Windows 10 updates on R400

[Sudevan]

I haven't been on here for a while, but I thought I would write about some questions I have.

Some years ago I acquired a R400 with Windows 10 installed on it by the seller, changing from WinXP Pro. At that time, I wanted to have a machine other than my main desktop to check out Win 10. I tried then, but failed to have Linux Mint 17 installed on it as a dual boot system. The problem was that Linux did not see the Win 10 installation and I was concerned that Win 10 would get wiped out, since that sort of thing has happened to me with Win 7 machines. I then put it aside and got busy with other things. I am thinking again of starting it up but now I have concerns about what will happen since Win 10 has not been updated for three years or so. I have absolutely no files, folders or data on the machine, just the Win 10 OS, so there is nothing I need to protect or backup. Some questions:

Will Win 10 force updates right away on startup before I can even disconnect from the internet, or disable the auto update preference?

Will Win 10 start doing updates for hours or days when I shut the machine down?

Will any of the large feature updates create problems with drivers or other parts of the R400? Should I update at all, given a choice?

What is a safe way to proceed, if indeed there is one?

In the worst case, can I simply wipe Win 10 out and install Linux. I would like to keep this as a Win 10 machine since I don't have one at home. I do have one at my university laboratory, but that is kept up by the university's IT department.

Cheers,

Sudevan

Original Specs for my R400 (it's a nice machine): The 160 GB HD has been replaced by an SSD, I don't have the specs on that.

R400 7440-WZL
P8700(2.53GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB 7200rpm HD, 14.1in 1280x800 WXGA LCD, Intel 4500MHD, CDRW/DVDRW,
Intel 802.11agn wireless, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, UltraNav, Secure chip, 6c Li-Ion (Originally with WinXP Pro)

[MikalE]

Wish I was in Steven's Point or even Rhinelander right now with a heat index here nearing 100F tomorrow.

I wouldn't make any bets on Windows 10 updates screwing up drivers on your system. It's happened.

I can't speak to the Linux issues at all with Windows 10 in a dual boot configuration, ut there is a chap on You Tube that seems to know more about setting up dual boot configurations than anyone else I know. His videos help me set up a dual-drive, dual boot configuration with Windows 7 Pro and Linux Mint several years ago, and also with Windows 7 and XP Pro.

Go here and see if you can find in his video channel something that may help you with a Windows 10/Linux Mint configuration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgv_POY ... pNpZVrqzPH

You will use EasyBCD to configure the boot loader.

[dr_st]

Will Win 10 force updates right away on startup before I can even disconnect from the internet, or disable the auto update preference?

Well, the R400 has a hardware wireless kill-switch, so you can just make it impossible for Windows to connect to the internet before you set it up the way you want.

[Sudevan]

Wish I was in Steven's Point or even Rhinelander right now with a heat index here nearing 100F tomorrow.

I wouldn't make any bets on Windows 10 updates screwing up drivers on your system. It's happened.

I can't speak to the Linux issues at all with Windows 10 in a dual boot configuration, ut there is a chap on You Tube that seems to know more about setting up dual boot configurations than anyone else I know. His videos help me set up a dual-drive, dual boot configuration with Windows 7 Pro and Linux Mint several years ago, and also with Windows 7 and XP Pro.

Go here and see if you can find in his video channel something that may help you with a Windows 10/Linux Mint configuration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgv_POY ... pNpZVrqzPH

You will use EasyBCD to configure the boot loader.

Thanks MikalE. I will check out the link you sent me. I have done numerous Thinkpads (T43s, T40s etc.) configured as Linux/Win 7 dual-boot systems without problems, it is only occasionally that the Linux install wiped out Win 7 (which was no big deal for me). With Win 10, this is the only machine I have which has it, hence my attempt to preserve it. I don't mind keeping it just as a Windows system, so the priority for me is to see if it will survive all those updates. I will also be quite happy if a way can be found to run Win 10 with only minimal updates, which is what I do with Win 7. Maybe the only thing to do is to start it up and see what happens! (I could also move it to a location where it will not automatically connect to a WiFi, and then turn it on). In the worst case, I can wipe the HD and load a Linux OS on it.

I see you are familiar with the lovely state of Wisconsin. I lived in Urbana for a year back in 1990-91, when I was on sabbatical leave at the U of I and a visiting scientist at the Beckman and in Psychology. I had a good year, learned about setting up a brain electrical activity lab, and a publication came out of the research I did with some terrific colleagues. So I have fond memories of the place. I also note with pleasure that the town you live in is just like my step-daughter's name, except for one letter. She is Marisa.

Sudevan

[Sudevan]

Will Win 10 force updates right away on startup before I can even disconnect from the internet, or disable the auto update preference?

Well, the R400 has a hardware wireless kill-switch, so you can just make it impossible for Windows to connect to the internet before you set it up the way you want.

How interesting! Thanks, dr_st, I had no idea. Is it on the sides or back, or is it on the keyboard? There is a wireless symbol at one end just below the screen, could that be it? I confess I am not very familiar with the R400, having only played with it a bit when I acquired it.

Sudevan

[dr_st]

On the front, circled.

[Sudevan]

On the front, circled.

Got it, it's a slider switch, now set to the right (i.e., connected to WiFi). I can move it to the left and disconnect. Thanks very much indeed.