Computers

How to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 tech preview via Windows Update

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Here's how to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 via Windows Update
Download the executable file to start the upgrade
Windows 10 upgrade file
Windows Update running
Install a preview of the next version of Windows
Windows 10 tech preview is ready to be installed
Windows Update in Windows 10
Windows 10 tech preview installing
Windows 7 upgraded to Windows 10 tech preview
Windows Upgrade Assistant
Here's how to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 via Windows Update
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If you have a spare Windows 7 PC sitting around, why not put it to use to see what's in store for the future of Windows? Using Windows Update to upgrade to Windows 10 is much easier than doing a clean install and allows you to keep your settings, personal files, and most apps. It is worth noting that you can do this with Windows 8.1 too – just don't do it on your primary machine as Windows 10 is still in the technical preview, or beta stage, and it will be buggy. Here's a look at the steps involved.

Before starting, it's a good idea to run the Windows Upgrade Assistant, which will check to make sure your computer has adequate hardware to run it, and to show which of your currently installed programs will be compatible with Windows 10. If your computer can handle 8.1, it should have no problem running Windows 10. The most important thing here is to learn which apps will or won't run.

While this will be your test computer, make sure to back up any valuable data on it that you might want later, because once the upgrade starts, it can't be undone, and there's no guarantee something won't go awry.

Windows Upgrade Assistant

Updating Windows 7 to Windows 10 tech preview

Before you can get the Windows 10 upgrade, you'll need to sign up as a Windows Insider, which is free and easy to do. For more details on that, read our article on how to install Windows 10 tech preview. After you are all set up as an Insider, head to this page to start the upgrade.

Download the executable file to start the upgrade

That will download a small executable file for you to install. This will tell Windows Update to search for the appropriate tech preview update, i.e, the 64- or 32-bit version.

Windows 10 upgrade file

A restart of your PC is required, and when it comes back and you log in, you'll see Windows Update is already running.

Windows Update running

You'll then be presented with the following update that allows you to start the upgrade to the Windows 10 tech preview.

Install a preview of the next version of Windows

After the technical preview update is downloaded, you'll be greeted with the following screen where you can decide to continue with the update, or stop the upgrade all together.

Windows 10 tech preview is ready to be installed

The amount of time it takes to complete the upgrade will vary, and could take an hour or longer. During the upgrade process your computer will restart several times.

Windows 10 tech preview installing

After you've completed the set up process and signed in to your Microsoft account, the install will be complete. You'll see the new desktop and can start familiarizing yourself with new Windows 10 features. You should still have all of the compatible programs and files that were on Windows 7.

Windows 7 upgraded to Windows 10 tech preview

Just like any version of Windows, after the upgrade has completed, you'll want to check for updates, and there will definitely be a few to download.

Windows Update in Windows 10

Summing Up

Microsoft will be using Windows Update when it releases the final version of Windows 10 for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. There won't be a physical disc to buy at a retail store, but we can safely assume there will be downloadable ISO files available for download if you want to do a clean install.

I performed this upgrade with an older budget Dell Vostro 220 with 4 GB of RAM and Intel Core 2 Duo processor and the performance of Windows 10 on this older machine is better than I expected. The user interface and apps are generally responsive, but there are times when things run slower, especially when multitasking and several apps are running. Of course, that could be due to the fact it's still in the tech preview stage. Whatever the case, if you're looking to test out Windows 10 on an older Windows 7 computer, using Windows Update is the easiest way to get it done. And this gives you an early look at what you can expect when upgrading other Windows 7 or 8.1 computers in the future.

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10 comments
Soundman_Zurich
Will it be possible to reinstall Windows 10 onto an existing PC, or onto a new one? Does the new MS licensing scheme allow for this?
Matt Rundle
Hi,
Yes you can re install Windows 10 onto an Existing PC or a new on.
1) Make sure your PC meets the requirements to run it. 2) Get a Windows 10 ISO image disc or download 3)look up the website for drivers that may work with Windows 10, you may find a machine designed for Vista o 7 or 8/8.1 will run Windows 10 no problem. 4) Windows 10 is still in preview mode, so Drivers have been developed yet, but Microsoft have designed it to work for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users to upgrade for free, so it will be ok for them.
here are some example of what Windows 10 could be compatible with
Intel core 2 Duo Intel dual core Intel core i3 Intel core i5 Intel core i7
If you do run into problems, the most common issue is Graphics drivers, i have tested Windows 10 on a Vista machine and had no problems, so i don't see why these examples shouldn't work, as it wouldn't make sense for a company to make newer computers incompatible with newer Software.
cherrr31
More junk from Microsoft to allow Microsoft to make billions off of the masses. Take it slow. Keep Windows Seven 'till U are forced to upgrade.
John Hogan
Nice article (seriously) but don't do this. Win10 really does run well but I wouldn't upgrade any OS. A fresh install wins hands down. Just download the free file from MS, burn it to disc and install on a different drive. It installs better and faster than ever before. If that seems hard, simply google how to. It's actually easy and then you've got a physical disc to reinstall down the track :-). Upgrading the OS is untidy at best.
Rockin Robbins
No thanks. I'm sticking with Windows 7 until forced to upgrade to Linux. This is just overt thuggery. A computer that cannot be used for any operating system but Windows should be illegal and people should go to jail. Instead all the zombies masquerading as independent reviewers will heap Windows 10 with praise at volume we haven't heard since.....Windows 8. Beware. These people are selling rancid snake oil.
LiamTormey
@Cherrr31
Windows 10 is free to all until the end of the year. By the time you're forced to upgrade, WIndows 10 may no longer be free. I love Windows 7, but it's starting to show it's age. At some point, Microsoft will stop supporting it.
I'd prefer to upgrade now while it's free.
LiamTormey
@Rockin Robbins
There are plenty alternatives to using Windows, like Ubuntu Linux. No computer restricts you to Windows only. You have a choice.
You can stick with Windows 7, but you can't expect Microsoft to constantly update & support the OS forever, which they won't.
I would say Windows 7 is a better OS than Windows 10, but they've fixed a lot of the issues I had with Windows 8, which should count for something. Windows 10 really isn't all that bad, although there are aspects of the OS I don't quite like.
RIT
Turns out that XP and Vista will be hit the hardest - have to buy Win10 (Win7 and Win10) get it for free, and risk losing all the stuff in the process.
I did find a pretty good tutorial here on how to keep stuff working, although it's a paid product: http://www.zinstall.com/how-to/how-to-upgrade-to-windows-10-without-losing-your-programs-and-files
Alternatively, it should also be possible to do with just getting a backup (even a cheap one), but that would involve a bit more work.
shreya111
I Tried to install with this tutorial but it wasn't helpful. so tried this link. This is realy awesome and way to install windows10 http://wpdroids.com/windows/windows-10-activation-guide-problems-not-getting-activated-errors/
opop
How to upgrade Windows 10 Now Without Waiting - http://bit.ly/1Mdp8eZ