Windows 10 S

SavingStudent1

Hi everyone,

So, I am looking to buy this laptop - HP 14 inch, AMD 3020e - not sure if I am allowed to post links, so I haven't.

But basically, I really like the laptop and it sounds good, but one thing is putting me off:

It operates on Windows 10 Home in S mode.
Although, it says 'Free upgrade to Windows 11 when ready'. 

1. Silly question ? - does this mean Windows 11 as normal like Windows 10, or does it mean Windows 11 Home in S Mode?

2. What is Windows 10 Home, just 'Home' in general? I'm used to just knowing Windows 7 back in the days - does that mean by default Windows 7 Home?

3. I don't like the S mode because it means I can only download things from the Microsoft Store and e.g. I can't use Google Chrome and many other things, which I would usually download from the internet. Now, although this is great for security, if I ever have to work from home and I need a software etc. not on the store, it might cause me problems. So, I can actually leave Windows 10 Home in S mode to Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 (not sure which one, all I know it leaves S mode!).

Now, I'm not worried about leaving Windows 10 Home in S mode and not being able to come back to S mode. My question is more that: If I buy the laptop and it runs on S mode initially - that is the operating system it came with, if I leave S mode, will that cause any problems with the computer? E.g. compatibility issues, or parts apps may not function because I left S Mode?

I tried to contact HP but they have no 'live chat' feature etc... where I can ask questions before buying stuff.

Thank you!

Neil_Jones

1)  S Mode means only stuff from the store will work.  It can be disabled and if done it will morph into full Windows 10.

2)  Just a "version" of it, missing stuff you don't need in a home environment.

3) See number 1.

SavingStudent1

Neil_Jones said:

1)  S Mode means only stuff from the store will work.  It can be disabled and if done it will morph into full Windows 10.

2)  Just a "version" of it, missing stuff you don't need in a home environment.

3) See number 1.

1) So, do you mean it will morph into full Windows 10 Home (without S Mode)?

2) By the way: if I don't leave S mode and all, then when it says 'comes with free upgrade to Windows 11', does that mean when I upgrade it, it'll upgrade from Windows 10 Home in S to Windows 11 Home (without S Mode) ?

Neil_Jones

Well it won't "morph", that was the wrong verb to use but all S mode is is Windows 10 locked to store apps.  Come out of S Mode, it becomes full functional "normal" WIndows.

If you upgrade while in S mode it should upgrade to S mode in 11.  If you come out and go to 11, it'll be regular WIndows.  I dare say even if you upgrade while in S mode you can still come out of it later.

joeypesci

Come out of S mode if you can and never go back. Its an awful mode which was designed to force people to use the Microsoft Store which no one was. It failed and people still don't use the MS App store much.

SavingStudent1

Neil_Jones said:

Well it won't "morph", that was the wrong verb to use but all S mode is is Windows 10 locked to store apps.  Come out of S Mode, it becomes full functional "normal" WIndows.

If you upgrade while in S mode it should upgrade to S mode in 11.  If you come out and go to 11, it'll be regular WIndows.  I dare say even if you upgrade while in S mode you can still come out of it later.

That really helps thank you, I was just worried that if I leave S mode and go to normal Windows, I didn't want the laptop to sort of malfunction or not be compatible with certain things that it was in when I was in S mode.

SavingStudent1

joeypesci said:

Come out of S mode if you can and never go back. Its an awful mode which was designed to force people to use the Microsoft Store which no one was. It failed and people still don't use the MS App store much.

Thanks, yeah I'm not a big fan of it to be honest which is why it is a flag for me when looking at that laptop.

cx6

From memory, switching out of S mode is easy but irreversible ie you cannot go back.

Once out of S-mode, the lapt p won't malfunction or be incompatible with anything, it ill just be a laptop running normal Windows

SavingStudent1

cx6 said:

From memory, switching out of S mode is easy but irreversible ie you cannot go back.

Once out of S-mode, the lapt p won't malfunction or be incompatible with anything, it ill just be a laptop running normal Windows

Perfect, thanks a lot!