Switching from windows 8 to 10. Ways to get a free license

If you want to know how to make the transition to Windows 10, then we can only congratulate you - here you will find the answer to your question, as well as detailed instructions... So, before we begin the story, I would like to note that installing a completely legal “top ten” on your computer after July 29, 2016 (when Microsoft stopped distributing it for free) is quite difficult. Numerous lamentations have already appeared on the Internet: “I can’t upgrade to Win 10 for free, what should I do??” Of course, you won’t be able to if you use outdated methods. But read our website and understand that not all is lost.

How to switch to official Windows 10 now

So is it still possible to upgrade to Windows 10 for free? After all, they no longer receive messages “update me, I’m all yours” ten times a day; even on the official website it’s no longer possible to download for free, and licenses for ten are being sold with all their might. Yes, everything stated above is true, but Microsoft left the last loophole. It’s still working, so let’s use it until it’s closed:

1. Conditions for switching to Windows 10: you must have a licensed OS 7, 8 or 8.1
2. You need to go to one of the pages of the official Microsoft website. There are a dozen offered for people with disabilities. It has special features such as a virtual keyboard or a magnifying glass (you don’t have to turn it on). Otherwise, Vinda is completely ordinary;
3. Click “Update now” - it will download to your computer installation file(look on your desktop);
4. Click on the file - it starts - follow the instructions.
5. After the reboot, we get a new ten for use.

How could you move to ten earlier?

Method number 1: update

So, if you needed to know how to completely switch to Windows 10 from a licensed “seven” or “eight”, then the answer was quite simple:

• check if you have it enabled automatic update and, if so, just wait;
• sooner or later, a prompt to update would appear on your screen, after which you would need to download a couple of gigabytes of files (all this would happen without your intervention);
• then simply press the “Next” button until the new OS greets you from the PC screen.

To check the update service, you had to do the following:

Step #1

Open Start – Control Panel.

Step #2

Double-click on the "Update Center" icon.

Step #3

Open the “Settings” section on the left side of the window.

Step #4

Switch installation mode by selecting “Install updates automatically.”

Step #5

Click OK.

Method number 2: insider

The second answer to the question of how it was possible to make the transition from Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 to Windows 10 for free, was suitable for those who at one time spared money for a license. In this case you needed account Microsoft, which had access to insider information Microsoft program. Then all that was left was to download one of the insider builds (fortunately, they are still lying around on torrents), and then wait until it is updated to the latest build.

However, it is worth considering that in the second case you will act as a test subject, since you will receive all the new features and updates before other users. There are both pros and cons to this; for example, you may well end up with “crude” software that has several errors. However, they are corrected quite quickly...

That's it. Now you can tell your friends how to enable Windows 10 migration.

Let's take a look at how you can downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, depending on which operating system was previously installed on your computer. This is an opportunity to roll back from Windows 10 to the previous version operating system, will be available for a month starting from the day you upgraded your OS to Windows 10.

Why might it be necessary to revert to a previous operating system? The reasons for a system rollback can be very different.

The most common reasons: do not work in Windows 10 necessary programs, computer hardware stopped working correctly due to the lack of drivers optimized for the new operating system (this is especially true for older computers), some simply did not like Windows 10 (everyone has different tastes), etc.

In the case of old equipment, most likely nothing can be done. Manufacturers will not release new Windows 10 compatible drivers for older hardware. In the case of programs, there is a possibility that many developers will still update their applications to be able to use them in Windows 10.

For such cases, we have provided the possibility of returning from Windows 10 to the previous operating system Windows 8.1 or Windows 7. The files of the previous system will be saved for a month on your computer in the Windows.old folder, which will be used to roll back to the previous system.

Will it be possible to upgrade to Windows 10 again after some time? Yes, of course, you can upgrade to the Windows 10 operating system again for free within a year, until July 29, 2016.

How to roll back Windows 10

Go to the Start menu and click on Settings. After this, the “Settings” window will open, in which you will need to click on “Update and Security”.

In the Update and Security section, open the Recovery tab. Here you will see the option “Return to Windows 8.1” or “Return to Windows 7”, depending on which operating system you upgraded your computer to Windows 10 from.

informs you that this feature is only available for a month after upgrading to Windows 10. To begin the process of returning your computer to its previous operating system, click on the “Start” button.

After this, the “Why are you returning?” window will open, in which you will need to check one of the items:

• My apps or devices don't work on Windows 10
• Windows 8.1 was easier to use
• Windows 8.1 was faster
• Windows 8.1 was more reliable
• For another reason

In the “Tell me in more detail” field, you can describe your reasons for switching to the previous operating system Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. As you can see, it collects information and user feedback in order to better understand the reasons that prompt users to downgrade from Windows 10.

After selecting the appropriate item, the “Next” button will then become active; click on it to continue the process of returning to the previous operating system.

The next "What you need to know" window will inform you that the process to return to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 will take some time. During this time, your computer must remain turned on.

After downgrading to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you may need to reinstall some applications and programs. All the settings you have applied to your PC in Windows 10 will be reverted.

To start the process of returning to the previous operating system, click on the “Next” button. This operation will be irreversible. If you are still in doubt whether you should return from Windows 10 to the previous OS, then you can click on the “Cancel” button to terminate this process.

After starting the process, your computer will reboot, after which the process of returning to the previous operating system will begin. This operation will take some time, please wait for it to complete.

In the final part, after the reboot, your computer will load the previous operating system Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Now you can use the old system on your computer again.

Conclusions of the article

Within a month of upgrading to Windows 10, you can switch back from Windows 10 to the old Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 operating system.

How to downgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 8.1 or Windows 7 (video)

Almost immediately after the release of Windows 10, Microsoft began offering users to upgrade to the new operating system. True, soon regular offers turned into an active policy of imposing a new operating system. Fortunately, users still have the opportunity to return to old version operating system, if it was updated from a special Microsoft interface.

What could cause a rollback?

In fact, there can be many reasons, but here are the main ones:

• The computer has stopped working correctly. For example, it began to heat up very much, although previously under similar loads it did not heat up or practically did not heat up;
• Don't like the fact that you can't opt ​​out of Microsoft updates? new version Windows. Sometimes installing updates on Windows 10 can take a long time and the update may be “raw” and/or not work correctly;
• Some programs that previously worked without problems on Windows 8 now do not run on Windows 10 or do not work correctly on it;
• You are accustomed to the interface of the old operating system and the changes in the new one were not to your liking.

Specially for such cases, the opportunity to return to the old one was provided Windows version. However, there is a prerequisite for this - the files of the old operating system had to be saved in the Windows.old folder, which is automatically created. However, during installation, the user can refuse to create it.

How to roll back to Windows 8 after upgrading to Windows 10

If you performed the update using a standard Microsoft utility, which is specifically designed for these tasks, then the rollback process will be as simple as possible. It looks like this:

You should understand that once you roll back, it will be difficult to go back to Windows 10. Firstly, the opportunity will disappear free update operating system. Secondly, you will have to download a separate image of the operating system and install it manually from the regular Windows Installer interface.

Reinstalling the system

If for some reason the folders Windows.old is not on the computer, then you are unlikely to be able to perform a rollback according to the instructions presented above, since the files necessary for recovery will be missing. In this case you will have to download separately Windows image 8, write it to media and try to install it. Before you start installing Windows 8 again, it is recommended to do backup copy your data, as it may be deleted.

In this article, we will not consider how to create an image for media with an operating system. Instructions for reinstalling the operating system are as follows:

1. Insert a flash drive with an operating system image pre-recorded on it. Restart your computer.
2. Initially, the computer will not start through the installation flash drive, but will launch Windows 10. To fix this, you need to go to the BIOS and configure the startup priority settings there. To do this, press the key combination from F2 to F12 or Del. The specific key depends on your motherboard. You can find out how to enter the BIOS on your computer in its documentation.
3. It is worth considering that the BIOS interface on different devices may also be different. Most likely you will have to go to the item with the name "Advanced" or "Boot". All transitions are made using the arrow keys and the key Enter. The mouse does not work in BIOS.
4. At this point, find the column "1st Boot Device" or with a similar name. Select it and click Enter. In the window that appears, select the disk from which the computer will boot. In this case, you need to select your USB device.




5. All that remains is to save the changes in the BIOS. Use the key F10 or item "Save Changes and Exit".
6. The computer will boot from the flash drive on which the operating system image is recorded. In the window that opens, you need to select the language in which the installation will take place and which will be used in the operating system. Click on the button "Next".




7. Now you only need to click on "Install".




8. Select the G8 version to which you would like to roll back.
9. Accept the terms of the license agreement.




10. In the window where you select the installation type, it is recommended to click on the item "Custom: Windows installation only".




11. Find that section hard drive, where Windows 10 was previously installed. This partition needs to be formatted if you do not want Windows 10 still on the computer. All user data on this disk will be deleted.
12. Now select the newly formatted hard drive partition and click on the button "Next".




13. Wait until Windows 8 installation is complete. During this time, the computer may reboot several times or freeze completely. Ignore this and let it finish installing the OS.
14. When the installation is complete, you will have to make a couple of custom settings, and you will be able to fully use the old operating system.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult about downgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 8. However, before you start the procedure, do not forget that it is better to save your personal data just in case.

Free upgrade to Windows 10 from other operating systems - Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 was available until July 29, 2016. If you previously refused to install Windows 10, now the only option is to purchase licensed version this operating system for money. But today there is still a way to bypass this limitation and make a free transition to Windows 10. About how to update to the new operating system and activate free Windows 10 you will learn from this article.

How to upgrade to Windows 10 for free

The options may be as follows:

Attention! Be sure to wait until the updater completes. The process itself can take a long time, as some users note, up to a day and a half.

It is clear that with this update method the system is activated automatically. Of course, if the previous operating system you installed had a real license key.

1. This option is for those who have already upgraded to Windows 10 during the free distribution of this OS, but then deleted it for some reason. You can produce clean Windows installation 10 from the distribution kit, and when the installation is complete, in response to the key request, select “I don’t have a key.” In this case, the operating system activates itself, but there must be access to the Internet.
2. According to some reports on the Internet, at the end of 2016 the method was still in effect Windows activation 10 with a clean installation using keys from Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. Perhaps it is no longer relevant.

Are you looking for how to properly upgrade Windows 8 to Windows 10!? Then you've come to the right place.

Read about how to do this correctly in our review.

To update or not to update - that is the question?

According to data provided by Net Applications, the most popular OS today is still Windows 7.

The eighth version was only slightly ahead of the once popular Windows XP, which ranks 3rd in the ranking.

But things are completely different with Windows 10 in just 2 months (!) it was able to take 5th place, which is quite good compared to the previous release from Microsoft.
Why is the new OS so popular?

Apparently, the developers tried to follow the rule of the golden mean, taking the best from the two previous releases - the convenience of the seventh and the creativity of the eighth version.

For example, changes affected the Start menu, the style of which the user chooses from personal preferences - classic/modern.

After opening, the application does not occupy the entire screen (as on a tablet), but takes on the classic look that most PC users are accustomed to.

You can simultaneously place up to 4 applications on the desktop, and their size will be automatically scaled by the system. Running applications are now highlighted like in Windows 7.

By using a mode that is very similar to Hibernation mode, Windows 10 can boot faster compared to previous versions.

Important! Also important is the fact that the “ten” has more complete driver support than the “seven”.

In conclusion, it is worth mentioning two OS reinstallation functions that are not present in Windows 7: using the Refresh function, you can save all data by deleting all operating system and application settings.

The Reset functions are complemented by Refresh, allowing you to delete, incl. and user data.

Main support for the "Seven" ended in January 2015, so the user will no longer see any functional changes in the system.

Extended support, during which security updates will be released, will last until January 2020.

For those who are hesitant in making a decision, we will say that after the update you will have 30 days during which you can roll back to the previous version - the main condition is not to delete the Windows.old directory.

Ways to upgrade Windows 7 and 8 to Windows 10

Please note that the free update is only possible within a year from the release of Windows 10.

There are 2 ways in which you can perform the update:

• "Update Center" this method allows you to save personal data, user settings and compatible programs.
  If an update occurs for Windows 7 desktop widgets, standard games, Media Center will be deleted, and analogues will be loaded instead.
• Download the Windows 10 image from the official Microsoft website.

A significant disadvantage of the first method is the fact that the update will be performed after some time, and not immediately.

The fact is that millions of users around the world are going through the update process, and the company’s servers from which the download occurs have a limited resource, so you have to wait for notification.

This period can vary depending on your luck, from several days to several weeks.

On the other hand, this approach has an advantage for the lazy or inexperienced users who do not want or cannot speed up the update process.

The second method allows you to start updating immediately after downloading the disk image and burning it to a flash drive or DVD.

Read about how to install Windows 10 using this method in our next article.

Updating Windows 7 and 8 to Windows 10 via Update Center

Step 1. Make sure that all the most latest updates Windows. Open the “Control Panel” utility and go to the “Windows Update” section.
On the left, click on the “Settings” link and make sure that the options shown in the picture below are checked:

Step 2. Open the “Get Windows 10” application icon, which is located near the system tray.

Step 3. We go through the application menu, answering questions and filling out the required fields. During the process, a report will be generated whether Windows 10 will work on this computer or not, as well as a list of devices with which problems may arise.

Step 4. We reserve the update.

Step 5. If several days have passed after the above operations and the update has not arrived, we will try to speed up this process. IN command line opened with administrator rights, run the command wuauclt.exe /updatenow.

Step 6. We are opening the Center again Windows updates" Within a fairly short time, usually no more than 20 minutes after the command is executed, the process should begin Windows boot 10, which lasts about an hour on average.

Step 7 After downloading, the installation process will automatically begin. Installation takes about 10-15 minutes.

The installation of the system ends with a couple of dialogues in which you need to once again confirm the seriousness of your intentions, and if for some reason you change your mind at this step, you can return everything back.

After this, the system offers to postpone the update for a while or perform the installation now.

Whichever option is selected, the system will reboot to configure the hardware (this will take about 20 minutes).

After installation, the OS is prepared to start and very soon a black screen will replace the welcome screen. Congratulations, you have updated your system to Windows 10!

Upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 10

The release of Windows 10, which successfully took place on July 29, 2015, allowed PC users around the world to immediately try this new product. The easiest way to do this could be Windows users 8. It was enough to reserve the update and wait for it to download