For a mor comprehensive, in depth clean, CCleaner Professional is here to help. Make your older PC or laptop run like new. Its primary concern is to clean up defective or otherwise corrupted registries. I always get here thanks afterwards, but the thanks should go to the guys at Piriform for such a lightweight, simple, yet powerful program that lives up to the task. Open Source software is software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify or enhance. By doing that, it also cleans up your tracks. File Recovery : Recovers deleted files.
And here's what you can expect before upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows This story was recently updated. Here's how to get Windows 10 for free, if you're currently running a licensed and activated copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8. Go to the Download Windows 10 website.
Under Create Windows 10 installation media , click Download tool now and Run. If you're upgrading a different machine, choose Create installation media for another PC , and save the installation files.
Microsoft is encouraging Windows 7 users to upgrade to Windows 10 now support for the former has ended. It should be noted that if you have a Windows 7 or 8 Home license, you can only update to Windows 10 Home, while Windows 7 or 8 Pro can only be updated to Windows 10 Pro. The upgrade is not available for Windows Enterprise.
Other users may experience blocks as well , depending on your machine. This upgrade using the media creation tool isn't meant for the general consumer, but it works for many nonetheless.
To get the best Windows 10 experience and take advantage of features like passwordless sign-on through Windows Hello , you'll want to buy a new Windows 10 PC or one released after July with all the hardware upgrades. If you're a student or university faculty member, you may also be able to download Windows 10 for free. Search for your school's software offerings here.
For more, check out the best antivirus protection of for Windows 10 , six security changes all Windows 10 users need to make , all of the big differences between Windows 10 and Windows 11 and every Windows 10 setting you should disable.
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To open a boot menu or change the boot order, you'll typically need to press a key such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc immediately after you turn on your PC. For instructions on accessing the boot menu or changing the boot order for your PC, check the documentation that came with your PC or go to the manufacturer's website. If changing the boot menu or order doesn't work, and your PC immediately boots into the OS you want to replace, it is possible the PC had not fully shut down.
To ensure the PC fully shuts down, select the power button on the sign-in screen or on the Start menu and select Shut down. If you downloaded an ISO file for Windows 10, the file is saved locally at the location you selected. If you have a third-party DVD burning program installed on your computer that you prefer to use for creating the installation DVD, that program might open by going to the location where the file is saved and double-clicking the ISO file, or right-click the ISO file, select Open with and choose your preferred DVD burning software.
Right-click the ISO file and select Properties. Then right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image. This will perform an upgrade of your current operating system to Windows Download Windows 10 Before updating, please refer to the Windows release information status for known issues to confirm your device is not impacted. To get started, click Update now. Update now Privacy. Create Windows 10 installation media To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows Download Now Privacy.
Select Download tool , and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool. On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select Accept. On the What do you want to do? Your copy of Windows 10 will automatically activate later using your digital license. Select Change what to keep to set whether you would like to Keep personal files and apps , or Keep personal files only , or choose to keep Nothing during the upgrade.
It might take some time to install Windows 10, and your PC will restart a few times. Before you download the tool make sure you have: An internet connection internet service provider fees may apply. Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download. System requirements. Make sure the PC meets the system requirements for Windows We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer's website for additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility.
Language in Windows. You'll need to choose the same language when you install Windows Edition of Windows. You should also choose the same edition of Windows. For more info, go to the Volume Licensing Service Center. Microsoft Office products. If you just purchased a new device that includes Office , we recommend redeeming installing Office before upgrading to Windows Unfortunately, the original free upgrade period to Windows 10 ended years ago, and the workaround to get Windows 10 for free with Assistive Technologies ended not long after that.
It would be best to have a valid product key or a digital license to get a free upgrade. When you purchase an operating system from Microsoft or any retailer, it comes with a product key to unlock it. A digital license connects your installed Windows platform to a key embedded in prebuilt systems from Acer, Dell, HP, and so on. For a long time, these manufacturers printed product keys on labels stuck on PCs or printed and inserted them into product packaging. However, Microsoft also moved Windows 7 over to this method.
This license becomes locked to your Microsoft account. Sites like Amazon also keep a record of purchased downloads, but these rarely include the product key itself, though it may help narrow down where it could be. Finally, you can download Windows 10 and perform a clean install. Despite officially ending the free update promotion in mid, Microsoft quietly keeps this option available so all Windows PC owners can run the latest version.
Again, unless you have a valid digital license or product key to get a free upgrade, you will be required to pay for a new Windows 10 Home product key. Disconnect any unnecessary accessories to help reduce the chance of errors. As shown above, you have two options: Upgrade the current PC, or create installation media that will either upgrade another PC or perform a clean install on the current PC.
However, in both cases, the tool will temporarily download a disk image of Windows 10, so be sure you have enough space for the file � around 4GB, at least. Step 5: Select the Upgrade this PC now option and follow the prompts. Step 6: With all issues resolved, the installer will try to port over all the data it can. Keep in mind, however, the vast gap between Windows 7 and Windows 10 in terms of the software you use. Back up or convert any crucial data before you continue. Step 9: As the installer progresses, your PC will restart a few times.
The above method is the best way to get Windows 10 for free � at least for now. There are other ways you can get Windows 10 if you need it, including free and low-cost options that may be worth exploring. Buy a copy of Windows 10 from Microsoft.
Please read our guide on how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows Note that if you're a student, or work at a large organization, you might be eligible for free or discounted Windows. Microsoft has more on that in a support page. It turns out this is safer than it sounds because Microsoft is pretty lax about enforcing activation. We want to stress that using an unactivated version of Windows 10 is not permitted by Microsoft. Better safe than sorry.
In the end, if Microsoft wanted to stop people from using these versions, they could do it.
Things are a bit different now, however, especially with the new free upgrade to Windows 11 being around. In other words, Windows 7 is now unsafe to use, making this an excellent time to switch to Windows 10 or, switch to Windows Unfortunately, the original free upgrade period to Windows 10 ended years ago, and the workaround to get Windows 10 for free with Assistive Technologies ended not long after that. It would be best to have a valid product key or a digital license to get a free upgrade.
When you purchase an operating system from Microsoft or any retailer, it comes with a product key to unlock it. A digital license connects your installed Windows platform to a key embedded in prebuilt systems from Acer, Dell, HP, and so on. For a long time, these manufacturers printed product keys on labels stuck on PCs or printed and inserted them into product packaging.
However, Microsoft also moved Windows 7 over to this method. This license becomes locked to your Microsoft account. Sites like Amazon also keep a record of purchased downloads, but these rarely include the product key itself, though it may help narrow down where it could be. Finally, you can download Windows 10 and perform a clean install. Despite officially ending the free update promotion in mid, Microsoft quietly keeps this option available so all Windows PC owners can run the latest version.
Again, unless you have a valid digital license or product key to get a free upgrade, you will be required to pay for a new Windows 10 Home product key. Disconnect any unnecessary accessories to help reduce the chance of errors. As shown above, you have two options: Upgrade the current PC, or create installation media that will either upgrade another PC or perform a clean install on the current PC.
However, in both cases, the tool will temporarily download a disk image of Windows 10, so be sure you have enough space for the file � around 4GB, at least. Step 5: Select the Upgrade this PC now option and follow the prompts. Step 6: With all issues resolved, the installer will try to port over all the data it can. Keep in mind, however, the vast gap between Windows 7 and Windows 10 in terms of the software you use. Back up or convert any crucial data before you continue. Step 9: As the installer progresses, your PC will restart a few times.
The above method is the best way to get Windows 10 for free � at least for now. There are other ways you can get Windows 10 if you need it, including free and low-cost options that may be worth exploring. Buy a copy of Windows 10 from Microsoft. Please read our guide on how to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows Note that if you're a student, or work at a large organization, you might be eligible for free or discounted Windows.
Microsoft has more on that in a support page. It turns out this is safer than it sounds because Microsoft is pretty lax about enforcing activation. We want to stress that using an unactivated version of Windows 10 is not permitted by Microsoft. For details on how to troubleshoot these errors, see "This free Windows 10 upgrade offer still works.
Here's why - and how to get it. 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 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 little time but when it's complete, you can run the Windows Setup program manually to install Windows 10 on any PC running any 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 data 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 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.