Microsoft still allows you to install Windows 10 for free. Necessary, however, to have an original copy of an old Windows 7 or Windows 8
As is known, there is little time until the day when Microsoft will stop any kind of support for Windows 7: at the end of January, in fact, will no longer be released even the security patches for this old operating system.
Microsoft, for this reason, has long warned Windows 7 users and invites them to upgrade the operating system to Windows 10, in order not to risk cyber attacks made possible by any security flaws in the old OS, which will no longer be resolved. The upgrade to Windows 10 is sold, on the Microsoft Store, at a price of 145 euros. But there was a period, from 2015 to mid-2016, during which Microsoft was giving away the upgrade to Win 7, 8 and 8.1 users. And, apparently, you can still upgrade your PC to Windows 10 for free, because the link provided at the time by Microsoft to download and install Windows 10 for free is still working.
Upgrade to Windows 10 for free: how to do it
To upgrade our PC to Windows 10 for free, we need to go to the Windows 10 download page and then choose to create a Windows installation disc. Then we have to download and run, following the on-screen directions, the appropriate Microsoft tool. At the end of the installation, if everything went well, going to Settings > Update & Security we should see the license number of Windows 10.
Beware of the Windows version
The thing that should be specified, however, is that in this way if we are updating Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Home we will get Windows 10 Home, while if we are going to update Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 Pro we will get Windows 10 Pro. Remember that the best experience on Windows 10 is obtained with the Pro version, which offers advanced features such as Windows Hello, for passwordless login, and much more.
Why is it important to upgrade
Windows 10, in recent times, is at the center of user criticism because of the many bugs that pop up like mushrooms after each upgrade released by Microsoft. This is also why many users have postponed upgrading to the new operating system, staying with one of the previous versions. However, upgrading is important because it greatly enhances the security of the computer on which Windows runs.
The old versions, in fact, no longer receiving periodic updates do not even receive security patches and remain exposed to serious risks. Very often bugs and problems are discovered in old Windows versions that can be exploited by hackers to take control of our PC. After each of these discoveries, Microsoft proceeds to release the corresponding patch in the next monthly update. No updates, therefore, no security.