Computer Help and Support

douglas9

(4,474 posts) Fri Jan 1, 2021, 08:21 AM Jan 2021

You can still upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 systems to Windows 10 for free

When Microsoft launched its Windows 10 operating system, it knew that it had to convince customers to give it a try. The bad adoption of Windows 8 still haunted the company and it had to ensure that Windows 10 would not be a disappointment in regards to the adoption rate as well.

One of Microsoft's strategies to get customers to upgrade systems to Windows 10 was to offer it for free. Limited to the first year of release, Microsoft said, customers could upgrade systems running genuine versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free. The original license was upgraded to a digital license in the process.

Microsoft was confident enough to project that 1 billion devices with Windows 10 would be in use after two or three years starting from the date of official availability. The company missed the goal, despite pushing upgrades vehemently, but it also never stopped the free upgrade option.

Two years ago, I ran tests to see if it was still possible to upgrade from earlier versions of Windows to Windows 10 for free. Back then, this worked without any issues.

Today, I decided to re-run these tests to see if upgrades are still free. It should not come as a surprise that it is still possible to upgrade Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 devices to Windows 10 provided that these devices have a genuine license.

https://www.ghacks.net/2021/01/01/you-can-still-upgrade-windows-7-and-8-1-systems-to-windows-10-for-free/

10 replies

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You can still upgrade Windows 7 and 8.1 systems to Windows 10 for free (Original Post) douglas9 Jan 2021 OP

Thanks to your advice, I did this a year ago. mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2021 #1

I'm trying to shift over to Ubuntu. Girard442 Jan 2021 #2

Hahaha! SheltieLover Jan 2021 #4

Switching to Linux Mint instead. 5X Jan 2021 #3

I'm sure they are SheltieLover Jan 2021 #5

Did it yesterday. Took me over 3 hours to complete upgrade. Sneederbunk Jan 2021 #6

You say that like it's a good thing. nt eppur_se_muova Jan 2021 #7

You can also authenticate Win 10 systems using Win 7 COA stickers. ucrdem Jan 2021 #8

I scored a brand new laptop recently on a job I was working on clearing out a hoarders home. kimbutgar Jan 2021 #9

Got my screen black with cursor cartobuy Jan 2021 #10

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,935 posts)

1. Thanks to your advice, I did this a year ago.

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 08:26 AM

Jan 2021

Im assuming it was you who posted this information about this time last year.

My neighbors threw out a laptop running Windows 7. The installation took a long time, and there were some bumps in the road. The laptop did, though, end up running Windows 10.

The upgrade was a freebie. I hope Microsoft never stops offering this.

Full disclosure: I own shares of Microsoft.

Girard442

(6,401 posts)

2. I'm trying to shift over to Ubuntu.

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 08:39 AM

Jan 2021

I have a legit retail copy of Win 10 running in a virtual machine in case I need it. Makes me smile to think of it being cooped up in there and unable to connect to the Mother Ship.

SheltieLover

(59,605 posts)

4. Hahaha!

Reply to Girard442 (Reply #2)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 09:37 AM

Jan 2021

Love this!

5X

(3,988 posts)

3. Switching to Linux Mint instead.

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 09:07 AM

Jan 2021

Easier to install, easy to operate. Windows users can figure it out pretty quickly.

SheltieLover

(59,605 posts)

5. I'm sure they are

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 09:42 AM

Jan 2021

Mighty big of MS, considering the way 10 literally takes over systems & steals all of the personal data.

Ty, OP, for the info.

Sneederbunk

(15,106 posts)

6. Did it yesterday. Took me over 3 hours to complete upgrade.

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 10:37 AM

Jan 2021

eppur_se_muova

(37,397 posts)

7. You say that like it's a good thing. nt

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 04:11 PM

Jan 2021

ucrdem

(15,703 posts)

8. You can also authenticate Win 10 systems using Win 7 COA stickers.

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 1, 2021, 05:39 PM

Jan 2021

I replaced a failing hard drive in an HP laptop this week and decided to reload Windows from a thumbdrive rather than try to clone it from a bad drive. This time I entered a 25-digit Win 7 Pro key from a sticker in the battery compartment and lo and behold, it authenticated. I'd gotten it from ebay and it was sold as "no operating system" so I'd skipped that step last time. So I decided to try the same trick on two other laptaps from ebay and voila, they now all three have authenticated Win 10 Pro systems, which aren't much different from before, but are slightly more customizable and don't have a "not authentic"
tattoo in the lower right corner.

kimbutgar

(23,271 posts)

9. I scored a brand new laptop recently on a job I was working on clearing out a hoarders home.

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Fri Jan 22, 2021, 02:33 PM

Jan 2021

The woman was a compulsive QVC shopper who usually brought two of everything. She already was using one and let me have this HP 17 inch laptop still in the box! It had windows 8 and I didn’t like the interface or functionality of that program. I decided to check this forum and found your post.

Thank you I am downloading windows 10.

cartobuy

(3 posts)

10. Got my screen black with cursor

Reply to douglas9 (Original post)

Mon Jan 25, 2021, 10:46 PM

Jan 2021

Few days ago, I have upgraded my windows 7 to windows 10 using Microsoft's media creation tool and got my screen black with cursor on.

Some tuts and videos recommended to try out SHIFT+CTRL+ALT and it didnt work for me.

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