Can you upgrade from Win 8 / 8.1 to Win 10 free?

[stevec59]

I've just done a rebuild from Win 7 to Win 10, using the Win 7 Licence, you can do an upgrade in a similar way, can you do this free for Win 8 / Win 8.1? Is there a tutorial, or just use the Win 7 10 Win 10 one?
When is Microsoft stopping support on Win 8 / 8.1?
Reason for asking is that a friend over the road has Win 8 or 8.1.

Many Thanks

Steve

 

[monkeylove]

I used the tool here to upgrade three machines from Win 7 to 10 last week because the updates for the former will be ending soon:

Download Windows 10

The process looked something like this:

For now, all three PCs are running correctly, with settings in place, and no prompts for activation. A fourth PC was upgraded around six months ago.

I've three more PCs (one's a branded all-in-one, the second's a laptop, and the third is almost five years old) with Win 8.1, and I'm guessing that upgrading them will involve the same process as that for Win 7. For now, they are running smoothly, and I read that support will continue until the end of 2022, so I'm not sure if I will be upgrading them.

 

[Bree]

I've just done a rebuild from Win 7 to Win 10, using the Win 7 Licence, you can do an upgrade in a similar way, can you do this free for Win 8 / Win 8.1?

Yes, you can upgrade W8/8.1 to W10 and it will be activated.

In fact, for a machine built and supplied by the OEM with W8/8.1 pre-installed it's even easier. All such machines have the key embedded in their firmware. A clean install of W10 will find this key and will not ask you to enter one, instead it will use this key to determine the appropriate edition to install (Home or Pro) and to get it activated once W10 it is installed.

Is there a tutorial, or just use the Win 7 10 Win 10 one?

The Ten Forums W7 to W10 tutorial was written specifically with W7 users in mind. With W8's ability to mount ISO files there are more options available. This Ten Forums tutorial covers them all.

Upgrade to Windows 10

When is Microsoft stopping support on Win 8 / 8.1?

Windows 8 is not supported, only Windows 8.1 gets support. Extended support for W8.1 ends January 10, 2023.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet

 

[stevec59]

Thanks Bree, It looks like Mainstream support has ended for Windows 8.1, I presume that Mainsteam is home users etc and Extended is for large companies?
I'll talk to the chap over the road and see if he wants me to upgrade his laptop for him.

Thanks Again,

Steve

 

[Bree]

Thanks Bree, It looks like Mainstream support has ended for Windows 8.1, I presume that Mainsteam is home users etc and Extended is for large companies?

No, not at all. Mainstream support includes feature development, while extended support is only security fixes. But extended support is provided free to all customers. Non-security fixes are a paid-for option during extended support but the security fixes are free to all.

Look at the example of Windows 7. Its extended support will end in January 2020. Mainstream support for W7 ended on January 13, 2015.

Extended Support

The Extended Support phase follows Mainstream Support. At the supported service pack level, Extended Support includes:

• Paid support
• Security updates at no additional cost
• Ability to request non-security fixes for select products, for eligible Unified Support customers.

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14085/fixed-lifecycle-policy

 

[stevec59]

Thanks Bree, Great explication!

 

[fennycruz]

I used the tool here to upgrade three machines from Win 7 to 10 last week because the updates for the former will be ending soon:

Download Windows 10

The process looked something like this:

For now, all three PCs are running correctly, with settings in place, and no prompts for activation. A fourth PC was upgraded around six months ago.

I've three more PCs (one's a branded all-in-one, the second's a laptop, and the third is almost five years old) with Win 8.1, and I'm guessing that upgrading them will involve the same process laser as that for Win 7. For now, they are running smoothly, and I read that support will continue until the end of 2022, so I'm not sure if I will be upgrading them.

Thanks for the video,Nice and simple. I decided to upgrade my old PC from windows 7 to 10 however before started I upgraded the hard drive to a Samsung 500GB SSD and replaced the old DDR ram which cost me just over £70 for both. This must have helped because Windows 10 was installed and running in 89 minutes. I also used a wired connection.

 

[Bree]

I decided to upgrade my old PC from windows 7 to 10...

Glad to hear it went well for you, but it's odd to see this posted on Eight Forums

Many of us are also registered over on the sister-site Ten Forums - Windows 10 Help and Support Forum and would be glad to see you over there.

 

[Bling99]

As i know,Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft,but i don't know more about Windows 8,it still seems to be supported by Microsoft.
It is found by me.

Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ - Microsoft Support

Learn how to upgrade your existing device to Windows 10 or buy a new PC. Get answers to common questions about upgrading to Windows 10.

support.microsoft.com

And there are still free ways to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10, and Windows 8 to do the same.
It is found by me.

Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

How to Upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 for Free

www.tenforums.com

 

[Bree]

....Windows 8, it still seems to be supported by Microsoft....

You need to be on Windows 8.1 for continuing support. Windows 8.0 support ended in January 2016. Mainstream support for 8.1 has ended, but Extended support will continue to deliver security fixes until January 2023.

Windows 8.1 reached the end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and will reach end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023.

Lifecycle FAQ - Windows

Answers to frequently asked questions about the lifecycle policy for Windows products.

docs.microsoft.com

 

[erpster4]

You need to be on Windows 8.1 for continuing support. Windows 8.0 support ended in January 2016. Mainstream support for 8.1 has ended, but Extended support will continue to deliver security fixes until January 2023.

Lifecycle FAQ - Windows

Answers to frequently asked questions about the lifecycle policy for Windows products.

docs.microsoft.com

only the Home/Pro/Enterprise editions of Win8.0 went EOL in Jan. 2016 but the Embedded Standard edition of W8 is still supported until July 2023

also one needs to be using Windows 8.1 with at least Update 1 (KB2919355) (not Win8.1 RTM or w/out Update 1) to continue getting new W8.1 updates until 1/2023.