Windows 10 was released today as a free upgrade if you have Windows 7 or 8 and pre-registered.  The free upgrade will be available until the end of the year so there is no big rush to upgrade just yet.  I am currently upgrading my laptop as I write this blog post...but I have always been an early adopter of new technology.  So far Windows 10 is the smoothest upgrade to date from Microsoft, but there are still a number of things to consider before taking the plunge.

Think of Windows 10 as a sort of a hybrid between Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.  First off they brought back a Start Menu, it is just a new style from the one you were familiar with.  Also, there is a new virtual assistant named Cortana built in to the operating system, a new web browser called Edge and some new features if you have an Xbox One.

I think you should definitely upgrade and I know you want your Start button back, but I wouldn't necessarily be in a huge rush to do so today.  Windows 10 has the functionality and usability of Windows 7 with some pieces of Windows 8 integrated so it will work well with most of the programs and websites you use today.  However if you are still using that 10 year old version of Photoshop or Microsoft Office 2003 you may need to upgrade those programs as well.  Also, if you are using any old programs from the XP days, they will most likely not work with Windows 10.  So if you just can't let your beloved ancient computer programs go yet you better not upgrade until you feel comfortable putting those programs to rest.

You have to be running a legitimate copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to get the upgrade.  You also have to have your Windows Updates current.  Once you have your Windows totally up to date you should see the "Get Windows 10" app down by your clock in the lower right corner of your screen.  Click the Windows flag icon and reserve your free copy.  Microsoft is releasing Windows 10 in waves so you will be notified when your upgrade is available.  When it is just follow the prompts begin the process (oh, and allow up to 2 hours when you begin the upgrade!).

Microsoft has worked with various touchpad manufacturers to enable these "features" in the drivers for these touchpads, and there are multiple edge swipe gestures:

• Swiping in from the left edge of the touchpad towards the center shows the app switcher or switches to the most recently used Metro app
• Swiping in from the right edge of the touchpad towards the center shows the Charms Bar
• Swiping down from the top edge of the touchpad towards the center shows the App Bar (only when you are in a Metro app)

Often various hardware OEMs (Lenovo, Samsung, HP) rebrand these touchpad driver settings in the Mouse Control Panel so the exact name of the tab may be different. For example, if you have OEM drivers for the touchpad installed, then the tab may be named differently. But the settings UI should be very similar and it should be easy enough for you to figure where to disable these swipe gestures. The touchpad settings will generally be in either the Mouse Control Panel or in the taskbar notification (tray) area.

Finally, if you have a relatively new PC with a modern Precision Touchpad designed to work with Windows 8.1, then you can disable these gestures right from PC Settings.

1. Press the Win + I keys together on your keyboard and click Change PC Settings in the lower right corner. Go to PC and devices -> Mouse and touchpad.
2. If you have a precision touchpad, then there will be options to disable those edges swipes/gestures there.
3. Turn off the option "Enable swiping in from the left or right edge".