• Options for upgrading to Windows 10

    As you know, Microsoft initially stated that Windows 10, released on July 29, 2015, would be a free update for retail and OEM installations of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 for one year – until July 29, 2016. And after July 29, 2016, the update will no longer be offered through Windows Update, and you will have to purchase it. Windows Update on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 regularly offered to upgrade to Windows 10.

    In fact, from July 19, 2016, on all activated systems with installed retail editions of Windows 7/8.1 on which users regularly installed recommended Microsoft updates, a counter counted down the time remaining for a free update. Of course, this spurred many who postponed the update until the last few days. And, as promised, as of July 29, 2016, offers to update the OS for free via Windows Update disappeared. Are those who did not have time to update left without the opportunity to get the new OS for free? Fortunately, no! The possibility of free OS updates remains. Let's see how you can now upgrade your Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

    As of July 29, 2016, Microsoft is still offering a free Windows 10 update for users with disabilities. Microsoft invites you to decide for yourself whether this offer applies to you or not. Let's leave this painful moral decision to you and look into the technical side of the issue.
    To begin with, I went to the page for this promotion and downloaded the update assistant.

    As an example for this post, I installed, fully updated and activated Windows 8.1 Professional in a virtual machine. I tested the method on Windows 7. The result and process are no different, so I’ll tell you below using the example of updating Windows 8.1.

    I launch the downloaded assistant to update my OS.

    I accept the agreement, and for a short time the OS checks the capabilities of my PC for updating. The main requirement is 2GB of memory (for 64-bit OS, 1GB for 32-bit) and about 20GB (16GB for 32-bit) on the system partition of the hard drive.

    The application immediately begins downloading from the Internet an image of the Windows 10 edition that matches yours. At the time of writing, the version of the Threshold2 branch was being downloaded, but I really hope that in a week or two the same update assistant will immediately install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update of the Redstone1 branch.

    After several minutes (hours? days??) of downloading, the system checks the integrity of the downloaded image.

    And the update process begins.

    For the first 30-40 minutes, everything happens inside the running OS. You can go about your business. Next, the system will warn you that a reboot is required. You will have half an hour to notice this.

    After the reboot, the standard Windows 10 installation process will begin:

    Depending on the speed of the hard drive, the process takes 10-40 minutes and ends with a message indicating the update was successful.

    We select the OS settings (disable everything that Microsoft suggests enabling), go into the OS and see that our Window 10 is activated!

    As I explained above, the OS version I received when writing this note belongs to the Threshold2 branch (better known as Version 1511). All latest cumulative OS updates are included. I recommend you learn more about what Threshold, Redstone and generally about Windows 10 builds are.

    Now I just have to wait until Windows 10 Anniversary Update - version 1607 of the Redstone1 branch - can be obtained through Windows Update. For those who want to immediately complete this update, I can advise you to select advanced settings in the Settings/Updates panel and enable receiving Insider Preview builds:

    Select Start receiving Insider Preview builds. You'll need to enter a Microsoft ID account, which you'll need to enroll in the Insider Preview program. My entry was registered there a long time ago, so the OS didn’t ask me any unnecessary questions. If at this step you want to link your local account to Microsoft ID, select “Next”; if you only want to receive Insider builds, but continue to use your local account without connecting to Microsoft clouds, select the option “Login only to this application”

    Select “Start” again to install Insider builds, accept the agreement and restart your PC.

    In the update settings, I indicate that I want to receive assemblies of the RS1_Release branch and the Early Access option. The final version has already been released and is available, preliminary versions will now only go to the RS_Prerelease branch for Redstone2.

    Build 14393 - the final version of Windows 10 Anniversary Update - will come to you via Windows Update. True, not immediately, but within a day. This is how the Insider Preview program works.

    After about half an hour of updating, you receive the final version of Windows 10 Anniversary Update - 14393 branch Redstone1. Now, if you wish, you can disable receiving Insider assemblies.

    Attention to those who do not like to install one OS on top of another and do not consider such installations to be very stable. Windows 10, updated through the Update Assistant or before July 29 through Windows Update, after installation is not only an activated OS, but also stores information about it on Microsoft servers. What does this mean? If you now reinstall the OS completely on the same PC, even after formatting the system disk, then do not enter the serial number during installation - there is an invisible “do it later” button. Select “do it later”, and the OS itself will contact the activation servers, make sure that Windows 10 has already been activated on this particular PC, and activate the newly installed OS.

    If you are interested in the topic of how to bypass official announcements to download Windows 10 from the Microsoft website, you may be interested in the fact that the same thing can be done with Office for a long time. I'm talking about this

    The question of how to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 was of interest to many users long before the release of the latter; we will consider this question in detail in this article. In principle, there’s nothing you can do about it - everyone eventually wants something new, and computer users are also not without sin, so with the release of an operating system that promised to appeal to everyone: both fans of the already traditional “Seven” and the relatively innovative, but not everyone understands “ eight", the question of installing a new version has become more pressing than ever.

    Update or reinstall?

    First of all, before we talk about how to update Windows 7 to Windows 10, it’s worth weighing the pros and cons of this procedure, let’s talk about how to do it. No, we are not going to discourage you from updating, however, there is an alternative to updating in the traditional sense - a new and clean installation.

    First of all, it’s worth reinstalling everything completely for those who have outrageously “messed up” their PC with unnecessary programs, vague “tweaks” and other tinsel that creates more problems than they do any good. In such cases, it would be much more correct not to install the update, but to install it again.

    Who can update?

    In addition, if you want to get the new version for free, you need to make sure that you are using a licensed version of the OS. If you want Microsoft to replace your old pirated Windows with a brand new ten for free, you will have to tone down your ardor a little - despite the fact that this is still possible, a simple backup and reinstallation will not do.

    I would like to say the same to those who want to launch not corporate 7 or 8, but 10. For corporate users, traditional conditions are not relevant - you still have to pay. To find out whether you have “corporate” or regular Windows installed, just press the Win+Pause key combination - if in the window that opens in the field with the name of the OS there is no word “Corporate”, then you are in luck.

    How to update Windows 10 after 07/29/2016?

    As many already know, Microsoft has stopped the time of incredible generosity, when anyone could get a brand new tenth Windows completely free with a simple update. If earlier you were literally haunted by messages that it would be nice to update your operating system, now the doors are closed. Now you need to either buy a license, or download pirated versions with bugs and viruses, or... Or read us and get an effective, free and official way to get the coveted 10.

    Microsoft left a small loophole. Use it immediately before it's closed!

    We have already found out that to legally purchase tens you need to have a licensed version of the OS. If this is the case for you, then:


    Actually, that's all. You will find more detailed instructions in the video at the beginning of the article.

    How did the update happen until July 29, 2016?

    So, in order to “upgrade” your old OS to ten, you had to perform several steps, which we have compiled for you in a small step-by-step instruction on how Windows 7 could be upgraded to Windows 10 before 07/29/2016.

        1. Make sure you have automatic updates turned on. You can find out how to do this on our website;

      1. Wait for the update availability icon to appear. It would appear at the bottom of the screen next to the clock;
      2. You had to click on it and follow the on-screen instructions. Most of the actions you would have to take would involve clicking the “Next” and “Agree” buttons.

    It is worth saying that the new version was updated for quite a long time - since the servers are still “not rubber”, sometimes you had to spend more than one day in line. However, in a number of cases, it was possible to force your operating system to move.

    What will the top ten please?

    To summarize, I would like to note that users of the “seven” will be able to adapt to the “ten” quite quickly. Unlike the same one, which not everyone accepted, there is no notorious full-screen menu - instead, you get a relatively familiar “Start”, in which, in addition to elements familiar from Windows XP, there is an area with tiles. However, even if this seems unacceptable to you, you can always remove them out of sight, however, we would not recommend doing this - believe me, after some experience of use, you will definitely agree that such an innovation greatly simplifies working with your PC and makes her more interesting and attractive. And now that you know how to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10, the migration procedure itself has become much easier.

    In most cases, the system, be it Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, will offer you to update to Windows 10 automatically, but if for some reason this does not happen, the update process can be started manually. Just a couple of years ago it was possible to install the system from a bootable DVD or flash drive, but today the easiest way to do this is via the Internet - you don’t have any problems with it, I assume? Namely - through the Microsoft website

    The program is available on the page https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10 in two versions - 32-bit and 64-bit, you should download the version that corresponds to the system installed on your computer or laptop .

    Here you will find two options: either run a small program for updating windows, which itself will install Windows 10 on your computer (preserving almost all of your programs and documents), or download a complete “image” of the system installation disk, which can then be turned into a bootable “ flash drive" and install Windows completely. But we will look at this option a little lower, for now I will say that in this case you will also need a Windows serial number, which you can buy here, in the Microsoft “store”.

    The process of updating windows 7/8.1 to windows 10

    Once you run the installer, you will be given the choice of “Upgrade this PC now” or “Create installation media for another computer.” If you update using a backup copy in "Get Windows 10", everything will be exactly the same, except for the absence of the first few steps before actually installing the update.

    It must be said that upgrade windows 7 to windows 10 Without losses it is not always possible. For example, if you already have 32-bit Windows 8 installed on your computer, you won't be able to upgrade to 64-bit Windows 10. More precisely, not so: the system will be updated. But at the same time, you will lose all installed programs, except for standard Windows applications, and only your personal files - documents, photos, music - will move to the new system. In the most difficult cases (for example, if you install a Russian version of Windows over an English version), the ability to update will be completely blocked - Windows will be installed completely, having first copied the previous version along with all your documents to the Windows folder. Old on the hard drive.

    By selecting “Update your PC now”, Windows 10 files will automatically download to your computer, after which “Verifying downloaded files” and “Creating Windows 10 media” will occur. Upon completion, the process of installing Windows 10 on your computer will automatically begin (the same as when using the backup method).

    The process of updating to Windows 10 almost completely repeats the usual installation of Windows 10 - except that it goes much faster, and more beautiful pictures are shown during installation. However, experts recommend updating Windows (that is, installing a new version over the old one) only in cases where the system works flawlessly. Otherwise, there is always a chance that the errors and failures accumulated by your old OS will be inherited by the new one. Still worth a try. After all, reinstalling all programs, which will inevitably follow the complete demolition of the operating system, will take you several hours, and reinstalling Windows on top of Windows will take about forty minutes.

    Immediately after you can upgrade Windows 7 to windows 10 begins to actively download updates and patches from the Internet, as well as new drivers - for the video card, built-in sound, and so on. This process, in fact, does not require your intervention and takes place completely unnoticed, in the background (unless the computer is warned in the future about the need to reboot).

    But if you want to unveil this mystery, there is nothing easier - click on the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen and select the menu Settings ⇒ Updates and security ⇒ Windows Update. If you wish, you can start the update checking process manually, and by going to the Advanced options menu, you can enable the download mode for updates not only for Windows, but also for other Microsoft programs (for example, the Microsoft Office suite).

    The release of Microsoft's new operating system is the result of the work of many people. It takes a lot of resources to develop and debug a new version of Windows. It is not surprising that the operating system costs a lot of money. So it came as a surprise when Microsoft announced that you could upgrade your previous version of Windows to Windows 10 for free.

    Is it possible to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10

    The Windows 8 operating system does not have a direct upgrade option to Windows 10. The fact is that this system was replaced by the Windows 8.1 version, developing and finalizing the changes in the main version. If you haven't updated Windows 8, you should do so before upgrading to Windows 10.

    This may seem unfair, since Windows 7 has the ability to upgrade to Windows 10, despite the fact that it is an older version of the operating system. This is due to the fact that Windows 8.1 is not so much a new operating system as an improved version of the previous one.

    Upgrading Windows 8 to Windows 8.1

    Let's figure out how to make this upgrade for the next one - to Windows 10. Perform the following steps:

    The system has been successfully updated to Windows 8.1 and is ready to upgrade to Windows 10.

    Upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10

    Until July 29, 2016, the upgrade was available free of charge to all Windows 8.1 users. Users were pleasantly surprised by this. But due to intrusive notifications about the possibility of updating, many were dissatisfied. Now the official option for a free update is no longer available, and you can only purchase the Windows 10 operating system at full price. The price of the home version of this operating system is more than eight thousand rubles. For users who are not ready to pay such a sum, Microsoft has left a loophole that makes it possible to upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free.

    Free update after July 29, 2016

    Even though the free upgrade option was disabled as promised, the offer is still valid for people with disabilities. Microsoft does not require any proof, so everyone can use this update method, even if they are not entitled to it due to their social status. This is done as follows:

    1. Open the promotion section on the official Microsoft website and download a special utility. It will be used to update. To download the utility, click "Update Now".
    2. After downloading, make sure that your version of Windows is correct and that the operating system itself is activated.
    3. Run the downloaded utility, read and accept the terms of the license agreement.
    4. The computer's compatibility with Windows 10 will be checked. It is enough that your system has 2 gigabytes of RAM installed and sufficient hard drive space. The requirements for the central processor are negligible. Click Next.
    5. The utility will begin loading the operating system onto your computer. Wait for it to finish. The download may take a long time (depending on internet speed).
    6. As soon as the download of the operating system is completed, scanning of the downloaded files will begin. This is necessary so that during installation there are no problems if one of the files does not download completely due to network outages. Wait until the scan is completed.
    7. The installation procedure for the new operating system will begin. All this time you can continue to work at the computer.
    8. A notification appears asking you to restart your computer. You will have half an hour to complete the current work on the device. If you want to delay the final stage of installation, you can click Restart later.
    9. Once the system is restarted, the final stage of installation will begin. Wait for the process to complete.
    10. A notification will appear indicating that the process has completed, and the new Windows 10 operating system will launch to perform initial system settings.

    Of course, Microsoft developers are aware of the possibility of “unfair” updates. However, they benefit if people use their product even when they are not willing to pay for it. After all, profit comes from software sales and internal purchases of applications for the new operating system.

    Video: free update after July 29, 2016

    Now you know how to upgrade Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 completely free of charge. Use this knowledge if you want to upgrade to the latest operating system from Microsoft.

    Microsoft officially announced the end of the free upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 on July 29, 2016. This was exactly one year after the launch of Windows 10. But if you still want to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, and if you are using assistive technologies, then you may be able to upgrade your OS without having to pay a huge amount for the upgrade.

    For those wondering about the cost, Windows 10 Home is available for $119, while Windows 10 Pro costs $199 per license.

    Steps to upgrade windows 8.1 to windows 10

    To upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, you must have licensed copy of Windows 8.1. You will also need your old product key to activate the updated OS. Here's how the update happens:

    The installation process is a time-consuming process and you will not be able to use the computer for a while. So if you have important work to do, you can download the file and leave it to use when your computer is free. Once the update starts, your computer will restart and begin updating the OS. After a long wait, your computer will confirm that the update is complete and you can start using the latest version of Windows 10 (version 1511).

    This method of upgrading from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 is free and easy. It doesn't require many complicated steps because the computer will automatically guide you through the screens and steps required to complete the installation. Microsoft provides support through FAQs and forums to help you if you find yourself stuck in any of the steps.

    Once the installation is complete and if you are happy with the latest version of Windows 10 you are using, you can go ahead and delete the Windows.old file from your computer to increase space on your device. Keep this in mind that once you do this, you will no longer be able to go back to your old version of Windows OS unless you install it from scratch installation media. So the rollback option will be removed once Windows.old is removed. However, if you created the backup we talked about in our first step, you can go back to the previous version using the backup.

    Many believe that Microsoft continues to offer a backdoor to upgrade to Windows 10 for free to ensure that Windows 10 is used in maximum devices. Make hay while the sun shines, because once this backdoor is stopped, there may be no other option to update your device for free.

    If you have been waiting for the upgrade until now or if you missed out on the free upgrade, then this is your chance to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free. Microsoft says it will make an announcement before the free upgrade for Assistive Technology users ends, and there is no end date yet.

    Read more: