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Microsoft's initial push to get Windows 7 and 8 users upgraded to Windows x is over. But you lot can nonetheless get the OS for costless.

Microsoft Ended support for Windows seven on Jan 14th, 2020. And while there is non an official channel to upgrade to Windows 10, there is a play tricks to go information technology. And this is not illegal. Microsoft is allowing users to do this. Here's how.

Important: Earlier attempting any major upgrade, make sure all of your important data is backed up first. If something goes wrong (and it certainly could with this type of upgrade) y'all're not going to exist able to recover it.

Upgrade from Windows 7 to ten for Free

Before trying the upgrade make sure to update all hardware drivers and the BIOS or firmware on your PC. As well, remember you're current Windows vii PC needs to have a valid and activated license.

To attempt it, head to the Windows 10 download folio. Under the Media Cosmos department download theDownload tool now button and run it.

Take the EULA. So when it asks you what to practice select "Upgrade this PC Now" and continue with the sorcerer's on-screen instructions.

Important Notes:

There are several caveats here that might make your upgrade attempt error out.  At that place might exist hardware block — especially on machines congenital earlier 2015. Microsoft added organization compatibility blocks with Windows 10 1903. And so, brand sure your BIOS or firmware and all hardware drivers are up-to-engagement before trying the upgrade.

And just note that Microsoft tin can just turn this "trick" off at any fourth dimension. Then, depending on your organisation or when you try this, your mileage may vary.

Editor Note 1/15/2020: This commodity was originally written in 2017. It has been updated to reflect the stop of support for Windows 7. You can read the original text below:

Windows ten was first introduced to the market place with a one-twelvemonth free upgrade offer. From July 29th, 2015 to July 29th, 2016, users could upgrade eligible Windows 7 and Windows 8 devices to Microsoft'south new desktop OS for gratuitous. Many users did take advantage of information technology, but for one reason or another, many others skipped the offer. No surprise, a twenty-four hours after Microsoft'south gratis offering ended, procrastinating users popped up all over the Cyberspace, including our Windows 10 forums asking for data about how they could however go Windows 10 for complimentary.

Concluding August, I noticed the free upgrade offering seemed to still be bachelor and I wrote a short weblog mail service nigh information technology. Throughout the month of August, some users were notwithstanding getting notifications to upgrade for complimentary, while others saw them disappear altogether. Eleven months have passed since the free upgrade ended; in fact, we are approaching the second anniversary of the Windows x upgrade.

To those of you who are coming belatedly to the political party and notwithstanding want a free upgrade: where've you lot been all this time? Anyhow, whatsoever your reasons, permit's see how we can go you a free copy of Windows 10 at present that the gratuitous upgrade ship has officially sailed.

How You Can Still Get a Complimentary Upgrade to Windows 10

According to some participants on Microsoft's Community forums, Microsoft might be forgiving to those who skipped on the upgrade. Information technology seems y'all can get a second take chances to upgrade to Windows 10 past simply contacting support. A Microsoft MVP responded to a participant inquiring about getting Windows 10 for gratis and this is what he said:

Contact MS back up to request a complimentary upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10. The support amanuensis will provide you with an exception link to allow the free upgrade to Windows 10. Source

Bated from that, you may also still be eligible for a gratis Windows 10 upgrade if you utilise Assistive Technologies. Assistive Technologies users could be broadly defined as users with a particular impairment or disability using third-party software or hardware. There is no verification process for users who authorize for the Assistive Technologies upgrade.

Note (10th September, 2021): While this costless upgrade promotion has long been scrubbed from Microsoft's website, you may find it nonetheless works in general. YMMV, however!

We actually mentioned this in a forum blog post last yr; the choice remains open and anyone it seems tin can use it to still snag a gratuitous copy. Of course, we urge you not to abuse this offer from Microsoft and to only practice this option if you rely on Assistive Technologies.

If you are non interested in going through any support obstacles or loopholes, I discovered that you tin upgrade without purchasing a license at all. You are probably wondering, "Well, why didn't y'all just say and so from the beginning?" Well, I could have, but I simply wanted to provide all the options for users who wanted to get through official channels.

And then, are at that place whatsoever legal challenges related to this? Microsoft did say the costless offer ended in July of 2016. It seems that information technology was more of a formality or possibly marketing mumbo jumbo to create a sense of urgency.

I decided to test this out by first restoring my HP Elitebooks mill Windows 7 image. I also tried it out on my HP desktop with Windows eight.0 (you read correct, Windows 8.0, not 8.1 or 8.1 with Update i). During this experiment, the first thing I discovered is your Windows 7 or Windows viii/8.one license must be activated. If information technology's not, Windows 10 setup is going to prompt yous for a product fundamental.

Y'all tin can't use a Windows vii or Windows 8 key if you are upgrading. What you can practice though is activate it using a Windows 7 or Windows viii key later on setup is complete; if you choose to perform a clean install. If it's activated, so setup doesn't prompt you. That's it, you can upgrade without any farther hindrance. At that place you lot go, my organization upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 in 2017 for free. Check out the video below.

Editor's Note: I've as well washed this a ton of times using my Windows 8 Pro license cardinal that came with my installation DVD. The way I meet it: I did take Microsoft upwardly on its offer to upgrade for free when it was available. Simply every now and so, I like to do a clean Windows install. It makes sense that I should nevertheless be able to apply the original license central that I paid for to become back to where I was before my reinstall.

What if my organisation is not activated?

If your Windows vii or Windows 8 license is non activated and you are not interested in purchasing a license, then your options are limited. You lot practice have some options though. Microsoft offers a 90 solar day trial of its Windows 10 Enterprise edition. Windows x Enterprise is normally distributed under Microsoft's volume license program for big organizations that deploy Windows 10 in majority. It's a full-featured edition of the operating system but in this example, information technology's really an evaluation version of the software. Users must annals earlier they can download and install the software. This pick is perfect for those users who are running Windows Vista or never had a genuine license, to brainstorm with.

One workaround users can use to extend the usage of the Windows x Enterprise trial is to join the Windows Insider Preview Program. Be advised, when yous sign up for Windows 10 Insider Previews, you are electing to download, install and utilize pre-release software nevertheless under heavy development. The adventure is indeed high as evidenced by a recent unintended delivery of internal rough border builds not fifty-fifty intended for users interested in bleeding border.

Users do have the recovery options like rolling back inside 10 days of upgrading – that is if you lot can kicking the organisation. Regular backups such every bit creating system images, or storing files on OneDrive should make it rubber enough to apply Windows 10 Insider builds while getting a free re-create of the software. But, again, use it at your own risk.

For users who already have an installed, activated copy of Windows 10, but would like a second copy setup maybe for compatibility purposes on a second drive or partition, there is a loophole available. I discovered that if y'all already installed and activated Windows 10 with a Digital License, you can do exactly that. Only install a 2nd copy and it will activate without even asking questions. Previously, boosted installations even on the same hardware required the buy of an additional license in order to activate. The Finish User License Terms still says y'all exercise, merely apparently, information technology is not enforced – for now.

The complimentary upgrade situation is a scrap ironic, and I mean that the same way Alanis Morisette meant it: non actually ironic, but rather unfortunate for a few individuals. Microsoft has been pushing a deadline for an entire year and I am certain many users with eligible Windows vii and Windows 8 licenses ended upwardly ownership a full Windows 10 license – when technically, they already paid.

Anyway, those are the options even so available if you still desire to upgrade, let us know what you think. We are likewise interested to hear from the Windows Vista, 7, or 8 holdouts: what changed your mind subsequently then long?

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Source: https://www.groovypost.com/howto/download-windows-10-free/

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