Free Windows 10 Upgrade For Windows 7

Why Windows must die - again

Yes, Microsoft officials insisted and insisted again that after July 29 at 11:59 p.m. UTC, the free Windows 10 upgrade offer would end.

Yes, you can upgrade your PC from Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free by downloading the Windows 10 ISO file and upgrading with it. Generally, any PC that can run Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 can run Windows 10. Can upgrade to Windows 10 for free using an ISO image? Are there any existing problems with your Windows 7 Home and is it fully up to date?

But it didn't -- at least not completely.

The Get Windows 10 (GWX) promotions seem to have ended. But I've heard from several Windows users that they've been able to take advantage of the free Windows 10 update using their older Windows 7/8.X product keys after July 29.

Users have been able to both kick off and activate Windows 10 on machines where they've previously installed Windows 10, as well as on machines where they've never installed Windows 10 using their Windows 7/8.X product keys.

My ZDNet colleague Ed Bott mentioned in passing in an updated post about Windows 10 that he also was able to get Windows 10 for free after July 29 using a never-used Windows 7 Ultimate product key. Paul Thurrott of Thurrott.com also noted last week that he still was able to get Windows 10 for free using an existing product key. https://mindderkeyswim1988.mystrikingly.com/blog/hack-for-cs-go.

My ZDNet colleague Ed Bott mentioned in passing in an updated post about Windows 10 that he also was able to get Windows 10 for free after July 29 using a never-used Windows 7 Ultimate product key. Paul Thurrott of Thurrott.com also noted last week that he still was able to get Windows 10 for free using an existing product key. https://mindderkeyswim1988.mystrikingly.com/blog/hack-for-cs-go.

While some have noted that Microsoft isn't restricting Windows 7 and 8.X users -- whether legitimately or not -- from continuing to have access to Windows 10 via the company's assistive technology offer, this key loophole is different.

I asked Microsoft why the Windows 10 free upgrade offer seemingly has not ended completely as announced. A spokesperson, reiterating that the Windows 10 free upgrade offer has ended, provided the following statement today:

'Users upgrading their PC for the first time will need to enter a Windows 10 product key. Users who've previously installed Windows 10 on their PC should activate successfully with a digital entitlement when reinstalling Windows 10 on that PC.'

But the reality goes beyond this. It seems Windows users who have not yet updated to Windows 10 can still use any valid Windows 7/8.x retail product key to install Windows 10 as of now on any PC.

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I also asked Microsoft when and whether the company planned to cease allowing old keys to unlock the free upgrade to Windows 10 offer, but the spokesperson declined to answer.

Free Windows 10 Update For Windows 7

I'm not complaining, mind you, that Microsoft is still allowing existing Windows 7 and 8.X users who want to get Windows 10 for free to continue to get it. Some had wanted Microsoft to give users a grace period of at least a few days between the end of the free Windows 10 upgrade offer and the commencement of the rollout of Windows 10 Anniversary Update on August 2.

My guess is it just might take Microsoft some time to phase out availability of the free Windows 10 bits, the same way company officials said it likely would take some time for them to phase out the Get Windows 10 app and prompts. Or maybe Microsoft execs decided to make the phase out more gradual than they said publicly in case there was a big backlash (in spite of the many notices and prompts alerting users of the pending end of the free update offer.)

All I can say is it would have been helpful for Microsoft officials to acknowledge there was some leeway as to the end of the free upgrade -- especially given there were a number of individuals who couldn't get Windows 10 to update in spite of numerous attempts.

Bottom line: We don't know when Microsoft will finally and completely shut off the free Windows 10 updates for Windows 7 and 8.X users. But if you still don't have Windows 10 and want it, I'd say you should hurry.

Related Topics:

Microsoft ended its free upgrade offer for Windows 10 on July 29, 2016, but it turns out you may still be able to legally upgrade to the latest version for free – no hacking required. Here's all you need to know.

Microsoft's free ‘Get Windows 10' initiative has been and gone, much to the delight of many a user who was sick of seeing the GWX tool constantly popping up on their screens.

But if you snubbed Microsoft's offer of a free upgrade and have since decided you want to switch to the latest version of Windows, all is not lost. Here are a couple of ways you can still nab a free upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Related: Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1 – should you upgrade?

How to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1

Over on ZDNet, Ed Bott explained how he was still able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free on the sly.

First, open the Download Windows 10 page, enter the version of Windows 10 you want to download and the language you need, then download either the 32-bit or 64-bit version using the links that appear. Once the download is done, run the Media Creation Tool.

Once the tool opens, choose the ‘Upgrade this PC now' option, as long as you're using the tool on the PC you want to upgrade. The other option, ‘Create installation media for another PC', will allow you to save the installation files to a USB drive so you can then use them on another computer.

Next, mount the ISO file or simply open the flash drive in File Explorer and run Setup. It should then be a case of following the on-screen instructions to finish the upgrade. You shouldn't be asked for a product key, according to Bott.

Note that as our Computing Editor was last seen face down on a blackjack table at Caesars Palace…sorry, reporting from CES 2017…we haven't tried this method ourselves, but Bott seems like a reliable enough chap, so you may well get some mileage out of his workaround.

Related: Windows 10 vs Windows 7 – should you upgrade?

Checking your license

Once you've completed the above process, you can check on your digital license by going to Settings>Update & security>Activation.

Free Windows 10 For Windows 7

If you're concerned that this method might not be 100% on the level in terms of you owning a valid digital license, it should be noted that the free upgrade programme is officially over. But Microsoft uses some ambiguous language in its ‘Upgrade to Windows 10' FAQ, which seems to suggest you won't be hunted down and detained for upgrading in this way.

Either way, be aware that Microsoft hasn't issued any statement on the fact that the upgrade can still be downloaded for free, so it's your call whether you take advantage or not.

Free upgrade for those who use assistive technologies

While the main free upgrade programme ended in July, Microsoft has extended it for those who use assistive technologies. You can learn more about this and get your free download by visiting this page.

If you're not sure what an ‘assistive technology' is, there's a whole page dedicated to extolling Microsoft's efforts to improve the Windows 10 experience here, where all the assistive wonders are listed. It includes things like Narrator, which turns text to speech, and various other features that make the OS easier to use for those who need assistance.

Free Windows 10 Upgrade For Windows 7 Home Premium

While we're sure only those who really use such assistive technology have been using this method thus far (ahem), we're sure there's a few shameless, fully-abled individuals out there who would make use of such a method of obtaining a free upgrade.

We don't condone exploiting this loophole, of course, but the fact that Microsoft has left it open, with no burden of proof required, means it's as legal as it is borderline unethical – the caveat being that Microsoft only asks if you 'use assistive technologies,' not whether you have to use them.

Related: How to fix 13 common Windows 10 problems

Free Windows 10 Upgrade For Windows 7 32 Bit

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Free Windows 10 Upgrade For Windows 7 Users

Let us know how you get on trying to download Windows 10 for free in the comments below.

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