Partition Wizard to name a couple. Once you finish making your clone (it can take an hour or two depending on your hardware) put it in a cool, dry, dark place and forget about it until you need it or don't need it. The clone is only there for use in the event of a total system failure. Of course if you don't value your data and you don't care if you lose everything then pretend you never read this. I never trust upgrades. Rollbacks, in my experience, rarely ever work perfectly.