OT: Upgrading to Windows 10 directly, for free

PeterDuke schrieb am 20.12.2015 um 03:44 Uhr

Having now upgraded three computers to Windows 10, I thought that I would share my documented steps. It is based on a blog by Tom Warren, which I have expanded and I hope clarified.

How to upgrade to Windows 10 without waiting in line

Microsoft is providing a free upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 users, via the normal upgrade process. Here is a way that you can avoid the wait and upgrade to Windows 10 straight away and optionally create a clean Windows 10 installation disc/drive. You have 12 months to do this for free, following the release of Windows 10 on July 29, 2015.

Firstly, back up all your files and data just in case. If you're on a 32-bit version of Windows, then download the 32-bit Media Creation Tool, and if you're using a 64-bit version, then grab the 64-bit Media Creation Tool. You can check your Windows version by right clicking on My Computer or This PC in File Explorer and going to properties, and it will be listed under system type.

Run the tool and then select the “Upgrade this PC now” option. Windows 10 will start downloading, and once it's ready you'll be presented with three options: keep personal files and apps, keep personal files only, and nothing. Select the first option (keep personal files and apps) to ensure your PC upgrades and you keep your files and applications. Windows 10 will start installing and after a few reboots and customisations (and a few hours if you are on a slow internet connection) you'll be upgraded. If you decide you want to go back to your previous Windows installation, then you can safely restore by going to settings > update & security > and choose the option to go back.

If you want to be able to re-install Windows 10 from scratch, find the Windows 10 installation key that was allocated during the free upgrade, by using Belarc Advisor or other tool. Also note the version of Windows you now have (Home or Pro, 32 bit or 64 bit). Now create your Windows 10 installation media using the Media Creation Tool once more, but this time choose “Create installation media for another PC” and download the appropriate version as identified above. Note that the Windows Key has been authorised for this upgraded computer, and probably will not work on a different one. It should, however, work for both 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Windows 10 on that computer, but not both Home and Pro versions.

The above procedure involves the time consuming download of Windows 10 twice: firstly to upgrade your PC and secondly to create your reinstallation media. You can skip this second process if you like, but you cannot avoid the first if you want a free upgrade to Windows 10 (i.e. free installation key).

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Kommentare

PeterWright schrieb am 08.02.2016 um 12:10 Uhr

Hi Peter

Yes I've tried lots of things

One of your links:.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO

Clicking on “Upgrade now” downloads “Get Windows_sds.exe”
Clicking on this, a window opens – click on “Run” … nothing happens.

Before I try going for an ISO - does this only lead to a fresh installation?

If at all possible, want to avoid a new installation - I want to upgrade what I've got, partly because of all the "apps" that are already installed, but mainly because in W7 I have Windows Live Mail, and this contains an archive of hundreds or thousands of carefully organised emails going back years, both private and business, and losing this is unthinkable. If there's a way round this I'd love to hear.

PeterDuke schrieb am 09.02.2016 um 01:56 Uhr

Well, I have finally downloaded version 1511 (build 10586), but it doesn't give me the option to skip the installation key, like an earlier version did. When I enter the key reported by Belarc Advisor for my build 10240, it says that the key is invalid.

Hmmm. Have I downloaded the wrong version? Is it impossible to get a free upgrade directly to 1511? Is Microsoft still re-arranging the deck-chairs?

Stringer schrieb am 09.02.2016 um 02:05 Uhr

You may need to try the key with v10240, and then upgrade to 1511 if it works with 10240..

PeterDuke schrieb am 09.02.2016 um 04:51 Uhr

I was using the key that appeared after upgrading Win 7 directly to Win 10 build 10240 via the media generation tool.

I also tried my Win 7 key with build 10586 (v 1511), but that also failed. I read in a blog (or two) somewhere that Win 7/8 keys would work with build 10586. Perhaps Microsoft has now changed that as well.

To be continued...

PeterDuke schrieb am 09.02.2016 um 08:33 Uhr

Note to Peter Wright

I have just discovered another Microsoft gotcha! That is why I couldn't understand your last post.

If you access http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 from Windows XP you get switched to http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10ISO and vice versa if you use a later version of Windows.

On the http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 page (but not the other) there is a statement that says that if you are on an Enterprise edition, the Media Creation Tool and Upgrade Now button do not work, and to contact the Volume Licensing Service Center.

Are you by any chance on an Enterprise edition?

I also came across this site
http://superuser.com/questions/959354/how-do-i-upgrade-from-windows-8-1-enterprise-to-windows-10

PeterWright schrieb am 10.02.2016 um 01:46 Uhr

Thanks Peter - is OEM the same as Enterprise?

I'll try that anyway ....

PeterDuke schrieb am 10.02.2016 um 02:25 Uhr

Not necessarily. I have an OEM version of Windows 7. OEM versions are supposed to be used only by Original Equipment Manufacturers. You ask them to build you a computer and to put Windows on it for you. I have seen some suggestions that OEM versions can be problematic with regard to the free upgrade. I wondered whether that was behind the normal update process being broken on my system.

I am currently working with Microsoft Customer Support. He has got as far as initiating download of yet another Win 10 ISO file that is estimated to take another 10 hrs! This copy has a slightly different file name to the one I downloaded (he tried it but it wanted a key) and is coming from microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/techbench. He thinks that he won't have to enter a key for this version. We will see - tomorrow.

Enterprise edition, as I understand it, is for large companies such as Telstra where I used to work. I think the installation disc is pre-configured for the company (the company name is hard coded in, for instance) and doesn't use a key. It would include a site licence. There could be minor extras as well.

PeterDuke schrieb am 11.02.2016 um 03:16 Uhr

I am now updated to build 10586 (version 1511) on my main computer. This time on the download page I used the "Windows 10" option rather than "Windows 10 Single Language". They both ask you to choose between "English" (EN-US) and "English International" (EN-GB), so the "single language" qualifier is not clear to me. EN-US and EN-GB are treated as different languages, as I found out when I tried to update an EN-US installation with an EN-GB disc. The "single language" version is slightly smaller. The important thing is that the plain Windows 10 version did not ask for a key.

I understand that the "Windows 10 KN" and "Windows 10 N" versions do not have the Microsoft Media Player, but it can be added later. What the difference between these two versions is I don't know.

PeterDuke schrieb am 11.02.2016 um 03:30 Uhr

While stumbling around on the internet I found a comment that although the Media Creation Tool had reverted back to Build 10240, the build 10586 version was still available on some development sites. I downloaded a copy from http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/C/4/1C41BC6B-F8AB-403B-B04E-C96ED6047488/MediaCreationTool.exe

If you right-click on it, select Properties and then Version, you will see 10586.

I have not tried to use it.