Get Windows 10 Free: How to Upgrade After July 29th
Windows 10 Free Upgrade Deadline Approaching
Microsoft has officially announced that the complimentary upgrade offer for Windows 10 will conclude on July 29, 2016. Following this date, a purchase price of $119 will be required to upgrade any eligible computer that hasn't yet been updated.
However, a straightforward process allows users to secure a free copy of Windows 10 in advance. This ensures the ability to upgrade after July 29 without incurring any costs.
How to Reserve Your Free Upgrade
It’s understood that not all users are immediately ready to transition to Windows 10, and this is perfectly acceptable. Nevertheless, eventual adoption is likely for most. Avoiding the $119 upgrade fee is a significant benefit.
A strategic approach involves upgrading a computer to Windows 10 and subsequently reverting to Windows 7 or Windows 8. This action preserves the original operating system while simultaneously securing a free Windows 10 license for all associated PCs.
Benefits of Reserving Now
- Maintain your current operating system.
- Secure a free Windows 10 license.
- Avoid the $119 upgrade cost in the future.
By taking these steps, users can proactively safeguard their access to Windows 10 without being subject to the post-deadline pricing.
Understanding Windows 10 Digital Entitlement
Upon upgrading to Windows 10 from a legitimately licensed and activated copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, your computer gains a "digital entitlement." Essentially, Microsoft records your device’s unique hardware configuration as eligible for a Windows 10 license.
This eligibility is permanent. A clean installation of Windows 10 will automatically activate, eliminating the need for a product key.
Importantly, this entitlement is linked to the hardware of your computer, not your Microsoft account. The free Windows 10 upgrade is valid only for the original device.
Changing the motherboard or attempting installation on a different computer lacking the digital entitlement will prevent activation.
Reserving Your Windows 10 Upgrade
To secure your entitlement without immediately committing to Windows 10, you can upgrade and then revert to your previous operating system. This allows you to retain your preferred version of Windows while preserving future access to Windows 10 without cost.
We will detail two approaches: a straightforward upgrade and rollback process, and a more advanced method utilizing disk cloning to ensure a completely restored system state.
Methods for Obtaining a Digital Entitlement
- Simple Upgrade and Rollback: This method involves upgrading to Windows 10 and then using the built-in rollback feature to return to Windows 7 or 8.1.
- Disk Cloning: This more complex approach creates an exact copy of your current system, allowing you to revert with complete confidence.
Both methods ensure your PC is recognized by Microsoft as eligible for Windows 10 at any time in the future, avoiding the need to purchase a license.
A Straightforward (Though Not Flawless) Approach: Upgrade and Revert
Related: Guidance on Uninstalling Windows 10 and Returning to Windows 7 or 8.1
A relatively simple method for accomplishing this involves utilizing the "roll back" functionality to uninstall Windows 10 and reinstate your previous Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 installation. However, complete success isn't always guaranteed. Certain applications might be uninstalled during the upgrade process, necessitating their subsequent reinstallation.
For those prioritizing a completely preserved system state, the more involved procedure detailed in the following section is recommended. If a quick solution is desired, and minimal time investment is preferred, the upgrade and roll back technique offers convenience.
Begin by downloading the Windows 10 upgrade tool and executing it. Accept the terms to initiate the upgrade of your personal computer to Windows 10.
Following the installation of Windows 10, access the "Start" menu and select "Settings." Then, navigate to Update & Security > Activation. Verify that the status indicates "Windows 10 on this device is activated with a digital entitlement."
This confirmation signifies that your PC is registered with Microsoft, allowing for future installations of Windows 10. A period of time may be required for Windows to establish communication with the activation servers.
Upon successful activation, proceed to the Recovery tab and click the "Get started" button located under "Go back to Windows 7" or "Go back to Windows 8.1."
Windows 10 will automatically uninstall itself and restore your previous Windows operating system to your hard drive. This completes the process. You have successfully reverted to Windows 7 or 8, while retaining eligibility for a free upgrade to Windows 10, even beyond the original July deadline.
A Detailed Approach: Imaging and System Drive Restoration
To ensure maximum data security, it is advisable to create a system image of your Windows 7 or 8.1 installation before initiating an upgrade. Subsequently, this cloned image can be restored to your computer, effectively reverting it to its pre-upgrade condition.
This process necessitates an additional hard drive, possessing a capacity equal to or greater than your computer’s primary drive. Alternatively, multiple optical discs can be utilized, though this method may be considerably time-consuming.
A third-party imaging tool is also required to create the system image. Macrium Reflect is a recommended solution. Download and install the free version available on their website, then launch the application.
You will be prompted to generate rescue media, which will be essential for restoring your backup image. If this prompt doesn't appear, navigate to Other Tasks > Create Rescue Media. Proceed through the wizard, accepting the default settings and selecting your preferred device for the bootable media – either a USB drive or an optical disc.
Within the main Macrium Reflect interface, select the option "Create an image of the partition(s) required to backup and restore Windows" from the sidebar. In the Disk Image window, verify that the entire disk is checked under "Source" to encompass all partitions.
Under "Destination," designate your spare hard drive as the storage location for the image file.
Proceed through the wizard by clicking "Next," bypassing any advanced settings related to templates or scheduling. Conclude the process by clicking "Finish," and allow Macrium Reflect to complete the drive imaging.
See Also: How to Create an Image of Your PC Before Upgrading to Windows 10
Should you encounter any difficulties during this stage, consult our comprehensive guide on creating a Windows image backup for more detailed guidance.
Upon completion of the imaging process, download and execute the Windows 10 upgrade tool. Initiate the upgrade of your PC to Windows 10, allowing sufficient time for the process to finalize.
Following the upgrade, your computer should theoretically retain permanent eligibility for Windows 10.
To confirm this, access the "Settings" app by clicking the "Start" button in Windows 10 and selecting "Settings." Navigate to Update & Security > Activation. Verify that the status indicates "Windows 10 on this device is activated with a digital entitlement." This confirms registration with Microsoft, enabling future installations of Windows 10.
If verification is successful, you may now proceed to revert to your original system configuration.
Boot your computer from the Macrium Reflect recovery drive created earlier. This can be achieved by accessing the boot menu during startup or modifying the computer’s boot order.
Once the recovery tool loads, connect the external drive containing your backup image. Select the "Restore" tab and utilize the "Browse for an image file" option to locate the previously created image file. Click "Restore Image" to initiate the restoration process.
Carefully select the original system drive – the one where Windows was initially installed. If multiple disks are present, ensure you are restoring the image to the correct drive to prevent data loss.
Employ the "Copy selected partitions" option to transfer the partitions from the image back to the disk. Finally, click "Next" and complete the wizard. Macrium Reflect will restore your image, overwriting Windows 10 with your original Windows installation.
Reverting to Windows 7 or 8: A Clean Installation Approach
Related: Legitimate Sources for Downloading Windows 10, 8.1, and 7 ISO Files
For users willing to perform a complete system reset and accept data loss, upgrading to Windows 10 followed by a fresh installation of Windows 7 or 8 presents a viable option. Prior to proceeding, ensure all crucial files are securely backed up.
Initiate the process by downloading and executing the Windows 10 upgrade utility, allowing it to update your system. Subsequently, obtain Windows 7 or 8.1 installation media directly from Microsoft’s official website. Transfer this media to a USB drive or DVD, and then boot your computer from it.
Performing the Reinstallation
Proceed through the standard Windows reinstallation procedure, ensuring a complete wipe of your hard drive. This will effectively replace Windows 10 with your preferred earlier version of Windows.
A legitimate Windows product key is essential for activation. The key originally supplied with your computer should generally function correctly. However, Microsoft does not provide a guarantee that "OEM" keys will consistently work for reinstallations.
Should activation issues arise, contacting Microsoft support directly via phone often resolves the problem.
Reactivating Windows 10
To reinstall Windows 10 at a later date, download the necessary installer files from Microsoft. Create a bootable USB drive or DVD using these files.
Installing Windows 10 from this media will automatically activate the operating system, leveraging the digital entitlement established during the initial upgrade.
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