Installing Windows 10 Technical Preview on the HP Stream 7

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Yesterday I shared my initial thoughts and impressions about the HP Stream 7 and mentioned that I had installed the Windows 10 Technical Preview on it.

The HP Stream 7 is one of those devices that if you try to upgrade Windows 8.1 to the technical preview using the Windows Update method you will get the error about it not being able to install on a compressed operating system.

This does not mean the device can’t run the technical preview – it just means upgrading to it is off the table. That means a fresh install is the only choice available to anyone who is seeing this error.

So I went off in search of a solution and found a great support forum post at the HP Support forums that gave me the basis for installing the Windows 10 Technical Preview on the Stream 7.

Of course, your mileage may vary depending on your device but the key thing is to create yourself a Recovery Drive so that, if all else fails, you can always revert your device back to Windows 8.1.

So here is a rundown of the steps I took to get Windows 10 up and running on the Stream 7.

1. Create a Recovery Disk by searching for create a recovery drive on Windows 8.1 on your Stream 7 and running that process. Once it is complete store this somewhere safe as it is your ticket back to Windows 8.1 if the Windows 10 install process fails.

2. Download all of the Windows 8.1 drivers from the HP Stream 7 Software and Drivers page and save them on a USB drive. You will not need the Bios, Firmware, Diagnostic or Utility downloads. These driver files have cryptic numeric names so be sure to save them with a name that will remind you what they are for. This will make the driver install process much easier later on as there is one driver that must be installed first.

3. Download the 32 bit version of the Windows 10 Technical Preview, in this case build 9926, to your desktop computer. That ISO is available at http://ift.tt/1v5BsmV and you must be signed in as a Windows Insider to access this list.

4. Download Rufus to create the bootable USB drive that will contain the Windows 10 Technical preview ISO files. This is a straight download – no install necessary. Once it is running you need to make sure you select the following settings for the bootable drive:

- Partition scheme GPT partition scheme for UEFI computer



– File system FAT32



– Cluster size 4096 (the default)



– New volume label Windows 10 TP will work just fine and can actually be anything



– Under Format Options leave the default checkmarks in Quick format; Create a bootable disk using ISO Image and Create extended label and icon files.

Be sure to click on the ISO icon that is next to ISO Image and select the Windows 10 Technical Preview ISO you downloaded earlier.

Click Start and Rufus will build your bootable USB drive.

5. Collect together a wired mouse, wired keyboard, a powered USB hub that has at least three ports on it plus grab an On-the-Go (OTG) cable. Since there will not be any touch or Bluetooth drivers when you first install Windows 10 on the Stream 7 you need the wired mouse and keyboard to interact with the install process. The powered USB hub is also where you will plug in the bootable USB drive with Windows 10 on it for the OS installation.

Funny note about this stage for me – the only wired mouse I had around was this one:

Here is what the entire Dr. Frankenstein setup looked like with the hub and everything hooked up to the HP Stream 7:

6. Make sure the HP Stream 7 has a good charge on it to run during this install process. I started mine with the device having a 75% charge.

7. Once you have everything collected together and your bootable USB drive is ready it is time to start the install process. Shut down Windows 8.1 on the Stream 7 and plug the OTG cable into the Stream 7’s MicroUSB port then plug in a USB cable to connect the Stream 7 to the USB hub. This usually uses a USB A to B style cable. Also plug in the wired mouse and keyboard to the USB hub.

Now start the Stream 7 back up and enter the recovery options menu by pressing the power button and volume down rocker together until the system begins to power up. On the menu you should see an entry for UEFI USB and then the install process for Windows 10 will begin.

At this point you should be in familiar territory if you have ever performed a Windows install. The system will boot the USB drive and start the install process. When you are prompted about which type of install be sure to click Advanced as the upgrade option will not work on the compressed OS. Once you are shown the list of drives on the screen delete all of the partitions that are shown and that should leave you with about 29GB of storage space on the Stream 7.

Now start the install process and the it will continue by copying the install files and getting things ready for the first reboot. Since the MicroUSB port on the Stream 7 is 2.0 this will be a slower process then you would normally experience installing Windows from a USB drive to an SSD – just the consequence of having to use the USB hub to access the installation drive.

Once this process is complete and the system is ready to restart be sure to remove the bootable USB drive with the Windows 10 install files on it because if you don’t the system may boot back into the initial install setup process.

After this restart the install process will continue and like I said earlier it will be very familiar. Continue the install and setup until you arrive on the desktop.

Since there is no wireless drivers that means the install process will prompt you to create a local user account instead of asking for your Microsoft Account. You will be able to switch this account over to a Microsoft Account through PC Settings after everything is installed and working.

So once you arrive on the desktop it is time to install the system drivers that you downloaded earlier. You will need to grab the USB drive that you saved all of the driver files on and plug it into the powered USB hub. That drive will now be recognized and you can access it through File Explorer in Windows 10.

The first driver to install is the Intel Chipset, Graphics, Camera and Audio Driver Combo Pack. Once that is installed and you reboot you can install the other drivers in any order. Those remaining drivers should be:

- Realtek High-Definition (HD) Audio Driver



– Goodix Touch Controller Driver



– Kionix G-Sensor Enabling Driver



– Realtek RTL8723BS 802.11n SDIO Wireless LAN Drivers



– Realtek RTL8723BS UART Bluetooth Driver

Some of these will prompt you to restart and some will not. Once they are all installed and you have rebooted one last time to make sure everything is working as expected then you can go ahead and check for Windows Updates, convert your local user account to a Microsoft Account, install your apps and get the system setup to your liking.

This process should work on other small format devices that have a compressed OS just make sure you have that backup and Recovery Drive as a safety net should the install fail for some reason.

Any questions or comments about the process please let me know and enjoy your Windows 10 testing!

But, wait…there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.

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MSN Apps for Windows Phone Get Fixes and Improvements

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Overnight, several of the MSN-branded apps for Windows Phone captured an update. I noticed it morning and started digging through the details to see if new features were added. Generally, though, when a bunch of updates comes through without any major feature announcements, you can expect them to be simple bug fixes.

Other than minor fixes and improvements, there's not much here. But, whenever an update is available you should probably install it, or allow it to install if you have the Store app configured to automatically update apps.

The MSN apps included in the mass update are: Weather, News, Health & Fitness, Travel, Sports, and Money.

One particular fix that should please most is in the Weather app. After a period of time, the Live Tile would stop working. That issue is fixed in this update.

Also of note, and not a specific MSN-branded app, the Video app also received minor fixes and improvements.

Don't have the apps already? Here's the links to the Windows Phone store:

MSN Weather for Windows Phone 8.1

MSN News for Windows Phone 8.1

MSN Health & Fitness for Windows Phone 8.1

MSN Travel for Windows Phone 8.1

MSN Sports for Windows Phone 8.1

MSN Money for Windows Phone 8.1

[Want to discuss this further? Hit me up on Twitter, on Google+, or LinkedIn]

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Next Windows 10 PC Build Possibly Due in Late February, Early March?

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With Windows 10 for phones Technical Preview finally making its way out to select handsets yesterday, many have already started wondering if a new Build for the PC is on the horizon. Microsoft promised quicker Build releases, after all. And, if rumors that Windows 10 might make an official OEM launch sometime in June or July can be believed, Microsoft needs to hurry it up.

I suppose it's safe to assume those asking are part of the larger group whose Lumia models were not included in yesterday's first Technical Preview wave. It was like waking up Christmas morning to find the Grinch stole only the presents with your name on them and you had to sit there in silence, watch everyone else gleefully rip into their stash, and then pretend to be happy for them. Of course, if you watch Twitter, no one is happy and no one is sitting in silence.

Well, Christmas for everyone else may come yet this month.

When asked about a new PC Build for Windows 10, ringmaster and chief of the Windows Insider program, Gabe Aul, said this…

@callum90ish@thekotpsot No We don't expect to do another PC build tomorrow or following week, but do expect another WU update next week

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) February 13, 2015

And, later…

@BartokGabi17@callum90ish@thekotpsot Yes, I said faster than the time between 9879 and 9926. It will be.

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) February 13, 2015

So, Gabe has gone back to being riddle master. It seems to be a role he enjoys very much. I likened him to the Riddler from the old Batman TV series, but maybe it's more like the interaction between Bilbo Baggins and Gollum in The Hobbit…

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,



Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.



It lies behind stars and under hills,



And empty holes it fills.



It comes out first and follows after,



Ends life, kills laughter.

It was a long couple months between Builds 9879 and 9926. So, Microsoft has quite a span to work with when fulfilling its promise of quicker Build releases. 1 month, 29 days?

Important to note in Gabe's first response, though, is that something should come through Windows Update next week for Windows 10 Build 9926. As always, it's good to stay on top of updates, even for a beta product. The updates could be required to successfully install the next available Build. And, if that's the case – if the Windows Update delivery is in preparation for a new Build – it could still come this month.

[Want to discuss this further? Hit me up on Twitter, on Google+, or LinkedIn]

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Windows Phone Recovery Tool for Windows 10 Technical Preview for Phones

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For some, installing and using the Windows 10 Technical Preview for Windows Phones has worked pretty well. But, for others, the ride has been a bit bumpy. Even handsets Microsoft reported to be supported for this first wave have had problems for one reason or another. Microsoft knew this would happen, so the company released a recovery tool along with the first Build so users can recover from frozen or trashed phones.

Rollback functionality was promised and Microsoft delivered, however, the mechanism is a bit different than everyone originally thought. The Windows Phone Recovery Tool is designed as a PC application. It should run on most versions of Windows, but I've confirmed that it works on Windows 10 Technical Preview Build 9926, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7. So, instead of a function built directly into Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones, recovery requires that the Windows Phone be connected to an available USB port on a PC.

The direct download: Windows Phone Recovery Tool

While this direct download link is correct now, Microsoft could alter the download link and file name in the future, so it's best to use the link placeholder page on Microsoft's site if you have problems downloading it. Here it is… Having problems with your phone?

Since the Windows Phone Recovery Tool is a PC application, you must connect your Windows Phone to your PC using a USB cable to start the restore process. The restoration is basically a wipe and replace scenario, so make sure you have good backup. Of course, you should already have already performed a backup before installing Windows 10 Technical Preview for phones on your supported device. You did do that, right?

The restoration process erases all personal content and then restores the handset to the latest version of Windows Phone for your specific device.

Here's a quick look at the application's other options…

Settings – Preferences

Make it pretty…

Settings – Network

For custom connection requirements…

Settings – Troubleshooting

Create a log file that can be delivered to support…

[Want to discuss this further? Hit me up on Twitter, on Google+, or LinkedIn]

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Windows Apps Weekly for 15 February 2015 – Package Tracker

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Almost everyone has shopped online at some point or another.

In fact, according to the U.S. Commerce Department in an October 2014 report as summarized at Statistic Brain, U.S. online sales in 2015 are projected to be over $347 billion with $76 billion of those sales being made on mobile devices.

The report goes on to show that 87% of consumers have made an Internet based purchased and 59% have made multiple purchases online.

That means there are a lot of packages moving around this country at any given time taking goods to the homes of those online shoppers.

Well my featured app for this week will help Windows and Windows Phone users keep track of their share of those in-transit packages.

Package Tracker, developed by ITecture.consulting a German software and consulting company, brings that tracking ability to your Windows Phone handset or right to your Windows desktop in a Modern App.

As you can see in the features list below they are universal apps so that means pay once and use on all of your compatible devices. The app also boasts integrated cloud sync that allows you to add a new package on any handset or desktop device and then see it updated on every platform you have Package Tracker installed on.

They are very popular apps and well-reviewed based on the stats noted below.

Here is the full features list:

- Cloud synchronization: Sync your packages and settings on all your Windows 8 and Windows Phone devices



– Live tile updates (push notifications) for changes of the package status



– Barcode scanner for scanning package labels



– Bing map showing the last known position of a package



– Webview showing the carrier's website



– Pin packages to the start screen



– Details of a package with complete tracking history



– Share target for sharing tracking numbers from email



– Share package status via mail



– More than 60 carriers available

Package Tracker App for Windows Phone (1,013 reviews for 4.5 Stars)

Package Tracker App for Windows (379 reviews for 4.5 Stars)

But, wait…there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.

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Windows 10 For Phones Preview To RTM Direct Upgrade Planned

The Windows 10 for Phones preview just got more awesome. Microsoft recently adopted a very welcome strategy on the desktop with plans for Windows Insiders to be able to upgrade directly to the final version.

As in preview to RTM release.

And while Windows 10 for Phones preview is only available for a few handsets right now, there is every chance that this test version will be downloaded by millions when it becomes available on more devices.

For this reason, it is quite critical for these users to have a smooth upgrade path.

Good thing then that this is exactly what Microsoft is working on right now. The company plans to allow Windows Insiders easy upgrades to the final RTM version — without the need for a clean install. It also reduces the risk of errors and issues that may arise during the process.

Gabriel Aul said that this is their intent:

@avladd That is our intent yes. Bugs are always possible. This is a technical preview.

— Gabriel Aul (@GabeAul) February 13, 2015

Referring to preview to RTM upgrades here.

If anything, this is what Microsoft plans for all current versions of Windows, particularly as it wants these users to upgrade to Windows 10 within the first year of launch.

Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users will be offered the possibility of upgrading to Windows 10 via the integrated Windows Update feature in these operating platforms. Only makes sense to deliver a similar experience for the phone operating system.

Windows PhoneWindows Phone 10

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Recovery Tool Downgrades Windows 10 Preview To Windows Phone 8.1

Tried Windows 10 Preview on your handsets? Found it stable? Good. If not, and you find yourself bugged by the issues present in this beta version then you can always downgrade.

Microsoft promised a recovery tool for users that want to go back to a more stable version of its mobile operating system, and the company has launched it. Conveniently titled the Windows Phone Recovery Tool, the application allows users to downgrade to the previous version.

The reliable and stable Windows Phone 8.1.

You need to download the application via this link, and connect your handset to computer using a USB cable. Make sure that all necessary drivers are installed.

The app automatically detects your phone and prompts you to downgrade to Windows Phone 8.1. It is very easy to use, meaning users don’t need to be experts or overly experienced with this. The straightforward process only takes a few minutes to complete.

A word of caution, though.

Do ensure that you do not interrupt the downgrade process.

No matter what.

Even if the application appears to freeze.

Give it some time and it will finish the downgrade and have Windows Phone 8.1 up and ready on your smartphones. Just as before when you upgraded to Windows 10 for Phones preview.

Downgrading means you will lose your apps and settings, though. And that is because the contents of your phone are erased, and the operating system is installed fresh. Goes without saying that you should back up your content on the device before you initiate the downgrade.

Download:Windows Phone Recovery Tool

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