Here's how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade ZDNet. I have problem office. Vs Home Software operating systems. So far, we haven't seen any bugs that we'd consider enough to warrant downgrading to an earlier version of Windows, but it has to be said that reliability isn't Windows 10's strong suit - and it doesn't look like it ever will be. Acer - Windows 10 Creators Update. Sorry this didn't help. Even though it was the biggest overhaul of the OS since Windows 95, Windows 8 was remarkably stable and bug-free from the get-go.
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Windows 8.1 pro or 10 free - http://replace.me
Microsoft's free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended more than five years ago, but no one told the people who run the Windows activation servers. As a result, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.
That upgrade windows 8.1 pro or 10 free more important than ever when support for Windows 7 officially ended in January And it turned out to be a great relief to household budgets when the pandemic made working from home or going to school via remote sessions suddenly popular.
In the past two years, millions of people have taken old PCs out of storage and gotten up to speed quickly, thanks to these free upgrades. You can also still upgrade Windows windowd Home to Windows 10 Pro by using a product key from a previous business edition of Windows 7, 8, or 8. For details, see "How to upgrade windows 8.1 pro or 10 free Windows 10 Home to Pro without hassles.
Every technique I describe in this article works the same for Windows 11 as well, although most older PCs will be blocked from upgrading to Microsoft's newest operating system by the stringent Windows 11 hardware compatibility requirements.
For those PCs, Windows 10 remains a viable option until at least October In this post, I'll cover the basics of how to install Windows 10 as an upgrade on older hardware. I'll also talk about the windows 8.1 pro or 10 free issues involved, which are as always confusing. I wrote and published the first version of this windows 8.1 pro or 10 free in earlyseveral months after Microsoft's initial free upgrade offer ended.
The free upgrade offer had just ended, and when I downloaded the Windows 10 upgrade tool and ran it on an old Windows 7 PC, I fully expected that the upgrade would fail activation and I'd be asked for a product key. Over the next four-plus years, I repeated those steps on test PCs at regular intervals and confirmed that the free upgrade tool still works. I continue windows 8.1 pro or 10 free receive email messages regularly from readers offering firsthand reports that their free upgrades were successful, with gree purchase or product key required.
A small number of readers have reported that the upgrade fails fres of a Setup error or a compatibility block.
For details on how to ffree these errors, see "This free Windows 10 upgrade offer still works. Here's why - and how to get it. Whether you're feee for a tablet to stream videos or to replace your laptop, here are some compelling options.
Before getting started, I recommend a few preliminary tasks that can head off potential problems:. With those preliminaries out of the way, go to the Download Windows 10 webpage and click the Download tool now button. After the download completes, double-click the executable file to run the Media Creation Tool. That option installs the most recent version of Windows It typically takes about an hour, depending on your hardware. Having an SSD as your system drive is the best way to speed up the process.
If you know you'll want to upgrade to Windows 10 on more than one PC, or if you just want more flexibility in the event that the instant upgrade fails, choose the second option and save the installation files to a USB drive or as an ISO file. The download takes a windows 8.1 pro or 10 free time but when it's complete, you can run the Windows Setup program manually to install Windows 10 on any PC running 1 supported Windows version sorry, this won't work with PCs running Windows Vista or Windows XP.
The exact steps depend on which download option you chose:. Then just follow the prompts to complete the upgrade to Windows All your apps and windows 8.1 pro or 10 free files will be available. The digital license is associated with that specific device, which means you can reformat the disk and perform a clean installation of the same edition of Windows 10 anytime.
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 windows 8.1 pro or 10 free big question: If you avail yourself of this upgrade to Windows 10, is the resulting license valid?
The kr "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 prp 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 windows 8.1 pro or 10 free, a very large nod and a wink, designed to make it easy windows 8.1 pro or 10 free 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 windows 8.1 pro or 10 free 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 pdo 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, click windods name at the top of this post and use the contact form to let me know how it went for you. Note: This article was originally published windoss 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. ZDNet Recommends. One digital license, no product key required. You can upgrade directly using this tool, or create separate media. Ed Windowws 10 most popular Windows 10 tips. The wording here is remarkably vague.
Featured Remote work or in the office? Show Comments. Log In to Comment Community Guidelines. Add Your Comment. Related How to manage your security questions for a local Windows account. How to manage your security questions for a local Windows account Windows Yes, you can auto-unlock your smart lock with HomeKit. Here's the workaround. Here's the workaround Smart Home. Microsoft: Here are all the new features Teams got in May
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All services, big and small, come to an end someday, and Windows is no different. In fact, Microsoft deliberately cuts updates for their operating systems after a set period of time. If so, should you?
And for those who are seeing the writing on the wall, we have covered the available options windows 8.1 pro or 10 free you if you want to upgrade to Windows 10 or even the latest Windows Also read: Flash Support Has Ended. Can You Still Use It? For Windows 8, the figure stands at only 0. Both are decisively low compared to Windows 7, which still enjoys a steadily declining but healthy For Windows 8.
Windows 8 reached the end of life on January 12, Windows 8. That date will mark the end of extended support, which means security updates, bug fixes, and paid support. Windows 8, however, is already windows 8.1 pro or 10 free from the perspective of getting any new security updates. However, that does not mean you cannot use it anymore. When the 10th of January, windows 8.1 pro or 10 free, comes around, all it means is that Microsoft will no longer fix any security flaws that appear.
However, you should at least upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8. It will be similar to Internet Explorer, which is no longer supported by Windows and has been removed as a standalone program starting with Windows With no more security updates, continuing to use Windows 8 or 8.
In fact, quite a few users are still sticking to Windows 7, and that operating system lost all support back in January As it turns out, losing support does not immediately mean the operating system is a sitting duck in the cybersecurity world. By deploying a solid antivirus, maintaining a windows 8.1 pro or 10 free firewall, and staying safe while online, you can continue using an old operating system. In fact, these are all points we covered in our guide to securing Windows 7 past its support deadline.
If you want to continue to use Windows 8.1 pro or 10 free 8 or 8. However, for those looking to upgrade to Windows 10, a few options are still available. We have an extensive tutorial on how to use the Windows 10 media creation tool showing all detailed steps.
You need to at least purchase a valid license of Windows 10 for activation. Some users claimed that they are still able to get the free upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 8. We cannot verify these claims. You can try it out and see if you can get the upgrade for free.
If not, you will have to buy the Windows 10 license online. There are new hardware and software requirementsand it may not be very easy to fulfill the compatibility needs. The other hardware requirements include WDDM windows 8.1 pro or 10 free. Yes, you can. The good thing is that the free upgrade option works absolutely fine. If you have a validly-purchased Windows 8 copy, why not at least move it one notch up?
Once the ISO file is downloaded, you will have to proceed with a clean installation of Windows 8. The steps for Windows 10 and Windows 11 clean installation work the same on Windows 8. Back up your files, plug in your laptop and turn off any antivirus program to finish the update. Furthermore, If you are installing Windows 8. You can find your character code Windows product key depending on how you acquired your Windows copy. Look for it at the base of your Windows 8 laptop or any other spot where the manufacturer has pasted a sticker.
When you hit the Enter button, the Command windows 8.1 pro or 10 free will display the entire alphanumeric product key.
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