Windows 10 DVD and Blu-Ray playback

Unlike Windows 7, Windows 10 does not include the software support as standard to play movies on DVD discs. If you insert a DVD disc into a Windows 10 machine you likely will not get an Autoplay menu - nothing happens.

To get around this problem, you will need to install additional software which provides support for DVD playback.

Windows DVD Player

Windows DVD Player is available from the Microsoft App Store. You will need to sign into the App Store to be able to download and install this software. This software is currently free if you upgraded from some versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8, or else it is around £12.

VLC Media Player

This third party software is free and will play DVD disks and some unencrypted Blu-Ray disks. Most Blu-Ray films are encrypted and will not play with VLC Media Player.

Download the VLC Media Player from http://www.videolan.org/vlc for free. Then when you insert a DVD you will get the Autoplay menu which will give you then option to choose to play the disk with the VLC player.

Blu-Ray Software for Films

If you require Blu-Ray software capable of playing films and other content, please contact your Stone account manager, for pricing on one of our media suites.

Applies to:

• All systems running Windows 10

Problem

You may experience an error code of 80240020 during the Windows 10 Upgrade process after you've had confirmation that the upgrade is ready to install.

Resolution

• Go to C:\Windows\Softwaredistribution\Downloads and move all the files in the Downloads folder to a separate folder on your desktop, or somewhere else temporary.
• Turn off any Anitivirus software that is running on the machine
• From an Admin Command Prompt type: wuauclt.exe /updatenow

This command should trigger a fresh download of the Windows 10 files into the Softwaredistribution\Downloads directory. Once the files have been successfully downloaded into the directory the upgrade process should start again.

The upgrade process goes through the following stages - Copying files -> Install Features and Drivers -> Configuring settings.

Once complete the system will reboot into Windows 10. You can then delete the temporary folder you saved earlier.

Applies to:

• Upgrades to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.x

Problem

After upgrading to Windows 10 you may find that some device drivers are not installed. For example, the Microsoft Basic Display Driver might be used instead of a proper, fully featured display driver. This would not give the system performance that you would expect.

How to Fix Missing Drivers

There are several ways to add or provide the missing drivers.

• Run Windows Update after completing the upgrade, and install all updates including optional updates.
• Check the Stone Driver finder to see if drivers for Windows 10 are available.
• Contact Stone Support.
• Or lastly, check the component vendor's web site for an updated driver, for example http://www.intel.co.uk.

Applies to:

• All Stone products capable of running Windows 10.

Problem

You are trying to activate Windows in a location that uses a strict internet filter and a proxy server. Windows Activation does not work as it cannot reach the activation server.

Cause

Windows Activation does not use your web browser settings to look to see if a proxy server needs to be used to gain internet access. If your location does not allow internet access without using the Proxy server, access to the Windows Activation servers may not work, as above.

Resolution

You can resolve this issue by configuring the Windows HTTP component from an Administrative Command prompt.

To Get Proxy Settings from Edge or Internet Explorer

• Make sure you have configured your Proxy settings in Internet Explorer or Edge and that you can access external web pages.
• Right hand click on Start
• Click on Command Prompt (Admin)

• To Import Proxy settings from Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge type in:

netsh winhttp import proxy source =ie

To Set the Proxy Manually

• Right hand click on Start
• Click on Command Prompt (Admin) as above
• Type in the command below, substituting your proxy server address and port.

netsh winhttp set proxy <proxyserver:port> ""

• For example:

• The double quotation marks tell the system to bypass the proxy for local addresses.

How to Check the Existing Setting

From the Administrative Command Prompt, run the following:

netsh winhttp show proxy

This example shows a system that has not had WinHTTP configured to use a proxy.

How to Clear the WINHttp Proxy Setting

From the Administrative Command Prompt, run the following:

netsh winhttp reset proxy

Applies to:

• Windows 10

Windows 10 Tested Models List

Please see the attached spreadsheet for a list of tested Stone systems or Stone motherboards for details on Windows 10 compatibility. Use the Stone driver finder to download updated drivers and/or use Windows Update to download the latest drivers post-Windows 10 installation.

Whilst the vast majority of models are compatible, models that are known to have compatibility problems are the NT309 and Classmate 3.

Applies to:

• Stone Products Manufactured 2014 to August 2015.

Classmate 3 and Windows 10

We do not recommend that you attempt to upgrade to Windows 10 in your Classmate 3 yet. Our own testing has determined that the Classmate 3 may not be fully compatible with Windows 10. If you attempt to do an upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, the upgrade may fail at around 70%. When it fails, it may leave your Classmate 3 in an unusable state.

For customers that are looking for the Windows 10 experience, we will be launching a range of new products that deliver the best in new Windows 10 features shortly.

If you have any queries or questions regarding this please don't hesitate to talk to one of the support team, or your account manager.

Applies to:

• NOTCHA-263 / NOTCHA-264 - Stone Classmate 3

Whats the Difference?

• Windows 10 x86 (32-bit) is limited to using 4GB of RAM or less on PCs.
• Windows 10 x64 (64-bit) can use more than 4GB of RAM and it does this by using the AMD64 standard for 64-bit instructions. This needs the system to be able to support 64bit.

Using 64-bit Windows future proofs your machine as much as possible, even if you have 4GB of RAM or less at the moment. As long as you have at least 2GB of RAM (recommended), and the right processor, you can use Windows 10 x64.

Do All Machines Support Windows 64-bit?

No. Some older machines might not support 64-bit Windows, although most machines manufactured from 2006 support at least one version of Windows 64-bit. If you are having problems with 64-bit Windows, see if there is an updated BIOS for your machine.

Also, some low-powered netbooks or small notebooks might not support 64bit Windows. They might be limited to Windows 8.1 x86, with some of them upgradeable to Windows 10 x86.

Even if your machine support Windows 64-bit, for example Windows XP 64bit, or Windows Vista 64-bit, there may not be drivers available for your hardware for Windows 10, in either 32-bit or 64-bit versions.

Isn't it just Safer just to use Windows 10 x86?

This is where you need to check what your machines support. Some of the latest PCs don't support Windows 10 x86, including machines based on the H81, B85 or Q87 chipset. Whilst you might be able to install Windows, you might find that some device drivers aren't available, or don't work properly - for example, the video display driver might not be available.

Use the Stone Driver Finder to check to see if Windows 10 64-bit drivers are available for your machine.

Is Windows 64bit Faster than 32-bit?

Not necessarily. However, the benefit of being able to access and use more RAM memory can make your system faster overall. Additionally, some programs are available in specific 64-bit versions. Again these might be able to make use or more RAM and thus run faster, or benefit from small improvements by using the 64-bit instruction set.

What if I am Using Windows 7 32bit and I want to Upgrade to Windows 10?

In this situation, most Windows 7 licenses can be upgraded from 32-bit Windows 7 to 64bit Windows 10, as most Windows 7 licenses aren't locked to being used with 32-bit or 64bit. However, you need to upgrade to the same family of Windows.

I'm Running	I can Upgrade to	I can't Upgrade to
Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Basic or Windows 7 Home Premium	Windows 10 Home, x86 or x64	Windows 10 Professional
Windows 7 Professional	Windows 10 Professional, x86 or X64	Windows 10 Home
Windows 7 Enterprise		You can't upgrade Enterprise
Windows 7 Ultimate	Windows 10 Professional, x86 or X64	Windows 10 Home

If you have 32-bit Windows 7 and want to upgrade to Windows 10 64bit, you won't be able to do do an upgrade installation. You will need to download the 1511 or later version of Windows 10 64bit. This allows you to do a fresh install of Windows 10, but allows the system to be activated based on the previous Windows 7 activation. Microsoft do this by tracking the unique hardware signature of your machine, mainly based on the motherboard universal ID, or UUID.

Can I do the Free Upgrade to Windows 10 at any Time?

The facility for a free upgrade ends on July 28th 2016. After that time, free upgrades from Windows 7 or Windows 8 will not be possible.

How Can I tell if I am Running x86 or x64?

• From inside Windows 7,click on Start, then right hand click Computer. Then left click on Properties. Look at the "System Type" to see if you have a 64-bit Operating System.
• From inside Windows 10, right hand click on the Start Symbol (usually at the bottom left hand corner of the screen) and then click on System. Look at the "System Type" to see if you have a 64-bit Operating System.

Applies to:

• Products running Microsoft Windows

NetIntelligence and Windows 10

NetIntelligence is not yet compatible with Windows 10. If you upgrade to Windows 10 you will find that the internet filtering stops working.

Applies to:

• All systems running NetIntelligence web filtering.

Problem

Some models of older notebook do not allow you to adjust the display brightness if you use an updated Intel HD Graphics Video driver. This means that the following functionality doesn't work:

• Automatic reduction of screen brightness to save energy, when disconnecting the AC mains supply.
• Automatic brightness reduction depending on ambient light level (certain applicable models only)
• The ability to adjust the screen brightness manually depending on personal preference, using the function keys.

This behaviour has been seen in Lenovo and Samsung models and may apply to others. It mainly applies to systems that use Sandybridge CPUs (Intel HD Graphics HD 2000 / HD 3000) and Ivybridge CPUs (Intel HD Graphics HD 2500 / HD 4000).

Cause

This issue is caused by a manufacturer customisation of the video system. If you install the older, manufacturer provided original video driver and the functionality returns, then you may be affected by this issue. If you have upgraded your video driver, or perhaps upgraded operating system and have automatically received a later video driver, and the problem appears, then again, you are likely affected by this issue.

For example:

Samsung NP400B4C-A01UK

Latest Provided Samsung Reference Video Driver: Intel HD4000 Graphics Driver 8.15.10.2712 for Windows 7 64bit

• Upgrading to a newer Windows 7 driver from Intel stops the brightness adjustment functionality from working.
• Reverting to either the Samsung 8.15.10.2712 driver or the 8.15.10.2712 driver from Intel directly restores the functionality.
• Upgrading to Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 and using the latest Intel Video Driver (either from Microsoft or from Intel) will again stop the brightness adjustment functionality from working.

Resolutions

Please follow the steps below to resolve this problem:

1/ Check your notebook's manufacturer's website for an updated video driver for your model and operating system.

2/ Or, check to see if there is an updated Onscreen Display or Hotkey Utility for your model and the new operating system.

In the case of the example Samsung NP400B4C, neither of these apply. There are no newer video drivers available for Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 which provide this functionality. The Samsung Easy Settings program from Windows 8 can be installed on Windows 8.1 or Windows 10, but does not provide this functionality.

3/ We have a third alternative resolution which involves a registry fix. This has been tested on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 on both Samsung and Lenovo machines. 

• Download the file attached
• Extract the .REG file and double click to install it onto the target system.
• Reboot the system.
• Test that when you disconnect the AC mains adapter, that the screen dims automatically. If it does not, check your Power Plan that it is configured correctly.
• Test that the brightness hotkeys function. If it does not, and the onscreen Windows brightness indicator graphic does not appear, you may need to reinstall the Video driver using the full package from the Intel website, then reapply the fix again, reboot, and re-test.
• If the Windows provided graphics indicator does appear and the brightness level does not adjust, ensure you rebooted the system after applying the fix.
• If the fix stil does not appear to work, try the alternative registry file, reboot and re-test.

Please also note that if you reinstall or upgrade the video driver in the future, you will need to reapply the fix. If you are managing multiple users in a domain environment, you may wish to deploy the registry settings as part of computer settings group policy.

This fix works by changing the value of "FeatureTestControl" to 0000f048 in several places in the registry.

4/ As a final option, try using the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter driver instead of the updated Intel HD Graphics display driver. However, note that video performance is likely to be reduced and the system may even have less battery runtime as it may consume more energy.

Steps

Applies to:

• Third Party Branded Notebooks with 2nd or 3rd Generation Intel Core Processors, using Intel HD Graphics.

Free Upgrade

Customers with eligible copies of Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 will see an upgrade message in the system taskbar, near the clock. This message will have a small Windows icon that you can click on.

If you hover over the icon you will see 'Get Windows 10' shown and clicking it will display a box that allows you to register to receive the upgrade and also give a little information about Windows 10.

You can check basic Windows 10 compatibility by clicking on the three bars icon in the top left corner of the window and clicking 'Check your PC'.

This will check both hardware and software for compatibility and return its findings as below.

If you would like to continue with reserving the upgrade to Windows 10 you can click on the 'Reserve' button which will take you to the following window where you can enter your email address to receive confirmation. Clicking the 'Send confirmation' button completes the reservation process.

You can skip this step if you wish by clicking on 'Skip email confirmation'.

Once successfully completed the customer will see this message:

Applies to:

• Customers Running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Operating Systems

General Driver Advice for Windows 10 on Older Systems

Older systems may not have a full set of hardware drivers available for running Windows 10. Even if you have received the Windows Update prompt to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, we recommend you consider the following before upgrading.

• Check to see if a full set of Drivers for Windows are available from the Stone Driver Finder.
• If not, you may be able to search for Drivers on the Intel, MSI or Asus web-sites. If you do find a driver, ensure that it is for your exact model.
• Determine if the driver is fully supported and tested, or supplied on an "as-is" basis.

If a full set of drivers is not available, then we recommend that if you decide to upgrade to Windows 10, that you test all of the important features before putting the system into use, or before upgrading other systems of the same type.

Windows 10 Video Drivers - Intel HD Graphics

Example - Intel HD Graphics Second Generation: HD2000 and HD3000

Support for second generation Intel HD Graphics is not officially available for Windows 10. Some drivers are available through Windows update, however these tend to be older Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 drivers. These drivers may have problems in delivering expected battery life, performance, or features such as hibernate or sleep in Windows 10.

Intel second generation HD Graphics are known as HD2000 and HD3000, and were available on the Core i3-2xxx and Core i5-2xxx series processors. These processors could be fitted to either Intel 6 Series or 7 Series chipset motherboards. In addition, most of these motherboards could be fitted with second or third generation Intel HD Graphics leaving to easy confusion when looking for available Windows 10 drivers for your system and processor combination.

Windows 10 Driver Availability Matrix

Intel HD Graphics Version	Example Processor	Windows 8	Windows 8.1	Windows10
First Gen. HD Graphics	Core i5-xxx	Not available	Not available	Not available
Second Gen. HD Graphics 2000	Core i3-2xxx	x86 and x64 Driver available	x86 driver only available	No validated driver available *
Second Gen. HD Graphics 3000	Core i5-2xxx	x86 and x64 Driver available	x86 driver only available	No validated driver available *
Third Gen. HD Graphics 2500	Core i3-3xxx	x86 and x64 Driver available	x86 and x64 Driver available	Driver available ^
Third Gen. HD Graphics 4000	Core i5-3xxx	x86 and x64 Driver available	x86 and x64 Driver available	Driver available ^
Fourth Gen. HD Graphics HD4200 HD4400 HD4600	Core i3-4xxx, Core i5-4xxx	Not available	x86 and x64 Driver available	x64 driver only validated #
Fifth Gen Iris Pro 6200 Graphics	Core i5-5xxx	Not available	x86 and x64 Driver available	x86 and x64 Driver available
Sixth Gen. HD Graphics HD510 HD520 HD530	Core i3- 6xxx, Core i5-6xxx	Not available	x86 and x64 Driver available	x86 and x64 Driver available

* As of Spring 2016, Windows 8 driver 9.17.10.4229 is downloaded by Windows Update for Windows 10, both x86 and x64 version. This driver may have problems resuming from hibernation modes. Try disabling hibernation using POWERCFG -H OFF.

^ A Windows 10 driver is available from the Intel website. Some evidence has again shown this driver may have problems including resuming from sleep or hibernation modes. Try disabling hibernation using POWERCFG -H OFF.

# A Windows 10 x86 driver is available from some third party websites and through Windows update. This driver is again reported to be unsupported and "as-is". It has been shown to be problematic and unreliable on some H81 systems and is not recommended for production use. Driver 10.18.10.4252 is the most recommended driver, but may still be problematic. Drivers 10.18.10.4358 and 10.18.10.4452 (available from both Windows Update and the Intel web site) often seem to give a blank screen on installation, and are not recommended. We recommend you do not install these updated drivers, and use the Windows 10 Show/Hide Updates tool to prevemt installing the newer driver through Windows Update (run this tool before you check for updates!).

Consider Upgrading

Systems with older Intel graphics such as HD2000 or Intel HD3000 may now be approaching up to 4-5 years old, as of 2016. These systems cannot deliver the performance or features of a modern Haswell (HD4600) or Skylake (HD530) based systems. Contact your Stone account manager today for more details and pricing for the latest platforms.

Applies to:

• Older systems being considered for a Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 Upgrade

Support For Windows 10

Windows 10 has just been released and many customers are looking to try out the new features. We've written a short list of things to do below to help it go smoothly.

• Reserve Your Copy
• Use the Compatibility Checker
• See which Version of Windows 10 you will be Upgraded to
• Check the Stone Knowledgebase for any known issues with your Stone Product and Windows 10
• Make a Backup of Important Documents and other files
• Check for Updated Drivers and Applications

​Please contact Support if you have any questions about this process.

Reserve Your Copy

Reserve your copy of Windows 10 by following these instructions here. If you don't have the little Windows 10 upgrade icon in the system tray, you might need to install this update if you are running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. The update should appear as an important update to Windows, in the list of Windows Updates.

If you are running Windows 8 (not 8.1) you will need to upgrade to Windows 8.1 first.

Use the Compatibility Checker

When going through the reservation process, use the Check your PC option to check your PC for compatibility. This doesn't 100% guarantee that your system can run Windows 10, but it should point out any major issues.

Or alternatively, right hand click on the Windows 10 upgrade icon, and then click on Check compatibility status.

Then click on the Menu button on the top left.

Then finally click on Check my PC.

See which Version of Windows 10 you will be Upgraded to

Windows 10 has a revised number of editions. We recommend you see which version you will be upgraded to. Most customers will be upgraded to a version with more features than their previous edition. Have a look at the chart below, or see here.

Make a Backup

Windows 10 should be able to upgrade Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 and leave all of your documents, music, pictures and videos etc. in place.

However, it is always a good idea to have a full backup of anything important before making major changes to your system. We recommend that you backup your files to a network location, to a USB pen drive / external hard drive, or the cloud. 

Check the Stone Knowledgebase

As we become aware of any compatibility issues we will post them in our new Windows 10 section of the Stone Knowledgebase, here.

Check for Updated Drivers and Applications

Most drivers will be automatically available, either as part of Windows 10, or from Windows update. Some Stone specific applications though will not be available from Microsoft, so we recommend that you check the Stone Driver Finder for Windows 10 support for your model or serial number.

• Download Windows 10 versions of Stone specific applications, such as the NT310 Hotkey utility, before attempting the upgrade by using the Stone Driver Finder. See miore advice here.
• Check that your peripherals - especially printers, scanners and cameras - are compatibile with Windows 10.
• Uninstall Windows 7 specific Stone software such as the Hotkey utility, before attempting the upgrade.
• Check that your anti-virus or internet security software is compatible with Windows 10. If in doubt, uninstall if before attempting the upgrade, and reinstall it afterwards.
• Always run Windows Update and check for Optional updates too after doing the upgrade, to update the main drivers.
• Install new versions of the Hotkey software once the upgrade is complete.

Applies to:

• All Systems running Windows 7 non-Enterprise or Windows 8.1 non-Enterprise.