Heck yeah, I even run it on our company server 2016 installs. I'll never quite understand "normal users" that prefer the new start setup.
Windows 7 users can still upgrade to Windows 10 for free
- Thread starter Cal Jeffrey
- Start date
QuantumPhysics
Posts: 6,306 +7,258
I am very happy with Windows 10.
I borked one installation of win10 with an overconfident click on spybot app, but other than that, flawless. If I'm patient with a fresh install, let it update, restart, etc, just sit there for a bit, then decrapify, do AV things, only *then* install all my apps one by one? I find I akshuALly spend less time than trying to restart a mirror image.
As opposed to upgrading in a mad panic and never double-checking updates or ever installing a manufacturer driver check app or clearing a cache or safely dismounting a usb, or checking for malware, or wondering what adblocking might do? Yeah, that used to be me.
Karl Hungus
Posts: 87 +53
Same here. I've now done 2 laptops and 2 desktops in my house and they've all worked flawlessly. I was very hesitant to go to Win 10 from 7, but I'm on board now. It's been rock stable and I actually notice better performance in everything, especially games (no, I don't have the Game Mode enabled).
I didn't do a single one as an 'upgrade' though. Download the media creation tool and do a clean install to the SSD (full format). Every one worked, they all activated automatically and all were free. Good deal IMO. Like many I was worried about 'spying' and whatever else, but welcome to the world now. I'd ditch the phone first if I was concerned about spying (I don't own one), and I'd NEVER put one of those Alexa-type 'home-spying kits' in my home. Also be sure to cover your webcams and disable your mic.
Adhmuz
Posts: 2,344 +1,187
For all the people who seem to be unable to upgrade from 7 to 10, you're clearly doing something wrong.
I've lost count of how many systems I've done the upgrade on, and these are system with a wide array of different software, so far the only software that I can say will not allow you to upgrade is VM Ware version that predate 14 and MS security essentials. Everything else just goes along for the ride and just works, or requires very minimal tweaking. This includes drivers for devices that wouldn't be able to be installed standalone with a clean install of 10, well you can get them to install but it takes a little more effort.
As far methods of upgrading, the easiest way is to just grab the ISO of the exact version you want using "Windows ISO Downloader", it grabs them right from MS servers, no need to torrent and risk who knows what if you're one of those people. Then you can either burn it to a DVD, the latest few required dual layer disks, or use rufus and create either a UEFI or CSM depending on your BIOS setup. Stick in in the PC, and launch the setup on the media, it will guide you through the rest of the process.
If you want to do a clean install pretty much any OEM key will work at the initial setup stage, Pro or Home, if it doesn't skip the key and once in Windows try again, it'll usually work from there. OEM keys are hilariously easy to come by to these days as businesses are more likely to outright replace their PCs instead of upgrading them, those old 7 Pro machines all have perfectly good keys ready to be used as a means of a clean 10 install.
I can only imagine one day this will no longer work, however once the key is used and a new digital license has been created and linked to a MS account you'll just have to log in with your email going forward to reuse that digital license.
I've lost count of how many systems I've done the upgrade on, and these are system with a wide array of different software, so far the only software that I can say will not allow you to upgrade is VM Ware version that predate 14 and MS security essentials. Everything else just goes along for the ride and just works, or requires very minimal tweaking. This includes drivers for devices that wouldn't be able to be installed standalone with a clean install of 10, well you can get them to install but it takes a little more effort.
As far methods of upgrading, the easiest way is to just grab the ISO of the exact version you want using "Windows ISO Downloader", it grabs them right from MS servers, no need to torrent and risk who knows what if you're one of those people. Then you can either burn it to a DVD, the latest few required dual layer disks, or use rufus and create either a UEFI or CSM depending on your BIOS setup. Stick in in the PC, and launch the setup on the media, it will guide you through the rest of the process.
If you want to do a clean install pretty much any OEM key will work at the initial setup stage, Pro or Home, if it doesn't skip the key and once in Windows try again, it'll usually work from there. OEM keys are hilariously easy to come by to these days as businesses are more likely to outright replace their PCs instead of upgrading them, those old 7 Pro machines all have perfectly good keys ready to be used as a means of a clean 10 install.
I can only imagine one day this will no longer work, however once the key is used and a new digital license has been created and linked to a MS account you'll just have to log in with your email going forward to reuse that digital license.
I must've upgraded a dozen so far- not one of them failed.
11mrtom
Posts: 21 +1
In my experience my OEM "sticker" or COA as it is called did not match the retrieved W & key and failed to activate when I tried a clean install.
My research found the following guide which provided my solution :
How to do a clean W 10 install for OEM Windows installs :
The Win7 OEM key built in to the firmware of your (or indeed anyone’s) device will never match the key on the CoA sticker.
This is a peculiarity of older Windows activation methods such as that used in 7.
Key in the firmware is a generic key for the brand of your device, Dell, HP, Acer, etc. and version that has been supplied for said device, whether Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate.
Key on the CoA is unique to your device, but it is not used from the factory. It is only supplied as a legal requirement.
In Windows 7, OEM Windows devices (I.e. big name brands like Dell, not home built PCs made by buying individual components yourself, as many of us also do) use the generic key from the firmware (BIOS) of the device, which is validated against an OEM.xrm-ms certificate that is part of the Windows system files installed from a Windows 7 OEM install dvd.
Windows 7 OEM dvds for the various OEM brands contain the certificates needed for that brand. A Dell disc, for example, will install on, again for example, a HP computer, but it will not give you an activated system, because the Dell cert and the HP firmware key won’t match.
If you currently have a Windows 7 install that is activated and working (I mean working other than refusing to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows Update) then I would recommend that you also Google about the following. I have tried to explain as best I can, but hopefully it points you on the right track to research what I speak of before doing it, just to reassure yourself and learn what’s involved.
(This I should point out is completely legit method, not piracy in any way. You will be using Microsoft tools to do this, and you are entitled to this licence if you have a legit Windows 7.)
Get Microsoft Windows 10 media creation tool. A small app to download, this will allow you to get an install ISO of Win10 that you can burn to a DVD and use. Or you can if you know how use a USB key. (Learn about an app called Rufus if you want to use a USB. You’ll need it to make an install USB)
If you currently have Win7 home basic or home premium, then get Win 10 home ISO. If you have Win7 Professional or Ultimate then get Win10 Pro.
On a Windows 10 install disc there is a file that may be used to generate an activation file from your valid Win7 install which can then be used to permanently activate a corresponding, cleanly installed Win10 install on the same machine, without any need to go through the upgrading from Windows 7 rigmarole.
The file is named “gatherosstate.exe” and it is contained in the sources folder of any Windows 10 install disc.
Windows 10 activation is different to Windows 7, the branding of your machine won’t matter here, this is a generic method.
If you copy this file to a folder on your pc, (anywhere on the hard drive, but make sure it is the only file in the folder). Run the file and it will create a XML file “GenuineTicket.xml”, which you should save to some place safe like on a memory stick, as you’ll need to use it later to activate 10. (Clean install will wipe the hard drive/SSD of your computer.)
The rest of the instructions I will just copy/paste from another site
Quote:
This can also circumvents the "Something happened, Windows 10 installation has failed" error while upgrading.
Preconditions:
You have Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.x activated successfully (retail or OEM licensing only). This doesn't apply to volume licenses such as KMS or MAK.
Download the Windows 10 ISO that's suitable for the upgrade path I.e. Windows 7 Ultimate or Pro will upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
Instructions:
Optional: Validate your copy of Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.x
Install all necessary drivers e.g. ethernet & wireless card
Open your Windows 10 ISO and extract gatherosstate.exe from the sources folder to your desktop
Run gatherosstate.exe and wait for the GenuineTicket.xml file to be created
Copy the GenuineTicket.xml to a USB thumb drive or something
Boot to your Windows 10 USB or DVD and perform a fresh install
Disable your internet connection
Copy GenuineTicket.xml to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket\ and then reboot
Connect online and you should be activated
If you ever perform a clean install in the future simply select "I don't have a product key" and then when you connect online Windows will activate itself.
If you can’t see the “Program Data” folder after installing 10, go into folder options in the Windows file explorer and tick show hidden files and folders, as it is by default hidden.
This is a working solution.
My research found the following guide which provided my solution :
How to do a clean W 10 install for OEM Windows installs :
The Win7 OEM key built in to the firmware of your (or indeed anyone’s) device will never match the key on the CoA sticker.
This is a peculiarity of older Windows activation methods such as that used in 7.
Key in the firmware is a generic key for the brand of your device, Dell, HP, Acer, etc. and version that has been supplied for said device, whether Win7 Home, Pro, Ultimate.
Key on the CoA is unique to your device, but it is not used from the factory. It is only supplied as a legal requirement.
In Windows 7, OEM Windows devices (I.e. big name brands like Dell, not home built PCs made by buying individual components yourself, as many of us also do) use the generic key from the firmware (BIOS) of the device, which is validated against an OEM.xrm-ms certificate that is part of the Windows system files installed from a Windows 7 OEM install dvd.
Windows 7 OEM dvds for the various OEM brands contain the certificates needed for that brand. A Dell disc, for example, will install on, again for example, a HP computer, but it will not give you an activated system, because the Dell cert and the HP firmware key won’t match.
If you currently have a Windows 7 install that is activated and working (I mean working other than refusing to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows Update) then I would recommend that you also Google about the following. I have tried to explain as best I can, but hopefully it points you on the right track to research what I speak of before doing it, just to reassure yourself and learn what’s involved.
(This I should point out is completely legit method, not piracy in any way. You will be using Microsoft tools to do this, and you are entitled to this licence if you have a legit Windows 7.)
Get Microsoft Windows 10 media creation tool. A small app to download, this will allow you to get an install ISO of Win10 that you can burn to a DVD and use. Or you can if you know how use a USB key. (Learn about an app called Rufus if you want to use a USB. You’ll need it to make an install USB)
If you currently have Win7 home basic or home premium, then get Win 10 home ISO. If you have Win7 Professional or Ultimate then get Win10 Pro.
On a Windows 10 install disc there is a file that may be used to generate an activation file from your valid Win7 install which can then be used to permanently activate a corresponding, cleanly installed Win10 install on the same machine, without any need to go through the upgrading from Windows 7 rigmarole.
The file is named “gatherosstate.exe” and it is contained in the sources folder of any Windows 10 install disc.
Windows 10 activation is different to Windows 7, the branding of your machine won’t matter here, this is a generic method.
If you copy this file to a folder on your pc, (anywhere on the hard drive, but make sure it is the only file in the folder). Run the file and it will create a XML file “GenuineTicket.xml”, which you should save to some place safe like on a memory stick, as you’ll need to use it later to activate 10. (Clean install will wipe the hard drive/SSD of your computer.)
The rest of the instructions I will just copy/paste from another site
Quote:
This can also circumvents the "Something happened, Windows 10 installation has failed" error while upgrading.
Preconditions:
You have Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.x activated successfully (retail or OEM licensing only). This doesn't apply to volume licenses such as KMS or MAK.
Download the Windows 10 ISO that's suitable for the upgrade path I.e. Windows 7 Ultimate or Pro will upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.
Instructions:
Optional: Validate your copy of Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.x
Install all necessary drivers e.g. ethernet & wireless card
Open your Windows 10 ISO and extract gatherosstate.exe from the sources folder to your desktop
Run gatherosstate.exe and wait for the GenuineTicket.xml file to be created
Copy the GenuineTicket.xml to a USB thumb drive or something
Boot to your Windows 10 USB or DVD and perform a fresh install
Disable your internet connection
Copy GenuineTicket.xml to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket\ and then reboot
Connect online and you should be activated
If you ever perform a clean install in the future simply select "I don't have a product key" and then when you connect online Windows will activate itself.
If you can’t see the “Program Data” folder after installing 10, go into folder options in the Windows file explorer and tick show hidden files and folders, as it is by default hidden.
This is a working solution.
Bullwinkle M
Posts: 911 +817
I was truly horrified by all the malware / spyware / backdoors / blackmailware and extortionware I found in Windows 10
I am now so very happy that Ransomware Authors are stopping the Terrorists who use Microsoft products and and put everyone around them at risk
Thank GOD for the authors of Ransomware and wipers, protecting Americans from the Corporate Terrorists within our Country
Making America GRRRRRRREAT..........again
I am now so very happy that Ransomware Authors are stopping the Terrorists who use Microsoft products and and put everyone around them at risk
Thank GOD for the authors of Ransomware and wipers, protecting Americans from the Corporate Terrorists within our Country
Making America GRRRRRRREAT..........again
I have tried to install win 10 on a legit copy of win 7 and it failed 3 times.Two times from the download utility and once from the ISO image,and yes it not a very good OS
cliffordcooley
Posts: 13,141 +6,441
The only time I have ever had fails upgrading. Was when trying to upgrade an old installation. Every application install has the potential to cause failure, especially over time. You can expect failures. If you are upgrading a system that has been running for several years. Every time I performed an upgrade. I did so from a clean install, or OEM system recovery.
I would have tried that soon after regaining patience but I appreciate the post,will try it this week,thanks
That's a waste of time, if you are doing a wipe anyway you can just install windows 10 directly on an unpartitioned drive and type the windows 7 product key and it will install and activate just fine.
Bold claim, where do you get the info to back this up with? When you just write some anecdotal post with no facts to back it up, your post amounts to no more than the run of the mill anti-vax "article" on facebook.
Why is it not a very good OS? Maybe try using facts instead of your feelings, you already admitted you don't use it so how do you know if its good or bad? All you're doing is repeating someone else's story. The "OS"components from win10 is 99% lifted directly from windows 7 and behave in exactly the same way with additional security features added.
Bullwinkle M
Posts: 911 +817
Google is easy to learn
Google:
Windows 10 is spyware
Windows 10 is malware
Windows 10 is whatever
It's easy!
https://www.gnu.org/proprietary/malware-microsoft.html
cliffordcooley
Posts: 13,141 +6,441
True unless you want software from the OEM package. Software that is otherwise near impossible to obtain. From a clean install perspective though, you are correct.
Windows just wants as many ppl on Windows 10 so they can sell their cloud products (office 365 in particular) and to keep Google at bay.
For those that don't know, Windows hasn't been the biggest OS in the world for years now. Android is. MS is fighting to ensure Windows 10 gets installed on as many PCs as possible to hold back Android for PCs, which Google has been talking about doing for years.
For those that don't know, Windows hasn't been the biggest OS in the world for years now. Android is. MS is fighting to ensure Windows 10 gets installed on as many PCs as possible to hold back Android for PCs, which Google has been talking about doing for years.
JordLevy
Posts: 67 +32
Bro that GPU/linux page lists windows 7 for everything you complain about with windows 10. Not only that but they refer to windows updates as malware/spyware -which does not give a lot of credibility to their claims AT ALL. Maybe it's a teensy bit biased as its coming from an open source freedom fighter website. How can you even use these arguments?
Second you can replace your little "google like this" by changing the 10 to a 7 and get just as much BS articles with clickbait titles claiming windows 7 is the worst thing ever.
In fact you can google "Show me why I am right on stance X" and literally insert anything from aids to "hitler was awesome" in the place of "X" and you will get some nutjob article saying you are right. This is not a legit argument.
Not even sure why I'm wasting my time trying to convince someone on the internet to properly investigate both sides of something before just stubbornly believing what they want to believe. Maybe someone else might benefit from it.
Lastly you mentioned you tried win10 when it launched, you realize that windows 10 has gone through loads of major updates that completely changed a ton of things. Not just that but there won't be a windows 11 anytime soon, if ever. MS long ago said that windows 10 will be the last windows and they will keep releasing new builds for it instead of new versions of windows right?
If you are comparing windows 10 from 4 years ago to windows 7 you might have some credibility but what we have today is not the same as what we had then.
Similar threads
