Windows 10 Upgrade from Windows 7
Windows 10 is much more usable than Wndows 8 or 8.1 and proudly offers a bundle of new features, including improved security, a new browser, and the voice-activated intelligent assistant Cortana. You might even call Windows 10 the most revolutionary version of Windows ever, mainly because it will be continually upgraded as part of Microsoft’s "Windows as a service" effort.
Have a Windows 7 machine and thinking about upgrading to Windows 10? Even though this could be a relatively easy task for many users, it may not be as easy for everyone else. There are few things you want to keep in mind. As such today, we’re going to go through the basics to try to minimize any friction that may appear upgrading to Windows 10 from Windows 7.
Upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10
Windows 10 will be free for the first year after it’s released on July 29. It will be free for those users running a genuine copy of Windows 7 and Windows 8. However, before you jump into the upgrade, there are some things you need to know. For example, you’ll be getting the operating system free of charge, but only if you’re running Windows 7 with Service Pack 1.
You can check if you have Service Pack 1 by opening the Run command with the Windows + R keyboard shortcut, typing winver, and below the operating system name, it should read "Version 6.1 (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)".
If you don’t have it, you will have to install the update via Windows Update, or by visiting this Microsoft support page. You can manually download the update. Make sure to download "windows6.1-KB976932-X64.exe" if you’re running a 64-bit version or "windows6.1-KB976932-X86.exe" if you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows 7.
Once you have the latest updates installed and made sure Windows Update is enabled, the "Get Windows 10" app should soon appear in the notification area with a Windows icon. At this point, if you don’t see the app, your computer is probably not compatible with Windows 10. It’s also possible that Windows Update isn’t configured correctly.
In case you don’t want to deal with Windows Update, you can download the update KB3035583, which will install the "Get Windows 10" (KB2952664) app in your system. After you install the app, click the Windows icon in the lower-right corner of the screen, and then click the Reserve your free upgrade button. Enter an email address to get a confirmation when the operating system is ready to install, click the Send confirmation, and you’re good to go.
Luckily, the Get Windows 10 app also includes a PC checkup tool that will list any problems with your computer, and various other information you need to know before the upgrade. To check your PC compatibility, open the Get Windows 10 app, click the hamburger button, and from the menu click Check your PC.
Once Windows 10 is available for your computer, you will get notified. Even though the installation should be straightforward, you should make a backup of all your personal files to an external storage and make a full backup of your system using the built-in System Image Backup tool.
Next, you want to disable or uninstall your antivirus and other security software, and you want to disconnect any peripherals other than your keyboard, mouse, and monitor. You may also want to uninstall any applications that you don’t use or apps that have been listed by the "Get Windows 10" as problematic. Sometimes antivirus, peripherals, and certain software could be the cause of an unsuccessful installation.
You also want to make sure you have at least 10GB or more of free storage space available to perform the upgrade. Windows 10 requires at least 16GB of space to install the 32-bit or 20GB to install the 64-bit version.
Windows 10 Upgrade Media Tool
For people looking to create offline media to upgrade one or more PCs, we’re also making improvements. Media Creation Tool allows to create DVD ISOs or USB keys, to create a single image capable of upgrading any 32bit or 64 bit, Home or Pro, device. You can use this media to upgrade any number of Genuine PCs, and even do clean installs wherever you have a Windows license.
Once Windows 10 is available to you (time that will vary from PC to PC), a notification on your desktop will appear. Just accept the Important Legal Stuff, and then the Windows setup wizard Your upgrade is ready to install will pop up. You can schedule a time to upgrade, or you can click Start the upgrade now to begin the process.
Can I revert back to to Windows 7?
The good news: Yes, you can! The bad news: You only have one month to decide if you want to keep Windows 10 or not if you updated from Windows 7. To remove Windows 10 and revert back to your version of Windows 7, you’ll want to go into the Settings page > "Update & security" > Recovery.