Skip to main content

Windows 10 box art leaks, so you’ll know what to look for in-store

Between free upgrades for older version users and the Insider program, it’s doubtful many users will walk into a store and buy a copy of Windows 10. Nevertheless, the box art for both the Home and Pro versions of Windows 10 have found their way onto the internet, and it brings with it some interesting news – Microsoft will be selling Windows 10 on USB sticks.

If you opt for the new USB version, your box art will be plain white, with a Windows 10 logo on the front. The Home and Pro versions have blue and purple logos, respectively. Users have been making their own USB drives for years, and there’s even an official Windows USB/DVD download tool so you can easily create a USB stick with a Windows installation on it.

Recommended Videos

https://twitter.com/MicrosoftInside/status/620490486495735808

The more traditional DVD install of Windows 10 features the same white box, but the logo is instead a screenshot of the classic desktop. The new operating system’s most immediately noticeable change from Windows 8 is the return of the Start Menu and classic desktop. It makes sense to put that right on the front of the box to lure back users who moved away from Windows after dealing with the Windows 8 Start Screen. It also appears there is a purple version of the Hero wallpaper for Pro users, although it may change color based on your interface color selection.

https://twitter.com/MicrosoftInside/status/619923387771547648

Of course, most users who are already running Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 have the option to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. If that’s the case for you, the upgrade will happen over the air via Windows Update, just like any other operating system update. It’s likely this is the last Windows iteration that will be sold on physical media of any kind, with major updates rolling out over the air from here on out.

If you’re planning on paying, Windows 10 will cost you $119 for the Home version, and $199 for Pro, which includes increased domain and security tools that will only be of utility to enterprise users. If you don’t mind using pre-release software, you can opt into the Windows Insider program and effectively have a free copy of Windows 10.

Brad Bourque
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brad Bourque is a native Portlander, devout nerd, and craft beer enthusiast. He studied creative writing at Willamette…
Microsoft is backpedaling on future Windows 10 updates
The Windows Update screen in Windows 10.

Windows 10 is on its way out, with support ending in October 2025. That isn't changing, though Microsoft's approach to rolling out new features in the meantime definitely has. In a surprising move, Microsoft announced in a June 4 Windows Insider Blog post that it is bringing a Beta Channel for those Windows Insiders currently running on Windows 10 version 22H2.

This means that despite the end of support, Windows 10 users will continue to get some new features that were initially restricted to Windows 11, such as the new Copilot app. It's also possible that other features may be on the way, but Microsoft has not released any further information on the subject. It was originally stated that Windows 10 version 22H2 would be its final feature update, but that appears to not be true anymore.

Read more
If you use a VPN, don’t skip this important Windows 11 update
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 rear view showing lid and logo.

It's not you; Windows is causing the issues this time. If the VPN on your Windows 11 or Windows 10 computer is having a hard time connecting, it is likely because of Microsoft's April security updates for Windows 11 (KB5036893 for) and Windows 10 (KB5036892), which have been reported to be the cause of the problems.

But there's good news. According to Microsoft, a patch is now available to fix the VPN problems users are experiencing.

Read more
Scores of people are downgrading back to Windows 10
The screen of the Galaxy Book4 Ultra.

Microsoft continues to struggle with the adoption of Windows 11 among its users. Recent data from Statcounter reveals a notable decline in the operating system’s market share, specifically compared with Windows 10.

After reaching an all-time high of 28.16% in February 2024, Windows 11 has experienced a drop, falling below the 26% mark.

Read more