BLUF: Is it still possible to upgrade software from Win 7 to Win 10? If so, how simple is it to do for a non-computer guy like myself?
The story: I have a laptop I bought about ten years ago, that I had been keeping around for lack of constructive ways to physically destroy it* and all the data onboard. It’d also been a good archive for things like photos, iTunes music, etc. etc. I am considering upgrading it to Win 10, since I understand that support for Win 7 has expired, and Win 7 is no longer a safe OS to connect to the internet.
The hardware is still good (albeit a little slow), but this ol’ laptop should work just fine when I travel, and need to get online for school, webmail, or minor gaming.
Bottom line: Intead of buying a new laptop, I’d like to reuse the old one by trying to upgrade the OS. Anyone got any experience, or advice?
I have at least five computers that are ten years old or older that I have upgraded to Win10. Four of them were Dells. And, yes, the upgrade can still be done for free using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool. In most cases, I’ve also replaced the HDD with an SSD (<$30 for a 240GB SSD nowadays) and got a considerable performance boost. On the desktop machines, I bought brackets that allow me to retain the existing HDD as a data drive, using the new SSDs as the OS/boot drive. Total cost per machine, including brackets, cables, and SSDs was <$45. It was very worth my while.
I have done exactly that with a friend’s old laptop in March which he needed for his home office due to Covid. You can do a clean install this way, but note that this way all your data, personal settings and installed programs will get lost. One big caveat: be sure to have your original Win 7 key, you need it for a clean install of Win 10, and a genuine Win 7 key will still work for Win 10.
As far as I know, you can also do an upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10 via an update site somewhere on microsoft.com (sorry, I don’t have the specific adress, but it should be easy to google). This will preserve your data, most of the settings (some won’t be taken over by the switch) and programs (as far as they still function on Win 10, which is not guaranteed).
As for hardware specs, a 10 year old laptop should run Win 10 (I have a 12 year old desktop with a slowish double core processor running Win 10), but it should at least have 4 GB of RAM, and that’s the bare minimum, to work real smoothly it should have at least 8 GB.
To clarify, if you use the MS Media Creation Tool, it will allow you to do the upgrade to Windows 10 from within Windows 7, so it will NOT be a clean install and you WILL retain your data and programs. Also, it will automatically activate itself based on your Windows 7 license (assuming, of course, that your Windows 7 is properly activated).
If there are any programs that are not compatible with Windows 10 (I always have a couple), you will be warned about this prior to the upgrade.
If you choose to do a clean install, the media can also be used for that. It will ask you when you create the media if you want to upgrade or install to another computer (a clean install).
Ok, sorry, I didn’t know that the Media Creation Tool also works for upgrades, I only remembered that I used it to create a bootable USB stick to do a clean install with. In this case, you need the original key.
Oh man, I have to figure out where the Win 7 original key is. . . I bought the laptop at Costco and it came pre-loaded. I assume my Windows 7 license was properly validated since I’d been using the laptop up until three years ago. . .
I’ll give this a try. You guys have calmed down my apprehension about this!
Usually, the Windows key is printed on a sticker somewhere on the laptop, usually at the bottom. But as ZonexandScout said, if you do an upgrade and not a clean install, you don’t even need it.
If you can’t find the sticker with the key, you can download and install Belarc Advisor (Belarc Advisor - Belarc, Inc.) that will scan your computer and reveal your key for Win7. It’s free and very useful.
You can also do an upgrade install first, and then if you change your mind and want to do a reinstall from scratch later, Microsoft’s servers will remember your key for you.
For a laptop, I definitely recommend doing and upgrade install first, as it will keep/upgrade your drivers. While Windows 10 is better about finding drivers than previous versions, laptops, especially older ones, are more likely to need third party ones, and so more likely to run into problems.
Also, I didn’t check if anyone else mentioned it, but it’s probably a good idea to have your laptop into the wall and the Internet. Normally I say to disconnect from the Internet while upgrading, as it may install some games and apps you won’t want. But the benefit of it finding upgraded drivers is superior, and you can uninstall the junk. And I don’t believe an upgrade forces you to turn your account into a Microsoft account.
I’ve upgraded two laptops of mine, and several desktops at work. I’ve not been asked for a license number. I once had my connection to the web interrupted. The install stopped, and restored Windows 7.
Others mentioned that with the Media tool a windows 7 machine can upgrade to Windows 10 and not ask for the activation key. One question here to others: does the tool saves the activation key also when doing a clean installation? I usually do that in Schools and sometimes times it works too. Although I do keep the key around just in case. It has happened that some laptops will remember the number but for some you will have to manually input the key after a clean installation.
If there are many old programs in the laptop, I have found that a complete installation works better as it is easier to identify what are the old programs that will not work properly or slow down a computer. (Save all your links and logins from your browsers as well as all your files if you decide to do a clean installation).
Another thing to look for after upgrading or installing, is that some drivers will not the available for the old machine as reported in the Device Manager. Depending if you are installing the 64 bit or 32 bit edition you are usually able to find installers from the manufacturers that were designed for windows 8 or even Vista that are also 64 bits or 32 bits and that will enable some hardware devices in the laptop to work properly after the upgrade/install.
One more note: Several companies are not supporting their 32 bit programs as well as their 64 bit ones as that is the way forward. (Faster and more efficient use of resources)
Already one free 360 image stitching tool I looked for a project does not support their 32 bit tool anymore, so I had to upgrade to the 64 bit environment in an old computer at work, luckily the computer could use 64 bits. Look if your machine can use 64 bit. Microsoft allows upgrades from Windows 7 -32 bit- to go to Windows 10 -64 bit- with a valid key. And in that case, a clean installation is needed.
I had a Gateway laptop from 2007 that had Windows 7 and I tried to upgrade to Windows 10. It met the minimum system requirements but the hardware drivers for Windows 10 were not available and so Windows balked at doing the upgrade. Even if you suss out how to do the upgrade, be prepared for surprises along the way.
Notepad still comes with Windows. Paint was removed in favor of Paint 3D, but is still available in the app store, and will, I believe, automatically install upon an upgrade from Windows 7.
The main thing removed were the Windows games that had been building up from Windows 3. Store versions were created for some, but not all. However, Microsoft has not tried to stop efforts to put them back–just google “install Windows 7 games on Windows 10.”
Paint is still on every windows 10 machine I own. The default in the Start Menu is Paint3D, but paint is still in Windows/Accessories. (I actually use it often, for some esoteric applications for work).
Yes, it is absolutely possible and your current Windows 7 license will activate Windows 10.
Technically though, it is no longer legal without purchasing a Windows 10 license. Microsoft has been extremely lax about enforcing the rule change so you’ll probably never hear a peep, but FYI.