Many people were stunned by Microsoft’s announcement of key changes users can expect in Windows 10. For the most part, there were the same groups of people arguing over whether Windows 10 would have the right components to be successful. Forget these guys, all desktop and laptop users need to know is that Windows 10 will fix the things they complain about the most and continue to offer them the benefits of Windows 8.
Here’s how to get Windows 10 on your desktop or laptop today.
There are some important details you should know before you decide to download Windows 10 to your laptop or tablet. First, Windows 10 – no matter how it looks – is not finished. In fact, Microsoft announced yesterday that it does not plan to release the final version of Windows 10 until the next half of 2015.
What users are getting today isn’t necessarily Windows 10. This is called Windows Technical Preview. The Windows Technical Preview is designed to showcase new features and provide real feedback to Microsoft on how users are enjoying it. Rumors are that the company will roll out certain features to different users and then use what it learns to create a better product.
The Windows Technical Preview includes the features Microsoft showed off yesterday and many of the features it plans to deliver at BUILD 2014. The Start Menu is back. Contrary to what people say, this new Start Menu is much closer to the Start Screen hated by desktop and laptop users than the Start Menu in Windows 7. A list of apps in Windows 10, sorted by how often they run. They’re now used to sit next to what we think of as Windows Store apps, and they’re Live Tiles. This new Start Menu can be resized to take up more or less of the screen.
One new feature users should enjoy is universal search. Microsoft has tried to build search functionality in Windows since Windows 8.1, but search in Windows 10 is one step ahead. Microsoft is including universal search for the first time. Windows 10 users get search results from websites, local documents and files in the Start Menu.
Windows 10 also offers Windows Store apps that run alongside their Desktop counterparts. For example, with Windows 10, Xbox Music can sit right next to the Desktop version of iTunes or Internet Explorer. If you like the way apps currently run on your system, you’ll probably be able to change them to open in full screen.
Finally, know that things can go wrong. This is pre-release software at a very, very early stage. You’ll still need to back up your stuff before getting the Windows 10 update on your laptop or desktop, though. You’ll want to make sure you have a hard backup in case you don’t like the operating system or it breaks a very important feature you must have.
How to Get Windows 10 Now
Follow your Microsoft Account. This is the same account you use to sign in to Windows 8 or other Microsoft products like Xbox One or Outlook.com today.
You will now use this Microsoft Account to enroll in the Windows Insider Program. here.
Click outside Windows Technical Preview Terms.
Click here and sign in to the account you just used to sign up for the Windows Insider Program.
Now go ahead, download the Windows Technical Preview version you need for your device. Don’t forget to copy the provided product key as well. Which version you are looking for depends on what country you live in and what operating system you need. Most laptops and tablets require 64-Bit Windows, but you can download 32-Bit if your computer requires it. Right-click the Computer icon on the desktop and click Properties. For the purposes of this tutorial, we are downloading 64-Bit Windows.
Click on the version you need and click instead of open.
Now burn to DVD in the file you downloaded. Restart your machine and begin the installation process. You may need the product key after the installation is complete.
To be clear, there are other ways to get Windows Technical Preview on your device. We used a USB Flash Drive to get the preview on our device. Regardless, make sure you have a plan to store your data and get your backed up data back to your device in case something goes wrong.
In addition to warning users not to install Windows Technical Preview on their primary machine, Microsoft also says that users may encounter crashes. Presumably, Windows Technical Preview will be replaced next year with another version with more features for consumers.
