Windows 7 finished: How to upgrade to Windows 10 for free 1

Windows 7 finished: How to upgrade to Windows 10 for free

Why does the end of extended support mean the death of Windows 7?

Microsoft has clearly adjusted the shutdown of Windows 7 on January 14, 2020 in favor of Windows 10, which has more than 900 million users worldwide. Peace of mind, the OS is still running, but that’s the deadline Discontinuation of all “extended support” of Windows 7 Service Pack 1. This means there will be no more security updates or patches after this date. Only Pro and Enterprise editions of Windows 7, currently bombarded with notifications encouraging them to upgrade to Windows 10, can choose to receive three more years of paid support.

Now, if a flaw in the operating system were to be detected, it could no longer be filled. The same is true when a problem is detected that prevents the system from working properly. It won’t be resolved. But keep in mind that nothing prevents Microsoft from making some updates very timely: This has already happened in the past with Windows XP. In 2017, the Redmond company urgently updated all operating systems, even the oldest, due to WannaCry. In May 2019, Microsoft did this again and fixed a Windows XP flaw during the Tuesday Patch… even though all extended support for Windows XP has been discontinued since April 2014.

Note also that the “standard support” of Windows 7 has stopped since January 13, 2015. Standard support refers to improvements that Microsoft can make to the operating system. Therefore, it has been a while since Microsoft added new features to the operating system.

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In addition, you can also rely software publishersincluding scanners and anti-virus software, keep updating your apps. In general, support for this software spanned more than 2 or 3 years after the end of Windows. The good news is that Microsoft has also promised to extend its own solution, Microsoft Essential Security.

Windows 7 therefore does not stop working overnight. On the other hand, you may find it increasingly difficult to install drivers for new hardware to take advantage of a new application and protect your machine from intrusion attempts. In short, prevention is better than cure. If you decide to forego the operating system, there are several alternatives you can use. Of course, you can turn to the side of the competition: there are different alternatives to Windows 7, including a number of Linux distributions, each more relevant than the other. You also have the option to switch to macOS, even if that option requires purchasing a new machine.

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The last and most common alternative, Migrating from Windows 7 to Windows 10. If you have used Windows 7 for several years, you should not be confused. The two versions differ in certain points, but their environments remain close and most of the configuration options are the same. Another advantage is that the upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is completely free, provided of course you already have a valid Windows 7 license.

1) Check that your configuration supports it. good Windows 10

For obsolescence reasons (who said programmed?), your installation may not be able to host Windows 10. Microsoft states that the operating system is compatible with the following minimum configuration:

  • Processor: 1GHz
  • Memory for 32-bit system: 1 GB
  • Memory for 64-bit system: 2 GB
  • Storage for 32-bit system: 16GB
  • Storage for 64-bit system: 32GB
  • Screen resolution: 800 x 600

Added to this some hardware requirementslike a fairly new graphics card (an old model purchased under XP or Vista may not work, it all depends on the manufacturer’s goodwill in updating the drivers). In short, if the list of hardware required to run Windows 10 is pretty exhaustive, you shouldn’t be in for a nasty surprise during installation.

Note:Update tool delivered to Windows 10 by Microsoft it’s also a good way to check the compatibility of your configuration.

2) First, back up all your personal data

If the transition goes smoothly in the vast majority of cases, there is always a very small percentage of users where the Windows 10 installation is a problem. In order not to lose personal data, we highly recommend removing themin the cloud, external media, or another partition on your hard drive.

At first, it may be enough to simply copy and paste all your documents, music, emails, photos and videos to this external medium. Note that Windows 7 also includes an automatic backup tool that can be accessed from Control Panel and System and Security > Back Up Computer. Doing so should secure many of your most valuable data. What if all your data is saved both on the hard drive and in the cloud (OneDrive, google drive, Dropbox…), there is nothing you can do. Also do not forget to synchronize your browser data on the Cloud: all browsers worthy of the name are now available on the Web (password, bookmark, history, etc.) to get your data on another device or via another installation of Windows.

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A second alternative is to backup your entire Windows partition or even your entire hard drive. There are dozens of tools that can perform this operation, for example Easeus To-Do Backup Where Macrium Reflects Freeand creating a perfect image of the hard disk. The advantage of such a solution is that you can then mount the image created by the program to find and restore this or that file that may have been damaged during the transition to Windows 10. The second advantage is that this type of image allows you to restore the entire system and its documents to your hard drive in case things go really wrong. Finally, note that it is also possible to create a system image of Windows 7 by going directly through the tool provided by Microsoft. This can be accessed from the Control Panel and options System and Security > Backup and restore > Create a system image (left column).

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3) Switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10

This is nice, You are ready to migrate from Windows 7 to Windows 10. In theory, the switch has worked since Microsoft discontinued the free update program in January 2018. But that’s the theory. Because in reality, it is always possible to enjoy Windows 10 for free from a workstation equipped with Windows 7. You have two options to do this:

  • download Microsoft’s upgrade tool. Launch it to run the update from Windows 7 to Windows 10. The process will take about thirty minutes at best. It may take several hours depending on your configuration and Internet speed. Note that Windows 7 will first download at least 4GB of data, then decompress and load it. A few reboots will be required, during which you should eventually have a brand new Windows 10. You can also save all the apps you use in Windows 7, your documents, browser and email preferences, etc. you must find
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  • All is not lost if the upgrade tool rejects your migration from Windows 7 to Windows 10, especially after January 14, 2020. It is possible to call from .tool for customers using assistive technologies. This little program does not know the crisis and prolongs the upgrade time for many years. The system update is performed in the same way as the upgrade tool (download, unpack, install the operating system).

In any case, do not forget to update the operating system immediately after the system is installed. Click the Start button at the bottom left, then Update and security > windows update. Do a search for updates and install them. Here you are in control of a cutting-edge Windows 10 without paying a penny.

Last but not least: After installing Windows 10, it is possible that some of your components are not recognized. In that case, feel free to check out our other tutorial on updating or installing drivers in Windows 10.

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