I don’t have answers to those Windows 10 queries.
I don’t have answers to those Windows 10 queries.
Hi everyone, I’m trying to figure out a couple of things. First, I’ve noticed ads for Trip Adviser, Netflix, Mint and similar services on the new Windows 10 start menu. Since Microsoft has had add-ons like Doritos before, I’m worried about them showing up again. Do you know anything about this? Second, I’m considering downgrading back to Windows 7 or 8. I thought upgrading from Windows 7/8 within a year would be free, which is pretty unusual for Microsoft. What do people say about whether my Windows 7 product key could end up tied to Windows 10? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks! -Solly
These instructions are for Metro apps only.
You cannot lower the operating system; you must perform a full reinstall. Your credentials remain valid.
I also have a query (sorry for bringing it up here), but regarding the "free upgrade," do you only receive access to Windows 10 for one year, after which you’d need to pay again? Or is it available for life as long as you sign up within the first year it was released?
Get your key and enjoy free forever. You can adjust the settings anytime, but you need to change the drive format to make those changes. Everything won’t stay the same after upgrading.
Sure, glad to help. The phrasing was a bit unclear at first, but I understand now. Appreciate the clarification!
I notice you're not familiar with Windows 8. This platform features a system named "Metro" applications, later renamed "Modern UI" apps. It represents a fresh set of guidelines for building software meant for touch interfaces. These programs run in full screen on devices with touch capabilities. They remain compatible with traditional input methods like mouse and keyboard, though they use larger buttons. They are naturally optimized for high-DPI displays, so developers don’t need extra adjustments—the app automatically adjusts. Additionally, they are GPU-accelerated, which helps conserve energy. The goal isn’t to replace regular desktop programs but to provide a touch-friendly experience for tablets where keyboards and mice aren’t available. This approach is also being used in devices like the Surface Pro, which are gaining quick popularity.
Windows 10 brings forward these Metro apps under a new name called "Universal Apps." These full-screen tools offer better performance and work smoothly within windowed modes, enhancing usability for keyboard and mouse users. For instance, you can run Shazam in a window that moves around and scales like any desktop app. Universal apps support a wide range of devices—desktops, laptops, tablets (full screen), and convertible screens such as the Windows Phone 10. They also work across Windows 10, XBox One, and select apps after approval.
If you purchase an app for Windows Phone 10, it will be available on your Windows PC, laptop, and other devices using the same account. DLCs for games in Universal App form apply universally across all your devices. The main benefit is that these apps bring features found only in desktop versions—like live tiles. Live tiles display essential info such as the current date, weather updates, or music status without requiring constant interaction. You can view emails, see what’s playing, check the weather, and more, all within a single window.
By default, Windows includes several Modern UI/Universal Apps (Windows 8) and Universal Apps (Windows 10). These include tools like Calculator, Bing Weather, Music (with XBox integration), Video player, Mail (Outlook for Win10), Calendar, Travel, Health, Food & Drink, App Store, and Bing News. These apps fetch data from various sources, often displaying ads when you view detailed information. Microsoft ensures these ads are clearly marked so users can manage them easily.
You can uninstall any of these tiles apps by right-clicking and selecting "Uninstall." They can be added or removed like regular desktop programs on the Start Menu, and their size can be adjusted (small, medium, wide, large). Newer versions may introduce additional sizes such as tall. It’s important to note that downgrading isn’t possible—you must reinstall your original Windows version. Your product key remains valid after downgrading, but the license agreement restricts installing the previous version on another system.
Upgrading from an older OS like Windows 7 to Windows 8 or later follows a different path. Windows 8 and 10 didn’t break the upgrade trend; they built upon it, adding support for newer hardware and features. Windows 7 ended that progression, so upgrading meant moving from Vista to XP and beyond. Windows 8 itself included the latest operating systems at the time.
Thanks for your feedback. I’m glad you found the details helpful. To confirm: (Goodbytes, your message was thorough—I’ll take it as read.) For your first point, yes, there will be additional options on the screen, though you can disable them by removing the software. Regarding your second question, if you prefer a different version, downgrading to Windows 7 is possible; it should work with your original product key, provided it’s a single copy on one machine without Windows 10.
These aren't advertisements; they're identical to Windows 8 applications with live tiles activated (displays app-related information). If you don't want features like weather updates or social media apps, you can right-click and turn off the info display so only the icon remains, or remove them entirely from the start.