As you know, the free system upgrade to Windows 10 ends on July 29, 2016. If after this date you want to install the latest version from Microsoft, you will have to buy a license. In this article, you will learn how to bypass the payment and download Windows 10 after July 29th.
Windows 10 is available as free update For Windows users 7, 8 and 8.1. Also, users using older versions can update their computer if they use the Technical Preview version. Everything will change after July 29 of this year and you will have to buy a license.
However, it is possible in a simple way bypass this requirement and upgrade your computer to Windows 10 or simply reserve the latest version of the Microsoft system. We offer several ways to achieve this goal.
The first method is the easiest to get free Windows key 10. It will only take a little time. Before proceeding with it, write down a backup copy of all data on external drive or in cloud storage.
Then simply update your computer to Windows 10 - from Windows Update or from the windows icon on the taskbar, or using the special Media application Creation Tool. Of course, this will take some time. After the update, you need to set up an account. That is, we assign Windows 10 an e-mail address to mailbox Outlook.com or create a new account. A Windows 10 key will be assigned to it.
Then check that a new version The OS has been activated on the computer. To do this, open the Settings application (Win+I) and go to the section
Updates and Security > Activation.
If the system is activated, you will find information about this. If not, just click the appropriate button and wait until Windows 10 sends the information to Microsoft servers.
The next step is to roll back to previous version which you used - for example, on Windows 7. The process of returning to the previous OS is not complicated. The system can be safely restored within 30 days of installing Windows 10. Alternatively, you can simply install Windows 7 or another version of the system from the installation disc.
That's all. Now our account on Outlook.com will be assigned a Windows 10 key, which can be used if necessary. At the same time, we can continue to use previous operating systems from Microsoft.
The second method is disk cloning
Let's consider a slightly more complex method. If the amount of free space on your computer allows or you have an additional external HDD, then you can clone the system. This way we will not lose any data and will be able to quickly recover it.
This method is very similar to the one above. The only difference is that instead of updating the system and “overwriting” the previous one, we simply clone the latter to another disk. After upgrading to Windows 10 and activating the key, simply restore old version OS on the computer. This method can be used if Windows 8.1, 8 or 7 is installed.
If you do not know how to clone and transfer an operating system to another medium, please refer to the separate instructions, which are very detailed and accessible. After cloning our system, we update to Windows 10, activate it and then restore the old copy of the system. The effect is the same as in the previous method - we continue to use the old OS, while having free key Windows activation 10.
The third way is special features
The last method is the least labor-intensive and will take a little time. However, it is not 100% researched by Microsoft and therefore not as reliable. It consists of using the accessibility options on your computer.
How to get free access to Windows 10? On its block, Microsoft posted a laconic message that users using this function can upgrade their computer to Windows 10 for free even after July 29, 2016. However, experts do not explain what exactly the extension of the free Windows 10 update will consist of. Is it enough to use one accessibility option (for example, a larger mouse cursor or a screen magnifier) or maybe you need to activate all the options.
There are quite a lot of the latter - Magnifying glass, on-screen assistant, high contrast, encoded subtitles... Until Microsoft explains exactly what requirements are needed for renewal free access to Windows 10, until then this method will be a rather risky option. As soon as we know more detailed information about this, we will try to update this part of our article.
As you know, Microsoft initially stated that Windows 10, released on July 29, 2015, will be a free update for retail and OEM installations of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 for one year – until July 29, 2016. And after July 29, 2016, the update will no longer be offered through Windows Update, and you will have to purchase it. Windows Update on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 regularly offered to upgrade to Windows 10.
In fact, since July 19, 2016, on all activated systems with installed retail editions of Windows 7/8.1 on which users regularly installed recommended Microsoft updates, the counter turned on countdown remaining time for free update. Of course, this spurred many who postponed the update until the last few days. And, as promised, as of July 29, 2016, offers to update the OS for free via Windows Update disappeared. Are those who did not have time to update left without the opportunity to get the new OS for free? Fortunately, no! The possibility of free OS updates remains. Let's see how you can now upgrade your Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.
As of July 29, 2016, Microsoft is still offering free Windows update 10 for users with disabilities. Microsoft invites you to decide for yourself whether this offer applies to you or not. Let's leave this painful moral decision to you and look into the technical side of the issue.
To begin with, I went to the page for this promotion and downloaded the update assistant. 
As an example for this post, I installed, fully updated and activated Windows 8.1 Professional in virtual machine. I tested the method on Windows 7. The result and process are no different, so I’ll tell you below using the example of updating Windows 8.1. 
I launch the downloaded assistant to update my OS. 
I accept the agreement, and for a short time the OS checks the capabilities of my PC for an update. The main requirement is 2GB of memory (for 64-bit OS, 1GB for 32-bit) and about 20GB (16GB for 32-bit) on the system partition hard drive.
The application immediately starts downloading from the Internet Windows image 10 edition corresponding to yours. At the time of writing, the version of the Threshold2 branch was being downloaded, but I really hope that in a week or two the same update assistant will immediately install the Windows 10 Anniversary Update of the Redstone1 branch. 
After several minutes (hours? days??) of downloading, the system checks the integrity of the downloaded image. 
And the update process begins. 
For the first 30-40 minutes, everything happens inside the running OS. You can go about your business. Next, the system will warn you that a reboot is required. You will have half an hour to notice this. 
After the reboot, the standard Windows 10 installation process will begin: 
Depending on the speed hard disk, the process takes 10-40 minutes and ends with a message indicating the successful completion of the update. 
We select the OS settings (disable everything that Microsoft suggests enabling), go into the OS and see that our Window 10 is activated! 
As I explained above, the OS version I received when writing this note belongs to the Threshold2 branch (better known as Version 1511). All latest cumulative OS updates are included. Details about what Threshold, Redstone and in general are Windows builds 10 is possible - I recommend it. 
Now I just have to wait until Windows 10 Anniversary Update - version 1607 of the Redstone1 branch - can be obtained through Windows Update. For those who want to immediately complete this update, I can advise you to select advanced settings in the Settings/Updates panel and enable receiving Insider Preview builds: 
Select Start receiving Insider Preview builds. You will need to enter your account Microsoft entry ID that will need to be registered in the Insider Preview program. My entry was registered there a long time ago, so the OS didn’t ask me any unnecessary questions. If at this step you want to link your local account to Microsoft ID, select “Next”, if you only want to receive Insider builds, but continue to use your local account without connection to Microsoft clouds, select the option “Log in to this application only” 
Select “Start” again to install Insider builds, accept the agreement and restart your PC. 
In the update settings, I indicate that I want to receive assemblies of the RS1_Release branch and the Early Access option. The final version has already been released and is available, preliminary versions will now only go to the RS_Prerelease branch for Redstone2. 
Build 14393 – Final version Windows 10 Anniversary Update will come to you via Windows Update. True, not immediately, but within a day. This is how the Insider Preview program works. 
After about half an hour of updating, you receive the final version of Windows 10 Anniversary Update - 14393 branch Redstone1. Now, if you wish, you can disable receiving Insider assemblies. 
Attention to those who do not like to install one OS on top of another and do not consider such installations to be very stable. Windows 10, updated through the Update Assistant or before July 29 through Windows Update, after installation is not only an activated OS, but also saves on Microsoft servers information about this. What does this mean? If you now reinstall the OS completely on the same PC, even after formatting the system disk, then do not enter serial number during installation - there is an invisible “do this later” button. Select “do it later”, and the OS itself will contact the activation servers, make sure that Windows 10 has already been activated on this particular PC, and activate the newly installed OS.
If you are interested in the topic of how to bypass official announcements to download Windows 10 from the Microsoft website, you may be interested in the fact that the same thing can be done with Office for a long time. I'm talking about this
Hello, recently news appeared on the Internet that you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free even after July 29, 2016. The free period is over, and many people do not want to give up their attempts to find ways to upgrade for free. It turns out that there are 3 ways in which this can be done, and I will write about them now. Go.
First way. Upgrading to Windows 10 after a rollback
This method is very simple and straightforward. Many people know that after upgrading to Windows 10 there was a 30-day period during which you could test the system and if you liked everything, stay if new Windows you were not impressed, then you could roll back to the previous one Windows versions. What I want to say is that when you upgrade to Windows 10, this license will be tied to the hardware forever. Even if you downgraded to a previous version, after July 29 you can also upgrade to Windows 10 again for free.
The upgrade will be very simple, but you may not like this method. You need from scratch, but when the system asks for a key, just skip it. Thus, you can reinstall the OS unlimitedly, and it will always be licensed.
Second way. Changing the time and date on your computer
A strange method, but in some cases it worked. You need to go to the date and time settings and change it to earlier than July 29, 2016. This trick can be dangerous because you will lose your license or something else will happen. It is still unknown how long this feature will be in effect, maybe the shop has already been closed.
Third way. Windows 10 update for people with disabilities
As it turned out, Microsoft company takes care of users with disabilities and has made the update period up to “ten” without restrictions. If you go to this link, then you can download special utility, with which you can update. On the website you need to click the button "Update Now", after which the utility will load, which looks like this:
The utility is intuitive, it will download the update itself and you only need to click the “Restart now” button for your computer to install the latest version of Windows 10.
By the way, this the utility will do and to update the top ten itself, that is, if you don’t have latest version assembly, then the update assistant will download and install everything.
What should those who don’t want to update do?
As you already understand, all these methods are for those who want to upgrade. There are still a lot of devices in the world with Windows 7 and 8. It is possible that the price for them will soon fall. Also, if you come to purchase new laptop or computer, it is quite possible that it will be on Windows 10 and you will have no choice.
And finally, the last thing, support for all versions of Windows except “ten” has ended, which means that they will not receive security updates, which will be a tasty morsel for hackers and other bad people.
Do you think Microsoft is deliberately not closing such holes in order to attract as many users as possible to upgrade to Windows 10?
The free upgrade to Windows 10 ended on July 29, 2016, according to Microsoft, and the upgrade option for people with disabilities ended at the end of 2017. This means that if Windows 7 or 8.1 is installed on your computer and you have not updated on the specified date, having decided not to upgrade to Windows 10, then officially in the future you will need to buy a new OS if you want to install it on your computer (we're talking about the licensed version, of course). However, there is a way to get around this limitation in 2018.
On the one hand, the decision not to receive an update, but to stay on the current version of the operating system for someone can be quite balanced and justified. On the other hand, you can imagine a situation where you might regret not updating for free. An example of this situation: you have enough powerful computer and you play games, but “sit” on Windows 7, and a year later you discover that all newly released games are designed for DirectX 12 in Windows 10, which is not supported in 7.
Update 2018: this method no longer works. Upon completion of the main free update program, the following appeared on the official Microsoft website: new page- it tells that users using special abilities, everyone can also update for free. At the same time, no check of limited capabilities is carried out; the only thing is that by clicking the “Update now” button, you confirm that you are the user who requires special system capabilities (by the way, Screen keyboard- also a special opportunity and many people find it useful). At the same time, as reported, this update will be available indefinitely.
After clicking the button, the executable file is downloaded to start the update (it is required that a licensed version of one of the previous systems be installed on the computer). At the same time, the bootable system is normal; special features are enabled manually by the user if necessary. Address official page updates: https://microsoft.com/ru-ru/accessibility/windows10upgrade (It is unknown how long this update feature will work. If anything changes, please notify me in the comments).
Additional Information: If you received a Windows 10 update before July 29, but then uninstalled this OS, then you can, on the same computer, and when asked for a key during installation, click “I don’t have a key” - the system will be activated automatically when you connect to the Internet.
Install Windows 10 for free after completing the Microsoft Update program
To begin with, I note that I cannot guarantee the performance of this method, since this moment There is no time to check this. However, there is every reason to believe that he is working, provided that at the time you read this article, July 29, 2016 has not yet arrived.
The essence of the method is as follows:
- , wait for activation.
- We roll back to the previous system, see. On the topic of this step, I also recommend reading the end of the current instructions with additional useful information.
What happens: with a free update, activation is assigned to the current equipment (digital entitlement), as I wrote about earlier in the article.
After the “attachment” is completed, it is possible (or disk) on the same computer or laptop, including without entering a key (click “I don’t have a key” in the installation program) followed by automatic activation when connected to the Internet.
At the same time, there is no information that the specified binding is limited in time. Hence the assumption that if you perform the “Update” - “Rollback” cycle, then when necessary, you will be able to install Windows 10 in the activated edition (Home, Professional) on the same computer at any time, even after the free update period has expired .
I hope the essence of the method is clear and, perhaps, some of the readers will find the method useful. I just can’t recommend it to users for whom the theoretically possible need to reinstall the OS manually (rollback does not always work as expected) poses great difficulties.
Additional Information
Since rolling back from Windows 10 to previous operating systems using the system's built-in tools does not always work smoothly, a more preferable option (or as a safety net) may be to either create a complete backup copy current version of Windows, for example, using instructions (the methods also work for other versions of the OS), or temporary cloning system disk to another disk () followed by recovery.
And if something goes wrong, you can make a clean one Windows installation 7 or 8 on a computer or laptop (but not as a second OS, but as the main one) or if it is available.
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Hello friends! We keep receiving letters on our website asking us to tell us how the upgrade to Windows 10 happens after July 29th and whether it is still free. As you know, the period for free upgrades from previous operating systems: Windows 7, 8.1 to Windows 10 has ended on July 29, 2016. Specifically, readers ask one simple question: “ Is it possible to upgrade your operating system to Windows 10 for free now?»
I have no secrets from my friends - today you can upgrade to Windows 10, but you will have to do it in a slightly unusual way and it’s up to you to decide whether to use this method or not. Let me remind the uninitiated in a nutshell what we are talking about.
On July 29, 2015, the final version of the newest operating room was released Windows systems 10, on the same day Microsoft officially announced that everyone would be given the opportunity to update their OS: Windows 7, 8.1 to Windows 10 up to July 29, 2016. A huge army of PC users took advantage of the offer and upgraded their previous OS to tens within a year. But of course, not everyone made it, because many people are far from computer news and Microsoft learned about such an offer only afterJuly 29, 2016, and of course we regretted it a little, because Windows 10 Home costs no less today - RUB 7,000.00 PRO version even more 9 000,00 . If now I’m talking about you and you are just such a person, then perhaps the following information will be useful to you.
The fact is that Microsoft has announced a lifetime upgrade option to Windows 10 people with disabilities, but when upgrading to Windows 10 the system does not check for special computing devices for people with visual and hearing impairments, that is, anyone can upgrade their Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 on any computer or laptop. The update will occur before the final Anniversary release Update Windows 10 build 1607 (OS Build 14393.447).
So, we have a real Packard Bell laptop With installed Windows 8.1 for one language, which was never updated to Windows 10. 
Note: After the update, all our installed programs will remain in place, and nothing will happen to personal files, they will remain safe and sound on all disks.
(Left click on the screenshot to enlarge)
Follow the link: https://cloud.mail.ru/public/CG6h/WswyzYn9R download and run the Upgrade Assistant “Windows10Upgrade28085.exe”
and click “Update now”:
The Windows10Upgrade24074.exe update assistant is downloaded to our laptop and we launch it.
We accept the terms license agreement. Click on the “Accept” button
This will quickly check your computer for compatibility with Windows 10.
The process of preparing the update begins and Windows downloads 10.
The update is ready. To complete it, you need to restart your computer.
Click “Restart now”
The computer reboots and work with updates begins.
The main process of upgrading to Windows 10 is over. Click “Next”
You can use standard parameters, or you can customize your own,
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