Specific upgrade paths to get to all versions Windows 10

If you have a device with an older version of Windows or Windows Phone, Microsoft has now revealed more information on the specific upgrade paths that will available to get to Windows 10.

The company first revealed the seven Windows 10 SKUs last week, and a new blog post on the Windows Australia Partner Network has more details on the upgrade paths for Windows 7 and 8.1 users, along with Windows Phone 8.1:

  • Microsoft will offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.1 devices in the first year. After the first year, upgrades will be paid via boxed product and VL Upgrades.
  • Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 7 Home Basic and Home Premium devices upgrade to Windows 10 Home
  • Windows 8/8.1 Pro and Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate devices upgrade to Windows 10 Pro
  • If upgraded within the first 12 months following launch, the device will receive ongoing Windows 10 updates for free for the life of that device
  • Excludes Windows Enterprise and RT devices
  • The free Windows 10 upgrade is delivered through Windows Update; domain-joined machines can manually get the update via Windows Update. The upgrade cannot be deployed through WSUS.

As previously announced, Microsoft's free upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 7, 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 users will only last a year after the OS officially launches. Microsoft has yet to reveal pricing for the full version of Windows 10. Surface and Surface 2 owners with Windows RT are supposed to get an update that will add some features of Windows 10, but specifics about that update have not been revealed.

Read more: Here are the specific upgrade paths to get to all versions of Windows 10 | Windows Central
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
Wait so let me get this straight:

I have windows 8.1 so when the update comes I can update to Windows 10 but only for 12 months then I will have to pay for the OS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    R510C
    CPU
    Intel(R)Core(TM)i5-3337U CPU @ 1.80GHz X4
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    6.00 GB (5.89 GB usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Intel(R) Display Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Internet Speed
    2MBs a second
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    360 Total Security
    Other Info
    Normal laptop that can handle general office use such as Photoshop and Word.
Hello Brayden,

No. You will have one year to make the upgrade to Windows 10 to Windows 8.1. If you miss the one year deadline, then you would have to pay for Windows 10. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows7

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
So does this mean that an upgrade route via Windows Update is the only 'free' option on offer and that a clean install using a valid 7/8/8.1 licence will not be possible ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 x64 pro and W8.1 x86
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3750/Acer 9301
    CPU
    Intel i5/AMD Turion 64
    Memory
    4Gb/2Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel i5 internal/NVidia GEFORCE GO 6100
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Hard Drives
    250Gb SSD and 120Gb
    Mouse
    HP Z4000
    Internet Speed
    76 down, 20 up
    Browser
    MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
But would a clean install not require a re-loading of all apps - like Office 2013 for example - will Office forget its "one PC only" product key and not allow a reinstall after clean install? Moreover, will an upgrade via Windows Update keep all drivers and product key apps even though it will be a new version of windows?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 update
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Compaq
    CPU
    Pentium duo
    Motherboard
    Custom
    Memory
    4 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    NEC 1980sx
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    IE 11
    Antivirus
    Defender
I'll be looking for the "ISO" myself.

If its a "free" upgrade like 8.1 was for 8, than they need to make this retail 8.1 pro key I bought at that time work the same way if I decide to install 10 over my 8.1using a burned setup disk from a ISO of W10. Like it did when I burned a ISO of W8.1 and installed it over my 8. Right now I have a W8.1 setup disk that WILL install with my Pro key I bought (after using an install key though first)

( making a good "image" backup does save you all that headache though for recovery's after these updates)

I hope they post an ISO to download, , cause if you only get a year to install the thing, and you need get a new HD say after the year update period,, you wouldn't be able to upgrade again, since you'd need to re install 8.1 (or 7) first, and even with a good key the year would be over, so the key that is useable now on w8.1 pro I got back when, should be made valid so you could reinstall even if after a year down the road using just a burned setup disk from a w10 ISO. I'd like to be able to just install the thing using ONLY my W8.1 Pro Key, and not have to use some instillation key first, those keys should only be needed for those that want to install and try until they get a valid key.

I couldn't get my system at the time to even do the update from 8 to 8.1 via that store thing when MS did that, I had to go looking for a W8.1 Pro ISO and do it myself to get it upgraded at that time., which it did by having to use some installer key first, and than applying my retail key to validate the install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W8.1up1 Pro x64 w/media center
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    dv7t-6c00 HP
    CPU
    2670QM
    Motherboard
    HP
    Memory
    8g
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon 7690M XT (6770m) /Intel 3000
    Sound Card
    IDT HD Intel
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Laptop 17.3"/Samsung 26"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 HD
    Hard Drives
    Hitichi 750g 5400 rpm Laptop
    Case
    Brushed Aluminum (steel)
    Keyboard
    external USB
    Mouse
    external USB
    Internet Speed
    DSL
    Browser
    FF, IE, Chrome
    Antivirus
    COMODO Security Suite
So does this mean that an upgrade route via Windows Update is the only 'free' option on offer and that a clean install using a valid 7/8/8.1 licence will not be possible ?

I'm afraid no details have been released on how that will work yet? :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Brayden,

No. You will have one year to make the upgrade to Windows 10 to Windows 8.1. If you miss the one year deadline, then you would have to pay for Windows 10. :)

How about if someone has upgraded within a year after Windows 10's release and after that year he decides to reformat his PC just to clean up his PC, would he then have to pay for Window's 10 to be able upgrade again?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 (Update 1) Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Asrock Pro4 Z77
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce GTX 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HDS921010DLE630
Hello Brayden,

No. You will have one year to make the upgrade to Windows 10 to Windows 8.1. If you miss the one year deadline, then you would have to pay for Windows 10. :)

How about if someone has upgraded within a year after Windows 10's release and after that year he decides to reformat his PC just to clean up his PC, would he then have to pay for Window's 10 to be able upgrade again?

I'm afraid no details on how that will work have been released yet. I would hope we get a Windows 10 key with the upgrade.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hello Brayden,

No. You will have one year to make the upgrade to Windows 10 to Windows 8.1. If you miss the one year deadline, then you would have to pay for Windows 10. :)

How about if someone has upgraded within a year after Windows 10's release and after that year he decides to reformat his PC just to clean up his PC, would he then have to pay for Window's 10 to be able upgrade again?

I'm afraid no details on how that will work have been released yet. I would hope we get a Windows 10 key with the upgrade.

Thanks, hopefully Microsoft will shed some light on this. If they're not giving a Windows 10 key, then I'm hoping they would offer an ISO of Windows 10 that would activate with a 8.0 key so that a clean Windows 10 install would be possible (I'm able to do a clean install of Windows 8.1 ISO by using my Windows 8.0 key).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 (Update 1) Pro 64 bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel i5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Asrock Pro4 Z77
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce GTX 660Ti
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HDS921010DLE630
So does this mean that an upgrade route via Windows Update is the only 'free' option on offer and that a clean install using a valid 7/8/8.1 licence will not be possible ?

I'm afraid no details have been released on how that will work yet? :(

A waiting game then...... we just have to see how it all pans out.

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10 x64 pro and W8.1 x86
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3750/Acer 9301
    CPU
    Intel i5/AMD Turion 64
    Memory
    4Gb/2Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel i5 internal/NVidia GEFORCE GO 6100
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Hard Drives
    250Gb SSD and 120Gb
    Mouse
    HP Z4000
    Internet Speed
    76 down, 20 up
    Browser
    MS Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
It's frustrating waiting game. When Microsoft does release some info, its usually only just enough to make you wonder what it really means. How you interpret ate it likely depends on whether your a pessimist or an optimist. ;)
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Education 64 Bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Deneb 3.7GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS M4N68T-M V2 µATX Motherboard
    Memory
    8GB 4GBx2 Kingston PC10600 DDR3 1333 Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Geforce GT640 2 Gig DDR3 PCIe
    Sound Card
    VIA VT1708s High Definition Audio 8-channel Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    22" LG E2242 1080p and 2 19" I-INC AG191D
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024 - 1920x1080 - 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    Crucial MX100 256 GB SSD and 500 GB WD Blue SATA
    PSU
    Thermaltake TR 620
    Case
    Power Up Black ATX Mid-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Stock heatsink fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K350 Wave
    Mouse
    Logitech M570 Trackball and T650 TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    80 Mbps Down 30 Mbps Up
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    HP DVD1040e Lightscribe - External USB2
It's frustrating waiting game. When Microsoft does release some info, its usually only just enough to make wonder what it really means. How you interpret ate it likely depends on whether your a pessimist or an optimist. ;)

It's no different than government, it is corporate politics and double speak. Everyone should be used to it by now. Have to wait till the fat lady sings before it is over.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V3 771G-6443
    CPU
    i5-3230m
    Motherboard
    Acer VA70_HC (U3E1)
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 PC3-12800 (800 MHz)
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD4000 + GeForce GT 730M
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" Generic PnP Display on Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250 GB
    ADATA SSD SP900 128GB
    PSU
    90 watt brick
    Mouse
    Bluetooth
    Antivirus
    Comodo
    Other Info
    Asus RT-AC56R dual-band WRT router (Merlin firmware). Intel 7260.HMWWB.R dual-band ac wireless adapter.
I'm presuming once you've upgraded a quick flick with Speccy will reveal your product key for use with reinstallation. Providing of course that an ISO is made available.

All the above is guesswork and conjecture, don't take it as gospel.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Pro x64 | Win8.1 Pro x64 VM | Win 10TP x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    i7-4790k
    Motherboard
    ASUS Sabertooth Z87 (BIOS 2004)
    Memory
    8GB Kingston HyperX Genesis @1600MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 980 Classified
    Sound Card
    Onboard Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung S24B300
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel 520 Series 240GB SSD /
    Samsung 850 EVO 120GB SSD /
    2TB WD Caviar Black /
    2TB WD Caviar Black /
    2TB WD Caviar Green
    PSU
    Corasiar HX 850-80 Gold Modular
    Case
    Cooler Master Silencio 650
    Cooling
    Corsair H80i + 2x SP120s + 2x Noctua intakes
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Sidewinder X4
    Mouse
    Gigabyte M6900
    Internet Speed
    152Mb/s
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    F-Secure
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