Deploying Windows 10 to Windows 7 licenced hardware?

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kenkeniff

628 posts

Ultimate Geek

#177708 12-Aug-2015 07:32

What are the options for deploying Windows 10 to a number of brand-new Windows 7 or 8.1 Pro OEM licenced laptops (with upgrade rights to 10)?

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1363380 12-Aug-2015 07:45

Free Upgrade Offer

The free upgrade can be deployed in two ways:

Through Windows Update

The simplest option is to connect each device to Windows Update, and upgrade to Windows 10 through that in-place upgrade experience.

Deploy an upgrade image

Upgrade media will be provided as part of the free upgrade offer. This media can be used on a machine (or multiple machines) to initiate the upgrade process. During the process, a Windows 10 license will be obtained from the Windows Store for the device, in the same way that a license would be obtained when upgrading through Windows Update.

Note that the upgrade media is intended to be used to initiate the upgrade process from within a currently-activated Windows OS, not as bootable media, as the upgrade process validates the currently running OS to ensure that it is eligible to be upgraded. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

The Windows 10 Pro license created for the device during the upgrade is a consumer license that is tied to the device. The license will continue to work for reinstalling Windows 10 after the free upgrade period ends- on the same device only. The license created is not a Volume License and will not be in VLSC. The customer will need to contact Customer Support if they have questions.

Quinny

885 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1363498 12-Aug-2015 10:35

Now done about 15 pcs a mix of Windows 7 and Windows 8. My process is
1) Run system update until nothing left, running several times might be required (this has extra Win 10 drivers and issue solvers you could want)
2) Go to System and check - version of Windows (Pro/Home) and if 32/64 bit
3) Also check in System Windows is activated
4) Run a virus scan (my only fail had a trojan on the laptop scan did not find). Clean install after upgrade has fixed.

Use the https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 media you made (I made 2 disks Pro Both and Home Both)
Grab a coffee as will take 30 mins to 6 hours.

Once a pc has been updated there is now a copy registered with Microsoft (even if do not use a MS Account - go create then skip) and you should even be able to do later a clean install on that machine with no activation required (unless trigger by changing motherboard or more than x (was 3 of 12) items in which case Phone Activation may be required.