Upgrading to Windows 10 and SmartSDR advice

Ron · October 2015

With a little help from my son (KF5JRA) doing the driving he ended up doing the following:

Uninstalled 1.5.0 using "program and features" in control panel
Uninstalled FlexVSP
Uninstalled Flex DAX drivers
Rebooted system
From "Device Manager" he removed from every DAX device from under Audio
Rebooted system
Verified in "Device Manager" that there were no signs of a DAX audio component
Installed 1.5.0 and everything is working

Since then we have followed the instructions for upgrading to 1.5.1 and everything still seems to be working. Now just have to wait for the third party software developers to take advantage of the new features involving the RTTY changes made with SmartSDR 1.5.x and beyond.

One thing my son recommended is that after this issue It should be posted somewhere that if you are going to be doing the upgrade from Windows "X" to Windows 10 that you perform the following:

Create a backup of your Flex configuration and place it somewhere off system (dropbox)
Uninstall all Flex components (Flex DAX Drivers, Flex VSP, SmartSDR software)
Perform a system reboot
Check in "Device Manager" for any Flex components that might have remained

Uninstall flex components if any are found
Reboot system
Verify again, if none found proceed to next step.

Upgrade to Windows 10
Install latest version of SmartSDR
After reboot (suggested by installer)

Open "Device Manager" verify Flex components

Start SmartSDR

Restore flex configuration from off disk backup (created earlier)

Enjoy Windows 10 and Flex SmartSDR hamming it up.

Martin AA6E · October 2015

Looks reasonable, but would like Flex to vet the procedure from their standpoint. What do you mean by backing up Flex config? Just the saved profiles? More? 73 Martin AA6E

Michael Coslo · October 2015

I curious why some folks seem to have to go to herculean efforts, when I have two systems, a W7 and a W10, that I've updated the third time now each by simply running the installer, with no problems at all. All settings come back as well.

W7 is on a Mac under Bootcamp, and the W10 system is on a Dell Optipllex 960. Same radio for both.

Note - if you do want to uninstall everything, try Revo Unistaller. Installs, then does a deep scan to remove registry items and any files associated with the program - The free version works FB.

But still, why the really different experiences?

Walt - KZ1F · October 2015

You asked for advice? Don't go to win 10 unless you have a need to, a real need to. Which I suspect you don't.

Michael Coslo · October 2015

Well, I have to throttle back the telemetry - and it has to be done outside of Windows, because they just ignore attempts to stop it, but aside from privacy concerns, W10 works pretty darn well for me. Pity - they came so close to getting it right.

Until I get that throttled, the W10 machine only runs a few Ham programs, and nothing else.

But the advice I'm looking for is why some of us have a seamless update experience, and others seem to be in the seventh level of the underworld with it.

Walt - KZ1F · October 2015

Peter might be the most credible person to answer that.

Dan -- KC4GO · October 2015

Today was the day to upgrade my main desktop to 10. I did the update and while SmartSDR ran, but didn't like DAX or CAT even after a reboot and stopping and starting them. So following your instructions and reloaded SmartSDR. All is well. WSJT-X WSPR and JT-65 up and running. So hats off to you and your son.

Tim - W4TME · October 2015

First off, all data is stored in the radio so a backup (actually a profile export), while not required is never a bad idea.

Second, we have the procedure documented on the HelpDesk for doing a complete uninstall of SmartSDR. https://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/204975589-How-to-do-a-Complete-uninstall-of-SmartSD...

Upgrading to Windows 10 and SmartSDR advice

In Review · Last Updated January 2020

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