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Still running Windows 7? Time is running out to upgrade to Windows What to know – CNET
Click on the Windows 10 download page link here · Click ‘Download Tool now’ – this downloads the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. · When finished. › software-download › windows You now need to get the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool. Head to the Windows 10 download page and select Download tool now. Once the file’s downloaded, open it.
Windows 10 upgrade free still free download. How to upgrade to Windows 10 for free
All Home. All Fashion. All Gear. All Gifts. All Deals. All Travel. More From Vetted. Dec 4, , pm EST. Dec 8, , pm EST. Edit Story. We independently select all products and services. If you click through links we provide, we may earn a commission. Learn more. Follow this author to stay notified about their latest stories. If you’re thinking of upgrading your old system drive to an SSD, perform the upgrade to Windows 10 on the old hardware; after confirming that the new Windows 10 version is properly activated, install the SSD and then either restore from a backup image or boot from the USB flash drive to do a clean install.
You won’t need a product key, and activation is automatic. And now the big question: If you avail yourself of this upgrade to Windows 10, is the resulting license valid?
The entire “free upgrade” offer was always accompanied by language that was, to put it politely, a bit squishy. And the language around the end of that offer was similarly vague. That’s very odd language. The free upgrade through the Get Windows 10 app ended on July 29, Likewise, the discussion of product keys says a key will be necessary “for this tool to work” not true but doesn’t say a word about licensing.
And unlike the weaselly “Genuine Windows” label on older upgrades, the activation screens for a Windows 10 upgrade specifically confirm the existence of a “digital license. Anyway, the free upgrade offer was extended briefly, at least for people who use assistive technologies.
The FAQ on a separate page even called it a “free upgrade offer extension” and pointedly noted that it was not limited to specific assistive technologies. I regularly use the Magnifier utility in Windows, which is indisputably an assistive technology.
Of course, I’m not a lawyer, and this column isn’t legal advice. But I will say that I am personally confident in the activation status of any PC upgraded using the tool on that page during the eligibility period.
This extension was, I think, a very large nod and a wink, designed to make it easy for those who wanted a Windows 10 upgrade to still get it while placating the OEM partners who were none too happy about the year-long emphasis on upgrades rather than new PC sales. Alas, I say “was,” because the extension which was itself extended officially ended on Jan.
The page that formerly ran an Upgrade Assistant now returns an error message. The big question now is whether Microsoft will ever turn off the code on its activation servers that dispenses digital licenses after an upgrade from an earlier Windows version.
I’ve continued to test that scenario, and I can confirm, long after the end of support for Windows 7, that it still works. I continue to hear from readers sharing their experiences. If you’ve used this technique on a PC, send a note to edbott at realworldwindows dot com to let me know how it went for you.
Note: This article was originally published in January It has been updated multiple times since then to reflect the most current information. Home Business Enterprise Software. Microsoft’s much-hyped free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended years ago, right? Not exactly. One digital license, no product key required. You can upgrade directly using this tool, or create separate media. Ed Bott’s 10 most popular Windows 10 tips.
The wording here is remarkably vague. Show Comments. Log In to Comment Community Guidelines. Related How to create and manage Windows accounts for your family.