How To Geek Windows 10

It was a smashing ride, just today it's over. On January 14, 2020, Microsoft ended the life of ane of its greatest operating systems e'er. Windows 7 is dead.

Your reckoner will yet power on, but it won't receive any more security updates, and any bugs found won't get fixed. Bottom line: It's unsafe to keep using Windows 7, especially if you shop online or store any personal information on your PC. We've got tips on how to stay as condom as possible now on Windows 7 now that security updates are done but your all-time bet is migrating to a more than modern operating organization. Good news! Remember Microsoft's offer of a free Windows 10 upgrade, the one that ostensibly ended years agone? It's quietly still bachelor.

Yep, if you lot're running a valid, licensed Windows seven Dwelling house, Pro, or Ultimate estimator, you can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free, as confirmed past How To Geek, ZDNet, and Bleeping Estimator.

It's unclear how long this volition proceed to be available, as the upgrade offering was officially yanked in 2016, then consider doing it sooner than later if you're interested. That said, since information technology nonetheless works, we're inclined to believe Microsoft doesn't mind this unofficial upgrade method and simply wants as many people off Windows seven every bit possible. At present that Windows vii is dead information technology'due south fifty-fifty more than critical.

How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free

First, yous'll want to have your Windows vii production primal in hand in example things go awry. If yous're using a prebuilt PC bought at a store—the usual tower computers by Dell, HP, etc.—then it should have a sticker somewhere that includes the production key. If non, free tools like Belarc Advisor or NirSoft's ProduKey tin can scan your arrangement and find information technology for you. Jot it downwardly and keep it handy.

With that done, back up your data. Upgrading to a new operating system is a major task, and you don't want to lose your precious photos and files if things go wrong. We've got guides to the best Windows fill-in software and online fill-in options, just even stashing your most valued files on a USB key or external drive works. Whatever method you use, simply brand sure your data's backed upward somewhere safety.

Side by side, head to Microsoft's Windows Media Cosmos Tool page and click the Upgrade Now push button. The Media Cosmos Tool will download to your computer. Run it, select the Upgrade this PC now option when prompted—not "Create installation media"—and choose to proceed your apps and files. Click Install and wait for the tool to work its magic. After several reboots (and potentially a long wait), you'll be on Windows 10, which is still being supported for years to come. Yay!

If you lot desire to have a more complicated route, you can also use the "Create installation media" option to clean install Windows 10, inputting the Windows vii production central you dredged up earlier when you lot're asked for your Windows 10 license. How To Geek's article walks yous through the process step-past-pace. Most people should stick with using the much simpler Upgrade this PC now pick, though.

Sometimes, Microsoft will prevent the upgrade from occurring because of compatibility errors with your hardware or software. If so, you'll be dumped back into Windows 7 after a reboot. Troubleshooting those errors gets hairy and far beyond the scope of this article. Consider checking if there'due south a BIOS or firmware update available for your system if you run into an issue, though. Find 1? 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 ownership a new Chromebook or Windows PC to hop back on the security update bandwagon. Seriously: You don't want to be running an unpatched, insecure operating system in today's world. Linux is much more than user-friendly than it used to exist and should handle near people's basic needs with minimal headaches.

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