Windows 7 to Windows 10

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gnfb

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#288897 30-Jul-2021 12:21

I have a ThinkCentre mini/tiny that has a windows 7 pro OA sticker BUT no OS installed.

This article tells me that I can get an upgrade to windows 10.

That article, takes me to this microsoft page.

The question: should I install windows 7 on the unit first then update from there? (maybe use a bootable usb drive to install windows 7).

or is there an easier way to do it?

Like can I install windows 10 on the unit straight away then input somewhere the reg details?

Thanks

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#2752396 30-Jul-2021 12:25

Grab a copy of the product key for your current install.

Then long as theres nothing on the HDD to keep, just use the Win 10 installer and install. If it eventually says its not activated, you should be able to use the key to do so.

Im doing exactly that this weekend on 2 old laptops Ive been given.

XPD / Gavin

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xpd

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#2752397 30-Jul-2021 12:27

In saying that, it will prompt for a key during install, but you can bypass it - may find you dont need it.

XPD / Gavin

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CYaBro

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#2752414 30-Jul-2021 13:06

Shouldn't have any problems using the Windows 10 Media Creation tool to make a bootable USB drive and use that to install Windows 10 Pro.

As xpd mentioned just skip the product key part during the install process as the Win7 key won't work at that stage, and just be sure to select Win10 Pro to install.
Once you've got Windows 10 Pro installed go to the Settings and activate it by selecting to change the product key and then use your Win7 Pro one.

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gnfb

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#2752723 30-Jul-2021 23:54

Cheers chaps all went well

downloaded a iso update burnt to usb , then bootup loaded asked for key gave the windows 7 key and gave me back windows 10 pro all done and dusted! geez havnt done that in a while! again thanks for the comments.

Is an English Man living in New Zealand. Not a writer, an Observer he says. Graham is a seasoned 'traveler" with his sometimes arrogant, but honest opinion on life. He loves the Internet!.

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old3eyes

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#2752883 31-Jul-2021 14:54

gnfb:

Cheers chaps all went well

downloaded a iso update burnt to usb , then bootup loaded asked for key gave the windows 7 key and gave me back windows 10 pro all done and dusted! geez havnt done that in a while! again thanks for the comments.

Now for a challenge try Windows 11 :-)

Regards,

Old3eyes

gnfb

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#2752890 31-Jul-2021 15:07

Can you go from 10 to 11 as a update?

LOL don worry Ive got google like everyone else :)

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1101

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#2753492 2-Aug-2021 09:11

This article tells me that I can get an upgrade to windows 10.

There IS NO FREE UPGRADE TO Win10. None, Nada, Niltch , Nope .

MS even state on their website" the free upgrade ended many years ago. But why would IT blogs bother with facts.
MS also state that activation does not mean you have a valid licence

Yes, many still do this. Its basically pirating as you are installing without a valid license.
Even IT companies still do that 7-10 "free" upgrade , they should know better .
Do MS care, well thats another topic :-)

xpd

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#2753531 2-Aug-2021 10:05

Here we go again......

XPD / Gavin

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gnfb

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#2753595 2-Aug-2021 12:29

strange as the "upgrade came from a msoft website?

msoft website

it looks legit?

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#2753598 2-Aug-2021 12:41

Don't worry about it...... in theory upgrading 7 -> 10 now is no longer free. But MS have left the upgrade/installer available, and don't do anything to stop you running it.

So theres a small 1 in a million chance they decide your upgrade was not legit, and deactivate your license.

Worst thing that happens really, is that you can no longer customize Windows (colors, wallpapers etc) and you get a watermark advising its not activated.

I'd say with Windows 11, it might be tighter, they may check your 10 license and if it wasn't a legit upgrade, then they wont allow you to get 11.

Theres plenty of other threads around covering it.....

XPD / Gavin

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1101

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#2753719 2-Aug-2021 14:01

gnfb:

strange as the "upgrade came from a msoft website?

msoft website

it looks legit?

Nope .
Just because you have an installer, doesnt mean you get a free lic.

There is info regarding "upgrade" on MS website, not easy to find though.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-nz/windows/windows-7-end-of-life-support-information

"There was a promotional free upgrade offer available when Windows 10 first released, but that offer expired on 29 July 2016.
You can purchase and download Windows 10 on your device today"

You can do it. But accept you dont have a valid lic.
This nonsense of tech sites saying you can get a free upgrade needs to stop. Its simply not true.
MS could at any time deactivate it (as they have in the past with pirated XP , Win7 & Office) They wont though . :-)

You can also install Win11 without install/lic key & keep using it, unlicensed .

Honestly , MS screwed up with this . They will know what PCs didnt get a legit upgrade , but do nothing about it , and are keeping quiet about all this. So, they dont seem to care.
I have to fix a Win7/8 laptop with dead HD. Did it ever get a legit ug to 10 (ie before 2016) . I dont know & no way to find out .

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Oblivian

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#2753866 2-Aug-2021 16:22

The catch is. OEM manufacturers offered W10 as a free upgrade to already in-the-shop devices prior to and as part of the same online upgrade plan. And /new/ devices after release that were eligible and had the new media version numbering embedded.

Those already in shop devices, usually come with none, user creatable via system partition, offline order, or downloadable only recovery media.

And that installable version the OEM shipped with them was...

Pro tip. Not 10.

That's most likely he reason why there was a digital enablement. You couldn't pinpoint particular devices, And now a subsequent requirement and nags to register it against an online account.

There's probably no easy way to determine what OEM devices are factory restored to 7 when reimaged or worked on to be eligible. Or fresh installed and still eligible because it was done so prior to the need to save it online.

SpartanVXL

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#2753873 2-Aug-2021 16:36

People are correct when they say theres no ‘free’ upgrade from 7 to 10, that pathway expired but can be re-used by the accessibility upgrade tool which MS has left working.

However MS has officially acknowledged, I believe sometime after v1809, that all valid windows 7/8/8.1 keys can be used for a digital entitlement activation on Win10 installs which can then be tied to a MS account.

Semantics and all that, but reality is if you have a valid key stashed away on a old win7 install disc you can get windows 10 with no additional cost. Calling their helplines will also confirm this.

1101

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#2754962 4-Aug-2021 11:27

SpartanVXL: the accessibility upgrade tool which MS has left working.

.

And
""The accessibility upgrade offer expires on December 31, 2017"

MS Seems to be actively hiding all this info , just leading to more FUD & half truths
Even their help desk/support dont know seem to know whats really going on

regardless, you can still do it . :-)

he questions going forward will be
Will we still be able to use Win7,8 install keys on Win11
can we ug direct from 7,8 to Win11 ?
Will the 'free' 7 to 10 upgarades done after 2017 have issues with W11 licensing ? (I cant really see that happening )