Is it just me, or........?

[doodlebug]

Is it just me, or are other people now having issues with Win10 when going from 7 to 8.1 to 10???? Drivers are updated, but yet still getting random "Kernel security check failure" errors, among other BSOD's, on my Dell. I'm really, really disgusted and about ready to go back to 7, where I didn't get these kind of errors.

Thoughts, anyone?

 

[OldGrayGary]

Hi doodlebug

Well..... "so much depends".... (there was a Wallace Steven's verse that opened with those lines, prescient poet that he was...)

So much depends.... on the age of the PC, and especially - the number of handy-dandy manufacturer utilities (power saving, fan control, device driver updates, remote support apps) .... The in-place upgrades (as opposed to "clean installs") are the likeliest to experience difficulties, because they are the most likely to have software written badly by manufacturers who don't update the darn things often enough... and that not-so-great software ends up causing no end of trouble in a new operating system such as Windows 10.

One simple way to test this:
1) Create a backup system image to an external drive (they are down to $50 for 1 TB lately)
2) Create a bootable Windows 10 DVD with the Media Creation Tool.
3) Use the DVD to clean install Windows 10. If you've linked your current Windows 10 installation to your Microsoft account, you won't have to enter your product key - Microsoft will already have it "on file". If not, use the product key either from your latest Windows 10 install, or simply use your previous Windows 7/8.1 key again.

To rule out "Murphy's Law", though, I'd recommend using the builtin Dell Diagnostics to make sure that it isn't a coincidental hardware failure underneath the software errors. There are instructions in your Dell manuals, and on the Dell support site for your model. Here's a generic example of the multiple ways to run the diagnostics (quite a few are available just by visiting their site) --- What Dell diagnostic tools can I use to fix hardware problems? | Dell US

If you happen to have a model with both Intel onboard video and a discrete Nvidia card, check out this thread:
Solved BSOD Kernel Security Check Failure consistently caused by Photoshop... - Windows 10 Forums

... That thread mentions Photoshop as needing the more powerful graphics, but I'd imagine any advanced & demanding program might have similar graphics settings.

Another quick fix (especially if the above link doesn't apply to your situation, or simply doesn't work)... is to try limiting optional programs that run at startup, especially handy-dandys from Dell... (you can simply temporarily disable them from the Startup tab in Task Manager)... And some users find that a Bios update can help an older motherboard get along better with Windows 10 ...

Let us know how things go ... and if you need help deciding which troubleshooting steps to try next.

 

[Digerati]

Is it just me, or are other people now having issues with Win10 when going from 7 to 8.1 to 10????

To answer your question, no, it is not just you but note there are well over 200 million users who have successfully upgraded. But if just 1% have problems (normally a 99% success rate a great success rate in virtually any market) that's still 2 million upset users. And 2 million upset users can make a lot of noise!

For sure, the greater number of problems have been with the older hardware and those coming from W7. It is important to note that compatible drivers are the responsibility of the hardware makers, not Microsoft. The “Kernel Security Check failure” in Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 can be caused by different reasons like memory issues or malware. But the most common is drivers. You say the drivers are updated when it comes to legacy hardware, that does not always mean they are fully W10 compatible.

I do recommend you try to stick it out with W10. W7 is already pushing 7 years old. W10 (at least when working properly) is faster and more secure (which is reason enough to stick with it). Hopefully Gary's suggestions will help.

 

[doodlebug]

Thank you both, Gary and Bill, for replying to my post, and I apologize for not acknowledging you last night. That being said, I've read before about doing what Gary recommends, which is a clean Win10 install. What I did on my Dell was go from 7 to 8.1 to 10 (upgrading), and I was suspecting that that, in and of itself, was at least the biggest part of any BSOD's I was getting. I should have known better, but my reasoning at the time was I didn't want to have to re-install every single program. I've used Acronis as image backup for a number of years, but that doesn't help on a clean install :frown6: It looks like a clean install and re-installing programs is going to be a weekend project (groan).

As for the Photoshop error, I did go to that forum and read about the BSOD it's causing, and did what they said to do. The Nvidia forum recommended going back to the previous driver for my graphics card, as the most current one is not ready for prime time and causing issues. As for optional programs starting up, those have been severely limited. Will go again to Dell's site and check out the diagnostic tools, but it's probably not going to help. And as far as I'm concerned, these driver manufacturers need to get their act together.

I think, for the time being, my plan is going to be to do a clean Win10 install, re-install programs, and see what happens. As a last resort, I might have to just buy a new Win10 desktop system and then it wouldn't have all the garbage from 7 or 8.1 to contend with. Luckily, I have my handy-dandy laptop to use meantime and it hasn't had any problems going from 8.1 to 10, knock on wood.

Thank you, again, for your help, and I'll post back, if need be.

 

[Digerati]

I should have known better

You cannot blame yourself. If an upgrade was supported, it should have worked. That is, if you ran the Windows 8 upgrade assistant and it said your computer was ready to upgrade from W7 to W8, and if you were offered the W10 upgrade, then it "should" have worked. The problem is, virtually every single one of the 1.5 billion Windows computers out there become unique computers within minutes after the very first boot as users start to customize their systems to their own likings, including their own network settings, security programs, default browsers and email and other applications, attached drives and printers and other hardware, unique backgrounds, etc. So frankly, with the billions of different hardware and software combinations possible, I think it amazing there are not more failures and I have to tip my hat to Microsoft.

And your reasoning for not wanting to reinstall your programs is perfectly valid as well (assuming they too were compatible with the new OSs).

 

[OldGrayGary]

...And, here's a little extra "good luck charm" .... I've had quite a lot of success with Windows 10 clean installs on laptop models from as long ago as 2009 ... (I'm typing this on an older Toshiba of mine right now ... don't see many desktops in my business these days). The biggest trick is to avoid manufacturer provided utilities: they are usually redundant & unnecessary (in addition to often being outdated & incompatible) - Windows 10 has all the power-saving & power tweaking options anyone could want (a little overwhelming, if the advanced settings are taken in to account) ... and a nice assortment of personalization and configuration options.

Keep a rabbits foot handy, lucky horseshoe, pinch of salt over the shoulder, avoid walking under ladders & black cats, & whistle a lucky tune: and the clean install should make you a happy soul.....

 

[Digerati]

The biggest trick is to avoid manufacturer provided utilities: they are usually redundant & unnecessary (in addition to often being outdated & incompatible)

And REALLY bloated resource hogs too!

I never install the manufacturer's utilities. My HP All-in-One printer, scanner, fax and copier works just fine without the monstrous suite of tools HP wants us to install. All you need is the basic printer driver which is hidden on the install disk or available on line though you have to look for it. Same with the tools that come with many SSDs these days - like Samsung Magician. You don't need it. Windows 10 was built with SSDs in mind. It knows how to support and maintain SSDs without and extra 3rd party software.

BTW, my 2010 Toshiba Satellite A505-S6009 (A500 Series) upgraded from W7 to W10 with no problems either. But it is good to know a fresh install worked well for you too.

 

[doodlebug]

BTW, my 2010 Toshiba Satellite A505-S6009 (A500 Series) upgraded from W7 to W10 with no problems either. But it is good to know a fresh install worked well for you too.

Actually, my HP laptop came with Win 8, did the 8.1 upgrade, and then Win10, and it seems to be working just fine, and I'm on it as we speak. I think because it came with Win8, the update to 8.1 and then 10 was no big deal as far as drivers, etc. (again, knock on wood), and I did not have to do clean install. It's just the desktop(s) that are having issues.

 

[doodlebug]

I should have known better

You cannot blame yourself. If an upgrade was supported, it should have worked. That is, if you ran the Windows 8 upgrade assistant and it said your computer was ready to upgrade from W7 to W8, and if you were offered the W10 upgrade, then it "should" have worked. The problem is, virtually every single one of the 1.5 billion Windows computers out there become unique computers within minutes after the very first boot as users start to customize their systems to their own likings, including their own network settings, security programs, default browsers and email and other applications, attached drives and printers and other hardware, unique backgrounds, etc. So frankly, with the billions of different hardware and software combinations possible, I think it amazing there are not more failures and I have to tip my hat to Microsoft.

And your reasoning for not wanting to reinstall your programs is perfectly valid as well (assuming they too were compatible with the new OSs).

Yes, I did the upgrade assistant and in both instances on both desktops it said the upgrade was okay. And I totally agree with you that there's just too many variables as far as systems for there not to be any problems, at least on some pc's. It's really just like a crapshoot on upgrading -- maybe it'll work, maybe it won't. Makes me want to tear out my hair.