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Still running Windows 7? Time is running out to upgrade to Windows What to know – CNET – Windows 10 May 2021 Update

Windows 7 users who don’t upgrade to the new version will no longer be able to get Microsoft’s security updates or fixes, or technical support for any issues, leaving your computer at greater risk from viruses and malware. While Windows 10 users have experienced a number of bugs over the years, upgrading remains the best option for keeping your computer safe , analysts say. And more people seem to be making the move: Windows 10 now has more than 1 billion active users worldwide, Microsoft reported in March.
Here’s how to get Windows 10 for free, if you’re currently running a licensed and activated copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8. Go to the Download Windows 10 website. Under Create Windows 10 installation media , click Download tool now and Run. If you’re upgrading a different machine, choose Create installation media for another PC , and save the installation files. It should be noted that if you have a Windows 7 or 8 Home license, you can only update to Windows 10 Home, while Windows 7 or 8 Pro can only be updated to Windows 10 Pro.
The upgrade is not available for Windows Enterprise. Other users may experience blocks as well , depending on your machine. This upgrade using the media creation tool isn’t meant for the general consumer, but it works for many nonetheless.
To get the best Windows 10 experience and take advantage of features like passwordless sign-on through Windows Hello , you’ll want to purchase a new Windows 10 PC or one released after July with all the hardware upgrades. If you’re a student or university faculty member, you may also be able to download Windows 10 for free search for your school’s software offerings here. For more, check out the best antivirus protection of for Windows 10 , six security changes all Windows 10 users need to make and everything to know about the Windows 10 spring update , and three new features from the Windows 10 October update and how to use them.
You can also get Microsoft Office online free , too. Why Roma migrants from Europe are taking rafts from Mexico to enter the U. WhatsApp goes to court over India privacy rules. Replay Video. Skip Ad. Before you get started, we recommend you back up your files. We also encourage you to find your Windows 7 or Windows 8 key , just in case you need it. During the upgrade process, you can choose whether you want to keep all the files on your system or start fresh.
If you sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, that license will be linked to your Microsoft account, making it even easier to reactivate Windows 10 on your PC if you ever need to install it. And yes, you should be able to perform a clean install of Windows 10 in the future. If you have a Windows 7 system, it really is a good idea to upgrade. Windows Mac iPhone Android.
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– How to Download Windows 10 for Free – ExtremeTech
If you’ve been waiting to claim your free Windows 10 upgrade using the “assistive technologies” exception, you need to act soon. In a quiet change to an obscure web page, Microsoft announced this week that those exceptions will end on December 31, On July 29, , Microsoft officially ended the Get Windows 10 program , which offered free Windows 10 upgrades to anyone currently running a supported earlier version of Windows.
Under the terms of that announcement, individuals who use “assistive technologies” received an automatic extension of the free upgrade offer. And as a Microsoft spokesperson explained at the time:. Sometime in the past week, Microsoft quietly edited that page.
Under the FAQ heading, the original version said, “We will make a public announcement prior to ending the offer. That text has been replaced and now reads: “The accessibility upgrade offer expires on December 31, The general Upgrade to Windows 10 FAQ page has also been revised to include the expiration date for this offer.
That page has a “last reviewed” date of October 24, The highlighted text here is new, added at the same time as the release of the Fall Creators Update.
Part of the stated justification for the original exception was the fact that Microsoft was still working on accessibility options for Windows 10, with a specific call-out to changes scheduled to arrive as part of the July Anniversary Update. There have been two feature updates since then, and the Anniversary Update is now the oldest supported Windows 10 version on the market. The practical impact of this change is likely to be minimal.
Corporations that have planned their upgrades to Windows 10 aren’t making budgets based on this loophole. Individuals and small businesses that have said no to the upgrade for more than two years are hanging on to the original operating system on older hardware by choice. One practical question is whether Microsoft plans to tighten its activation code and start rejecting the automatic issuance of a digital license for Windows 10 when upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.
Here’s how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade. Microsoft’s much-hyped free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended last year, right? Maybe not. The GWX tool may be gone, but all the other upgrade tools still work, and the end result is an apparently valid digital license. Here’s how to get yours. Those free Windows 10 upgrades are over. Now what? We’ve reached the end of Microsoft’s unprecedented free upgrade offer for Windows If you choose to upgrade an old Windows PC, you’ll now have to pay.
But good news: Those annoying GWX notifications are finally gone. How to install, reinstall, upgrade and activate Windows Here’s everything you need to know before you repair, reinstall, or upgrade Windows 10, including details about activation and product keys.
Prisoner’s dilemma: Microsoft can’t break Windows out of its PC jail. How to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro for free. LastPass password manager fine-tunes its multi-factor authentication options. How to set up a new Windows 10 PC perfectly in one hour or less. By registering, you agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices outlined in the Privacy Policy.
You may unsubscribe from these newsletters at any time. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to receive the selected newsletter s which you may unsubscribe from at any time. You also agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge the data collection and usage practices outlined in our Privacy Policy. Microsoft’s Build event doesn’t have a whole lot of Windows-specific news, but there are some tidbits of potential interest to Windows developers, especially those wanting Microsoft Build How to watch and what to expect.
Microsoft’s annual developer conference will be a virtual event again. Make the year you switch to a well-paying career in tech by training in high-demand Microsoft services. Microsoft is dropping support for IE on many versions of Windows 10 on June 15, Microsoft is taking another big step toward getting rid of Internet Explorer next year, but not every Windows variant still will be IE-free by You’ve got a new PC running Windows 10 Home. You want to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro. Here’s how to get that upgrade for free.
Microsoft officially acknowledges Windows 10X isn’t happening. Instead, some of the 10X technologies will be integrated into Microsoft kicks off the rollout of Windows 10 21H1. Microsoft is starting to roll out its Windows 10 21H1 feature update. Here’s how and where you can get it. Whether you’re installing a brand-new PC, or renewing an older PC with a freshly formatted system drive, this clean install checklist will ensure you don’t miss any key steps along The Chromebook turns Cheap, safe, powerful — and still gaining on Windows.
A lot of people thought Chromebooks wouldn’t last but a decade later they have become the 21st century PC. Watch Now. Windows 10 Windows Ed Bott’s five favorite free utilities Here’s how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade Windows 10 privacy guide: How to take control Seven Windows 10 annoyances and how to fix them Windows 10 update: The complete guide The ultimate Windows 10 information hub: Everything you need in one place Ready to run Linux on Windows 10?
My Profile Log Out. Join Discussion. Add Your Comment. Windows 10 How to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro for free. Security LastPass password manager fine-tunes its multi-factor authentication options. Windows 10 How to set up a new Windows 10 PC perfectly in one hour or less. Please review our terms of service to complete your newsletter subscription. Microsoft support for Linux GUI apps on Windows 10 coming later this year Microsoft’s Build event doesn’t have a whole lot of Windows-specific news, but there are some tidbits of potential interest to Windows developers, especially those wanting Microsoft Build How to watch and what to expect Microsoft’s annual developer conference will be a virtual event again.
Microsoft is dropping support for IE on many versions of Windows 10 on June 15, Microsoft is taking another big step toward getting rid of Internet Explorer next year, but not every Windows variant still will be IE-free by Microsoft officially acknowledges Windows 10X isn’t happening Microsoft officials have admitted what leaked a week-plus ago: Its Chrome-OS competitor, Windows 10X, isn’t coming.
Microsoft kicks off the rollout of Windows 10 21H1 Microsoft is starting to roll out its Windows 10 21H1 feature update. How to set up a new Windows 10 PC perfectly in one hour or less Whether you’re installing a brand-new PC, or renewing an older PC with a freshly formatted system drive, this clean install checklist will ensure you don’t miss any key steps along The Chromebook turns Cheap, safe, powerful — and still gaining on Windows A lot of people thought Chromebooks wouldn’t last but a decade later they have become the 21st century PC.