The Windows 7 and 8 to Windows 10 free update offers have officially ended. But it is still possible to get the latest version of the OS, without paying a dollar.
During the launch of Windows 10 in July 2015, Microsoft undertook a major promotional campaign to offer its OS for free to users of Windows 7 and 8 / 8.1. This free update was valid for one year and then it was still possible to do it through the Microsoft site dedicated to assistive technologies, used for example by the visually impaired. The editor has put an end to this operation but all is not lost if you still want to update your Windows 7/8 / 8.1 machine. For that :
1 – Download the media creation tool
To install Windows 10, you need an empty USB key of at least 8 GB. Download the media creation tool, plug in the key and run the program MediaCreationTool.exe from the file explorer.
2 – Create your installation USB key
- Accept the terms of the license agreement, and then click Create installation media and on the button Following. Check that the language and version of Windows (32-bit or 64-bit) are correct. Click on the button Following.
Click on USB flash memory disk then on the button Following. Select your USB key from the list and click on Following. The USB drive is then erased and the download of the Windows 10 installation files begins.
3 – Start the installation of Windows 10
You then have two choices. If you start the PC from the USB drive, you perform a full installation of Windows 10 that deletes all previous data (apps, user files) and requires entering your current Windows product key to activate the BONE. This is not the path we suggest you follow.
- To update your current system and keep your data and apps, launch File Explorer, click on the USB drive in the tree view and double-click on setup.exe.
- In the window Get important updates, Click on the button Following. Then click on the button Accept for the window Notice and applicable license terms. When the window Ready for installation appears, Click on the button To install.
- The computer will restart several times during the installation, which is perfectly normal.
4 – Check the activation
Use the key combination
In the section Windows activation, the mention the reference Windows is activated must be present. If not, click Change product key and enter the key that came with your old OS (it comes in the form of five groups of five letters and numbers separated by dashes).