Whenever a new Windows operating system debuts, driver and BIOS issues emerge. It's tough on businesses, and it's tough on consumers who may suddenly find that they can no longer print, connect to the network, or use an expensive graphics card.

I've checked in with the major PC makers and found that some of them have Web pages listing what they call "supported systems" that will run Windows 10. Those pages are not so easy to find, but they exist at Lenovo, Dell, Acer, and Toshiba. HP and Asus provide system lookup pages for checking out individual PCs.

What does "supported" mean? In most cases it means that the PC maker has updated drivers or has tested the system, including the BIOS, and has determined it can run Windows 10. That's straightforward.

Less clear, though, is what to do if a PC is not on the list. In some cases, the system will run Windows 10, although the manufacturer has not written drivers or tested it. In other cases, it won't run Windows 10 at all.

Microsoft has provided its own tool to test for Windows 10 compatibility. The Get Windows 10 app was pushed onto many PCs before Windows 10's release during routine updates. If you fire up the app and select the Check Your PC option, the app will scan your system for potential Windows 10 compatibility problems.

What happens if Microsoft says your PC is OK to upgrade, but that system isn't on the vendor's supported list? Here, for example, is what an Acer spokeswoman told me:

• We will release any required BIOS updates and/or drivers for any systems on the approved list. If a product is not on the approved list, a customer may still be able to install Windows 10, but we will not release new BIOS/drivers for Windows 10, cannot guarantee it will work, etc.That's pretty much what I heard from the other companies, too.

infoworld.com