How To Convert Windows 7 Ultimate To Windows 10

Information technology was a great ride, but today it'south over. On January xiv, 2020, Microsoft ended the life of ane of its greatest operating systems e'er. Windows 7 is expressionless.

Your computer will still ability on, but information technology won't receive whatever more security updates, and whatever bugs found won't get fixed. Bottom line: It's dangerous to proceed using Windows 7, peculiarly if you shop online or store any personal data on your PC. Nosotros've got tips on how to stay as safe equally possible now on Windows 7 now that security updates are done but your best bet is migrating to a more modern operating system. Skilful news! Remember Microsoft's offer of a free Windows ten upgrade, the 1 that ostensibly ended years ago? It's quietly all the same bachelor.

Yep, if you're running a valid, licensed Windows 7 Home, Pro, or Ultimate computer, you lot can all the same upgrade to Windows 10 for complimentary, as confirmed by How To Geek, ZDNet, and Bleeping Reckoner.

It'due south unclear how long this volition go along to be available, as the upgrade offer was officially yanked in 2016, so consider doing it sooner than later if yous're interested. That said, since it still works, we're inclined to believe Microsoft doesn't mind this unofficial upgrade method and simply wants as many people off Windows seven as possible. Now that Windows 7 is expressionless it'south even more than critical.

How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows x for gratuitous

Starting time, y'all'll want to have your Windows seven product key in hand in instance things become awry. If you lot're using a prebuilt PC bought at a store—the usual tower computers by Dell, HP, etc.—so information technology should accept a sticker somewhere that includes the product key. If not, free tools like Belarc Advisor or NirSoft's ProduKey can browse your system and detect it for y'all. Jot it down and proceed it handy.

With that washed, back up your data. Upgrading to a new operating system is a major task, and you lot don't want to lose your precious photos and files if things become wrong. We've got guides to the all-time Windows backup software and online backup options, merely even stashing your most valued files on a USB fundamental or external drive works. Whatever method you apply, just make certain your information'south backed upward somewhere safety.

Next, head to Microsoft's Windows Media Creation Tool folio and click the Upgrade Now button. The Media Creation Tool will download to your reckoner. Run it, select the Upgrade this PC now choice when prompted—not "Create installation media"—and choose to keep your apps and files. Click Install and wait for the tool to work its magic. After several reboots (and potentially a long look), you'll be on Windows 10, which is still existence supported for years to come up. Yay!

If you want to take a more complicated route, yous can also apply the "Create installation media" option to make clean install Windows 10, inputting the Windows seven product fundamental you dredged up earlier when yous're asked for your Windows 10 license. How To Geek'south commodity walks you through the process step-by-step. Most people should stick with using the much simpler Upgrade this PC now option, though.

Sometimes, Microsoft will forestall the upgrade from occurring considering of compatibility errors with your hardware or software. If then, you'll be dumped back into Windows 7 after a reboot. Troubleshooting those errors gets hairy and far beyond the scope of this commodity. Consider checking if there's a BIOS or firmware update available for your system if you run into an issue, though. Find one? Install it and run Microsoft's upgrade tool again.

If you're still out of luck, check out our guide to running Windows 7 safely, and consider migrating to Linux or buying a new Chromebook or Windows PC to hop back on the security update bandwagon. Seriously: You don't desire to be running an unpatched, insecure operating system in today'south globe. Linux is much more user-friendly than it used to be and should handle virtually people's basic needs with minimal headaches.

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