As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, starting on July 29th, you’ll be able to upgrade your Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 PCs to Windows 10 at no charge. But there are a couple of things you should do to get ready.
Windows 10 will need at least 16 GB of free hard drive space to install. So if you don’t have that much room, you’ll need to think about getting rid of some unnecessary programs or moving some space-hogging files to an external hard drive. This is exactly the same about of space required for Windows 7 and Windows 8 (and actually a little less than the 20GB required for 64 bit installation in these systems)
To check how much space you have available, type Computer into the search box in the Windows 7 Start Menu or This PC in the Window 8.1 Search Charm and click on the result. The amount of free space on your main hard drive should be displayed right beneath it.
When you install Windows 10, it should leave your files and programs intact. But it is still a good idea to back up important documents before you install.
~ Cynthia
I’m thinking of it.. the white window is present and all is a go but I’d much rather keep both just in case I don’t like 10. A partition would be the answer but I’m sure to do this I would have to buy a separate win10 (or 7) disc because as I’ve been told 10 will still retain the win7 product ID.. thus my ‘thinking’ of it.. Oh well, I’ll have a year after it comes out to decide.
846GB free of 910GB Yes I plan to upgrade to Windows 10.
Yes, I think I’ll upgrade, but I’m concerned as to whether my 3rd Party software is compatible with Windows 10. I’ve contacted a lot of them but generally get vague replies.
Re: Windows 10 – I am currently running Windows 7, and it is working quite well enough for me. However I will probably upgrade at some point; but I will certainly not be the first to upgrade. I may wait a few months first in order to learn from others’ problems. Why should I change from a working operating system to one without a track record? I’m sure your newsletter will be publishing advice and feedback from others’ experiences in upgrading. So I’ll be taking a “wait and see” approach before I make the leap.
Bob
Yes. I am upgrade to WIN 10
Yes,I am thinking about it,but I like unkabob say’s would like to keep both just in case, I love windows seven.The partition would be grate just not sure how to set it up.
I am not sure about this. I will wait for them to work out the bugs. I instead to head over to Best Buy when 10 comes out so I can try it on their computers. I am happy with what I have now. I will wait and see.
I’ve been so disappointed in upgrades for Microsoft Word and many other program upgrades, but I will try this. Making it impossible to use what you already have saved in a program is very disappointing.
How do I keep win 7 pro 64 bit when i add win 10? Thanks.
You could turn your computer into a dual boot and purchase a copy of Windows 10. Otherwise, this isn’t a second free license, this is swapping the Windows 7 license for a Windows 10 license.
I will give it a chance. We can,t stand in the way of progress.
Will eventually do the upgrade but will give it time to be debugged once it hits the public market
My computer still has not shown me the windows 10 icon. I’ve tried several ways to get it with no luck. I have a dell inspiron 1510 running 7 with over 400 free GB.
YES, If my wife will let me, she hates change.
I have two PC’s, both running Windows 7 Pro. Both meet the specs for Windows 10. I plan to upgrade one of them and see if there are any issues with hardware, software, etc… If not, I’ll upgrade the other. I like Windows 7 but I’m looking forward to trying out 10.
I plan to upgrade from W7 home. Recently I saw on the news that the 10 upgrade available date has been delayed past the 29th.
I cannot see any icon on my computer that looks like a windows icon. I operate windows 8.1 system. How do I upgrade?
Yes, Every thing on windows 10 runs faster. Like the replacement for IE 11 too.
The Siri like program looks impressive. Great improvement over windows 8.1
If as they say, Office 2007 will no longer work on 10, then no.
Thank you for this tip. I have one question that I haven’t seen answered about Windows 10 or if it has been addressed I missed it. If I change from my Windows 7 64 bit to Windows 10 to check it out and change back to Windows 7, will I be able to still get the free download to 10 later on?
Thank you for all of your help.
Thank you for this and all of the tips you publish. There is one question that I haven’t seen or if it has been asked I missed it.
If I change to Windows 10 from my Windows 7 64 bit system to check it out and change back to Windows 7, will I still be able to get the free Windows 10 download later on?
I plan on holding off on making the switch to Win 10, until several months after its been put to use by other users. I expect there will be ‘glitch’s’ and ‘bugs’ that will be showing up as has been typical of past operating system ‘upgrades’. ? ? ?
Along with the usual program and security updates. Win 8.1 has been performing well enough as it is, and getting used to another system so soon after those changes is a ‘turn-off’ in my opinion.
I like the thought of the new upgrade an am scheduled to do so, yet my thoughts go with the above mention issues. I like windows 7 I work with a lot of photos as for editing and the like so am concerns as to how the many different 3 party picture editing apps will work with windows 10. So at present am on the fence.
I am definitely installing Windows 10 as 8 is driving me nuts. I save pics and then they disappear and while typing I end up typing in an area I have already typed. That is just a few of the problems.
My c: drive has 535 GB free and the D: drive only has 1.57 GB free. When I go to the D: drive a warning come up, do not delete or chance files, used for system recovery. Will window 10 work for me.
Thanks
Yes, that drive is used for system recovery, you shouldn’t touch it.
In the past when a new system came out there were a few glitches that had to be resolved. Seeing as we have up to a year to switch over for free. I will sit back and see how the transition turns out for other people first.
Is the 16 GB in addition to what is already taken up by Windows 8.1? I have plenty on my desktop (running 7) that I am planning to upgrade and my new 8.1 Laptop but my ASUS tablet which is running 8.1 only has 28.6 free of 49.1. If I upgrade it will I only have 12.6 free after the upgrade? Thanks for all your tech tips!
I would like to do an in-place upgrade of my Windows 7, as opposed to a clean install. However, as I understand it, Microsoft has not yet released any documents on whether in-place upgrades will be possible on OEM systems.
Same question:
Does Windows installation mean an ADDITIONAL 16GB of storage space in addition to what the OS is using now?
Yes I will install 10.
I will wait a few months to see what happens to some of the other Brave Souls ? I have enough problems now without adding to it with something that hasn’t been run down the road a little longer than this one has ? Thx’s for helping us out here all of the time , Zeke
Similar to Gerald: Yes, but not right away. I’m not in a hurry, and will let others find the bugs.
Yes, I intend to install 10. Maybe, not right away.
I do plan to upgrade to Windows 10, although I may wait a little while and see if any others that upgrade to Windows 10 find any bugs or not before upgrading myself. I do have high hopes for windows 10 being the best windows program yet!
No. If you haven’t heard it before, then listen up! “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. Sooner or later, you’re gonna pay!
I agree with Deanne chase, nothing is free, must be a catch some where.
My Win7 is set up n 2 part his and hers sides. If I install on my side, will it be the same n both sides? I am waiting before installing 10.
By 2 sides, do you mean a dual boot or that you have 2 accounts?
I am purchasing a new computer the end of July……….Guess I will have to get 10……….I am still using XP…….I do not want to change. I am 76 and do not like technical changes.
Do you have a toll free number for Firefox? I need to download/update some things and I have tried but cannot do it. I need help.
Thanks much.
Carol, it’s unlikely you could get in touch with anyone over the phone. Here’s a link for support: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/products/firefox Realize that the support is provided by volunteer contributors. If you have any particular questions, you can ask us at wwww.worldstart.com/ask
Yes
I want windows 10 because I don’t like 8.1.
I’ve experienced problems with new versions of Windows from XP through 7. I believe I’ll wait to see others experiences with Windows 10 before I decide what to do. I really don’t like the fact that I’d have no control over Windows Updates ( except for an upgrade to the Pro version ), that would eventually fill my operating system SSD and force an upgrade to a larger capacity SSD.
Steve: Updates don’t work like that. They don’t always take up additional room on your hard drive. Most of the time they just change something that’s already there and overwrite it.
thank you for the article.
If 10 takes up as much space as 7 or 8 does the space taken by 7 get overwritten so the amount of space used by 10 is virtually the same?
Yes, can hardly wait for it to be released. I would really rather have a dvd to install from but don’t want to buy it.
I have decreased the partition size of my D: drive and increased the partition size of my main drive C: This has increased the spead on my C: drive. So now I have more room for Windows 10.
I use Windows 7, typed Computer into the Start Menu’s search area, and what showed was all kinds of results for Programs, Control Panel, Documents, Music, Pictures, etc. So, on the right side, the darkened area, of the Start Menu, I clicked on Computer and came up with the results like you had on your picture in the newsletter. Not getting your results on my computer occurs quite often. Don’t know why!! Just to let you know in case others have the same results I had.
I can’t wait, love Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 sounds great. I have 393 GB of free hard drive space so I’m all set. In time I’ll be upgrading my Windows 8.1 Nokia phone too.
I have the evaluation copy and can’t wait for the real thing. This windows10 is super looking and not really that much different from win7 except it is faster.
Got a result of 864 on the C-Drive, couldn’t find one for the D Drive but assume it’s okay, have registered to get Windows 10, hope it all goes to plan, meantime deleted all the photos and important things to me after putting them onto a removable USB stick. Apprehensive but feel that I need to keep up with technology to some extent.
I appreciate your articles on the Win 10 conversion (I’m on 7 at present)…I copy these (and others) in a folder on my XHD for review before I go over. One article I read in an USA Today article which I’m going to follow: they recommend that since we have a full year to convert; that we wait at least 3-4 months so that some (if any) bugs/glitches can be worked out by microsoft. Maybe, I’ll convert on the day before the deadline!
Keep up the good work.
I plan on updating my laptop very soon after the download and learn how it works, but will not update my desktop until I know how it works as my wife also uses the desktop and I don’t want her to freak out when she turns on the desktop. I am nervous about the change and I wonder if I can have Win 7 OS available plus Win 10?
I will upgrade one of the five computers in my house and wait at least three months to upgrade the others.