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The upgrade is not available for Windows Enterprise. Other users may experience blocks as well , depending on your machine. This upgrade using the media creation tool isn’t meant for the general consumer, but it works for many nonetheless. To get the best Windows 10 experience and take advantage of features like passwordless sign-on through Windows Hello , you’ll want to purchase a new Windows 10 PC or one released after July with all the hardware upgrades.

If you’re a student or university faculty member, you may also be able to download Windows 10 for free search for your school’s software offerings here. For more, check out the best antivirus protection of for Windows 10 , six security changes all Windows 10 users need to make and everything to know about the Windows 10 May update , and three new features from the Windows 10 October update and how to use them.

You can also get Microsoft Office online free , too. Replay Video. Skip Ad. Load Error. How to take Windows 10 screenshots. CNET See more videos. Click to expand. Windows 10 fall update: Here’s what’s new. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Found the story interesting? Like us on Facebook to see similar stories. I’m already a fan, don’t show this again. Send MSN Feedback.

How can we improve? The Update Assistant can help you update to the latest version of Windows To get started, click Update now. To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows You can then download and run the media creation tool. For more information on how to use the tool, see the instructions below. Note : Before you install Windows 10, check to make sure your PC meets the system requirements for Windows We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer’s website for any additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility.

After downloading and installing, the tool will walk you through how to set up Windows 10 on your PC. All Windows 10 editions are available when you select Windows 10, except for Enterprise edition. Follow these steps to create installation media USB flash drive or DVD you can use to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows If you have Office or earlier and choose to perform a clean install of Windows 10, you will need to locate your Office product key.

For tips on locating your product key, check Find your Office product key or Enter the product key for your Office program. Select the language, edition, and architecture bit or bit for Windows After completing the steps to install Windows 10, please check that you have all the necessary device drivers installed.

Note: Drivers for Surface devices may be found on the Download drivers and firmware for Surface page. To open a boot menu or change the boot order, you’ll typically need to press a key such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc immediately after you turn on your PC. For instructions on accessing the boot menu or changing the boot order for your PC, check the documentation that came with your PC or go to the manufacturer’s website.

If changing the boot menu or order doesn’t work, and your PC immediately boots into the OS you want to replace, it is possible the PC had not fully shut down. To ensure the PC fully shuts down, select the power button on the sign-in screen or on the Start menu and select Shut down.

If you downloaded an ISO file for Windows 10, the file is saved locally at the location you selected. If you have a third-party DVD burning program installed on your computer that you prefer to use for creating the installation DVD, that program might open by going to the location where the file is saved and double-clicking the ISO file, or right-click the ISO file, select Open with and choose your preferred DVD burning software.

Right-click the ISO file and select Properties. Then right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image. This will perform an upgrade of your current operating system to Windows Download Windows 10 Before updating, please refer to the Windows release information status for known issues to confirm your device is not impacted.

Update now Privacy. Create Windows 10 installation media To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows Download tool now Privacy. Select Download tool , and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool. On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select Accept. On the What do you want to do? Your copy of Windows 10 will automatically activate later using your digital license.

How to Get Windows 11 or Windows 10 for Free (or Under $20) | Tom’s Hardware

Create Windows 10 installation media To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows Download Now Privacy. Select Download tool , and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool. On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select Accept.

On the What do you want to do? Your copy of Windows 10 will automatically activate later using your digital license. Select Change what to keep to set whether you would like to Keep personal files and apps , or Keep personal files only , or choose to keep Nothing during the upgrade. It might take some time to install Windows 10, and your PC will restart a few times. Before you download the tool make sure you have: An internet connection internet service provider fees may apply.

Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download. System requirements. Make sure the PC meets the system requirements for Windows We also recommend going to the PC manufacturer’s website for additional info about updated drivers and hardware compatibility.

Language in Windows. You’ll need to choose the same language when you install Windows Customer Reviews. Laptop Price. Laptop CPU Manufacturer. Computer Operating System. Laptop Display Size. Personal Electronics Wireless Connectivity Type. Notebook Computer Display Type.

Computer Processor Type. Number of CPU Cores. Hard Disk Size. Laptop Computer Weight. Laptop Hard Drive Type. Number of Laptop USB 3. Laptop WLAN. Laptop Computer Video Output. Notebook Computer Connectivity Technology. Computer Graphics Card Type.

Laptop Computer Resolution. Laptop Computer Keyboard Layout. Laptop Computer Human Interface Input. Laptop Computer Camera Location. Laptop Computer Biometric Security Feature. Computer Graphics Processor. Notebook Computer Ram Memory Size. Notebook Computer Hardware Interface. Laptop Usage. Laptop Dedicated Graphics Memory.

Laptop Battery Life. Intel Core i5 4th Gen. Intel Core i5 5th Gen. Intel Core i5 6th Gen. Intel Core i5 7th Gen. Intel Core i5 8th Gen. Intel Core i7 4th Gen. Intel Core i7 6th Gen.

Intel Core i7 7th Gen. Intel Core i7 8th Gen. Buying Format All Listings filter applied. EUR Was: EUR Lenovo Ideapad Windows10 install Disk 64bit EUR 6. EUR 4. EUR 2. During installation, Microsoft asks you to enter a Windows 10 or 11 product key. If you are still on Windows 7 or 8, you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free. If you have an old, retail non-OEM copy of Windows 7, 8 or 10 you are no longer using on another PC, you can likely use the product key when you do a fresh install of Windows on your new PC.

If you need help finding the product key on your old computer, there are several ways to find it, but using Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder , a free download, is probably the easiest. Note that if the product key comes from a prebuilt computer that came from the factory with Windows on it, it has an OEM key that may not work on a different new PC.

Feel free to try it, though, because if it works you have Windows 10 or 11 for free. The good news is that you only have two serious disadvantages from not activating Windows 10 or However, if you are using a Microsoft account that syncs with another computer on which you have custom wallpaper, that wallpaper will appear on your unactivated Windows.

But come on; does anyone actually do that? Other than those inconveniences, unactivated Windows should work just fine and receive automatic updates too. You can see if your school is eligible and download your free Windows 11 key here. These are all OEM keys and likely can’t be used on another computer after you activate them on the first one. Now, let’s address the elephant in the room.

While we can’t vouch for all of them, websites selling cheap Windows 10 or 11 keys are likely offering legitimate codes. Kinguin has more than three dozen merchants worldwide selling Windows keys.

It’s just another marketplace. So we tried calling the number and waited on hold for a few minutes.

Windows 10 laptop cheap free download

To do this with a Windows compatible PC after backing up your important data, of course download Windows When asked, select ” Upgrade this PC now. Note that if you’ve recently changed your PC’s hardware, such as the motherboard , Windows may not find the license for you device. That means you’ll have to reactive the OS. Here are Microsoft’s instructions for reactivating Windows 10 after changing PC hardware.

When using an older Windows key to activate Windows 10, you may run into complications if Microsoft isn’t sure whether you’re eligible to update or not. However, that seems to be happening less in recent months and years. I have colleagues who have used non-activated versions of Windows for years without Microsoft ever shutting it down.

Microsoft brands PCs running an unactivated version of Windows 10 with a watermark in the bottom-right corner of the screen. A Microsoft spokesperson told me that activating Windows 10 ensures you have a legitimate copy of Windows 10, and the watermark is an attempt to alert consumers that their version could be false.

However, if you downloaded your ISO directly from Microsoft, there’s no way your copy can be a fake. That means you can’t choose personal desktop wallpapers, slideshow backgrounds, Start, taskbar, Action Center or title bar colors, light or dark color schemes, font choices or lock screen options.

The lack of custom aesthetics can be a downer, especially if you like to liven things up by changing colors and images. However, we checked, and you can still change your wallpaper if you right-click an image from the web or a personal photo and set it as your wallpaper. And if you have a wallpaper tied to your Microsoft account, it will appear if you sign into Windows with that account.

Microsoft offers students attending certain universities and high schools the ability to get Windows 10 for free by allowing them to activate Windows 10 Education for free. You can see if your school is eligible and download your free Windows 10 key here. The key is yours even after you graduate.

But is Windows 10 Education any different from Windows 10 Home? Windows 10 Education is the same as Windows 10 Enterprise, which Microsoft calls the most robust version of Windows The OS has features targeting security, device control and management and deployment that Windows 10 Home lacks. In addition to ethical concerns, if you get caught, Microsoft can make you pay up anyway. And while some turn to Microsoft for this purchase, there are third-party websites selling keys for much cheaper than Microsoft.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. While we can’t vouch for all of them, websites selling lower-priced Windows keys are likely selling legitimate codes. One popular site, Kinguin, has 37 merchants worldwide selling Windows keys. It’s just another marketplace. However, we’ve encountered reports of customer dissatisfaction, including from users who wanted a specific type of key like non-OEM only , ended up with something different like an OEM version and could only get a refund, rather than the type of key they originally tried to buy.

We’ve also heard reports of slow customer service. Kinguin hasn’t responded to requests for comment. A hint will be if that key is too cheap — i.

And, as with anything else, if you haven’t heard of a seller, check their ratings or go elsewhere. No matter where you get your product key, you shouldn’t download Windows 10 from anyone besides Microsoft.

All Windows 10 editions are available when you select Windows 10, except for Enterprise edition. Follow these steps to create installation media USB flash drive or DVD you can use to install a new copy of Windows 10, perform a clean installation, or reinstall Windows If you have Office or earlier and choose to perform a clean install of Windows 10, you will need to locate your Office product key. For tips on locating your product key, check Find your Office product key or Enter the product key for your Office program.

Select the language, edition, and architecture bit or bit for Windows After completing the steps to install Windows 10, please check that you have all the necessary device drivers installed. Note: Drivers for Surface devices may be found on the Download drivers and firmware for Surface page. To open a boot menu or change the boot order, you’ll typically need to press a key such as F2, F12, Delete, or Esc immediately after you turn on your PC. For instructions on accessing the boot menu or changing the boot order for your PC, check the documentation that came with your PC or go to the manufacturer’s website.

If changing the boot menu or order doesn’t work, and your PC immediately boots into the OS you want to replace, it is possible the PC had not fully shut down.

To ensure the PC fully shuts down, select the power button on the sign-in screen or on the Start menu and select Shut down. If you downloaded an ISO file for Windows 10, the file is saved locally at the location you selected. If you have a third-party DVD burning program installed on your computer that you prefer to use for creating the installation DVD, that program might open by going to the location where the file is saved and double-clicking the ISO file, or right-click the ISO file, select Open with and choose your preferred DVD burning software.

Right-click the ISO file and select Properties. Then right-click the ISO file and select Burn disc image. This will perform an upgrade of your current operating system to Windows Download Windows 10 Before updating, please refer to the Windows release information status for known issues to confirm your device is not impacted. Update now Privacy. Create Windows 10 installation media To get started, you will first need to have a license to install Windows Download tool now Privacy.

Select Download tool , and select Run. You need to be an administrator to run this tool. In those cases, your main options are the OEM license outlined above or buying through Kinguin detailed below. Note: If you use this method, also keep an eye out for other software deals through your school.

Kinguin is a website that allows buyers to purchase product keys from third-party sellers—think of it like an eBay or Amazon Marketplace for digital software sales. Opponents of Kinguin swear the keys will eventually lose their activation status because of their unknown origins. Like on Amazon Marketplace, you pick a specific seller from which to buy the product in this case, the Windows 10 license key.

So as mentioned above, if these keys are already somehow tied to an original but unactivated PC, things could go sideways during your own activation process.

On top of that, if the hardware used to identify your system i. Each camp makes valid arguments, so ultimately, your comfort level with risk and gray market goods should determine whether this is the option for you. If you opt for this path, we recommend ignoring Windows 10 Home.

Her favorite article to write is an annual piece combining her two loves : bargain hunting and PC building. You can find her on Twitter at morphingball. How to save serious cash on Windows 10 Closed captioning available on our YouTube channel. We explain how to get a copy of Windows 10 Home or Pro for cheaper than normal, and even one way to get Windows for free.

Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission.

How to get Windows cheap (or even for free) | PCWorld

 
 
used Windows 10 PC Laptops & Netbooks from top brands like HP, Dell, Lenovo & more. Shop our extensive selection of products and best online deals. Free. Step 1: Your first step in acquiring a free Windows 10 upgrade is to visit Microsoft’s download Windows 10 webpage. Windows 10 provides comprehensive, built-in protection—at no extra cost Learn more. A laptop with a Windows Hello screen sits on a desk.