For the most part, the upcoming devices from Asus, HP and Lenovo will work as you expect, but a document that Microsoft released – then quietly pulled over the weekend – does suggest a few limitations for Windows 10 on ARM. Thurrott found the original document, though now you can only find a cached version. For starters, only ARM64 drivers are supported. While Windows 10 on ARM will be able to emulate x86 apps, you’ll need ARM drivers to make them work. For most modern hardware and peripherals, this isn’t an issue. But if you have a favorite mouse from 1994 that you still use, that likely won’t work. Additionally, x64 apps (the 64-bit version of apps coded for Intel’x x86 platform) won’t work. Some games won’t work. If they use a version of OpenGL later than 1.1 or require hardware-accelerated OpenGL, they won’t run. In addition, games that need anti-cheating drivers won’t work on Windows 10 on ARM. This probably isn’t much of an issue, as the first systems don’t have the discrete GPUs you’ll need to play games. Some apps just won’t run, either. Specifically, anything that modifies Windows 10, including assistive technologies and cloud storage apps like Dropbox. These will need to be recompiled for Windows 10 on ARM, so it may be awhile until these apps are available. Perhaps the funniest of the limitations is apps that were originally designed for Windows 10 Mobile may work incorrectly. Considering that Windows 10 Mobile only runs on ARM processors, this incompatibility is a little ironic. Finally, Windows 10 on ARM won’t support the Windows Hypervisor Platform, so you won’t be able to run virtual machines on Hyper-V. Based on the use-cases Qualcomm and Microsoft have told us about, these limitations don’t sound so bad. The majority of commons scenarios should work without a hitch, with most programs and workflows going unaffected. Power users with old peripherals running virtual machines are out of luck, but those looking for simple workhorses with over 20 hours of battery life should be OK. We haven’t gotten to test out a Snapdragon-based Windows 10 machine yet, but we’ll report back with full reviews and details once we have.
Windows 10 Annoyances and Problems
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Repair Windows 10Remove the Lock ScreenDisable or Enable Grayscale ModeSet Compatibility Mode for AppsAccess the BIOS on a Windows 10 PCStop Windows Update from Automatically Restarting Your PCTurn Off App NotificationsFix a Slow-Opening Windows Downloads FolderDisable Personalized Ads on Microsoft Sites and AppsStop Skype’s Annoying Auto UpdatesFix a ‘Boot Configuration Data File is Missing’ ErrorClear the Run Command’s HistoryDisable CortanaUninstall and Restore Built-in AppsRestore a Missing Battery IconFix a Boot Configuration File ErrorGet to the Advanced Startup Options MenuDelete a Locked FileRestart without RebootingRoll Back Windows 10 to an Earlier VersionDisable Automatic Driver DownloadsDisable Internet ExplorerPause Windows Updates for Up to 35 DaysUse Battery SaverDowngrade to Windows 10 SSave Netflix Videos for Offline ViewingAll Windows 10 TipsWorst Windows 10 AnnoyancesDisable Password Prompt on Wake
