If you attempt to do so, you’ll be asked to enter a product key when initializing the setup, which cannot be skipped. And upgrades from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows N, Windows K, Windows KN, or Windows E are not supported. Cross-SKU upgrades (for example, Windows 7 N to Windows 10 Windows 7 K to Windows 10 N) are not supported.

If you attempt to upgrade directly to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 edition that supposedly upgrade to Windows 10 Home / Core edition, the following error is returned:

Check out Windows 10 upgrade path to know which edition of Windows 10, either Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro, that your system is entitled to upgrade to.

Only non-Enterprise editions of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are entitled to free upgrade.

Though recommended, it’s not necessary to install all available updates from Windows Update before upgrading.

If you’re using Windows 8, upgrade to Windows 8.1 for free.

You must at Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 in order to entitle to free upgrade to Windows 10.

But if you cannot wait, you can perform the upgrade now, through the ISO image made from ESD archive that Microsoft is flighting to Windows Insiders. Microsoft allows eligible systems to reserve Windows 10 free upgrade to automatically download the installation files and prompt users when upgrade is ready to install on or after July 29th. Windows 10 is free upgrade for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 systems, except those belongs to businesses. Even though the build version of Windows 10 released via Windows Update to general public on July 29th may be different, especially the minor version, it’s widely believed that Microsoft will publish ZDP (Zero Day Patch) or updates rollup to bring Windows 10 RTM up to date, in view of Windows as a service commitment from Microsoft, which promise free unlimited updates for the lifetime of the device. Though many has doubted that the build 10240 is the RTM build as Microsoft has not confirmed it, but the build should be the one loaded and installed on new PCs, tablets, hybrids and other devices from OEM manufacturers that go on sale on Windows 10 launch day.Īs such, it’s pretty ‘safe’ to install and upgrade current Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, using Windows 10 Build 10240. Microsoft has signed off Windows 10 Build 10240 as the final RTM build.

Upgrade windows 8.1 to 10 free