How to Buy a Computer with Windows 10 Originally - Not Upgraded

Back to school is one of the best times to purchase new computers and laptops. Students' needs increase in tandem with each new grade and college students' needs are even greater so manufacturers provide better pricing to entice customers to buy. This makes it a great time for anyone else looking for a new computer to take advantage of these deals.

One thing to keep in mind while shopping is there will be amazing deals mixed in with deals that are not near as good. Some ways a deal is not as good as it seems are:

• The computer has an older processor - released 2+ years ago.
• There is a smaller amount of memory - at least 8GB is best.
• The device was built with an older operating system and upgraded later - rather than coming with the latest operating system natively installed.

How to Buy a Computer with Windows 10 Originally - Not Upgraded

Just because a computer is running Windows 10, currently the latest consumer operating system, does not mean it came with it originally installed. Many computers with Windows 7 or 8 originally installed are still available for purchase. Whether buying online or from a physical store, inventory sometimes sits longer than we expect. Purchasing a custom built machine, which typically costs more and takes longer to receive, increases the likelihood that the most recent operating system will be installed but is no guarantee.

Why you should care what operating system was natively installed

A device with an older operating system that is upgraded to the latest can run into complications later. These devices tend to run into more software and application compatibility issues, failed updates and sometimes even glitchy response issues. Purchasing a device that comes installed with Windows 10 as the original operating system helps avoid many of these issues.

How to know if the computer was upgraded to the latest operating system

Finding out if the computer originally came with the latest operating system installed or was upgraded later is easy to find as long as you can power the device on. If you are shopping in a physical store, use the display model to check the information below.

To find out if the operating system was upgraded or if the latest operating system was originally installed on it:

• Power the device on.
• Open Windows file explorer.
• Navigate to the Windows (C:) folder and expand the list.
• In the expanded list, if a folder named "Windows.old" exists, the operating system was upgraded. On the contrary, if the latest operating system was installed originally, only the "Windows" folder will exist.

Knowing whether or not the latest operating system was originally installed on a new computer, or any computer, is important. While many older operating systems can process in-place upgrades to the most recent operating system, they often experience issues that they otherwise would not. Failed updates, application incompatibilities and response issues are often experienced. Lastly, an upgraded operating system might mean the computer has been sitting in inventory longer than one with the most recent operating system originally installed.

As always, knowing what to look for and where to find it is key!

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