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Upgrade to Windows 10 free, here's how (the 2016 free upgrade offer still works for many users)
CNet ^ | Nov 16, 2019 | Alison DeNisco Rayome

Posted on 11/26/2019 7:26:55 PM PST by dayglored

Microsoft's free Windows 10 upgrade offer still works for many Windows 7 and 8 users.

With support for Windows 7 ending in January 2020, Microsoft is encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 10 to keep devices running securely and smoothly. On Microsoft's website, the Windows 10 Home operating system costs $139 to download. However, you don't necessarily have to shell out the cash: A free upgrade offer from Microsoft that technically ended in 2016 still works.

When Windows 10 was first released in July 2015, Microsoft offered an unprecedented free upgrade offer for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users, good through July 2016. But in 2017, reporter Ed Bott from CNET sister site ZDNet reported that the free upgrade tool was still functional. As of November 2019, readers still report that it works, Bott confirmed to CNET. I tried it out, and was able to upgrade a 2014 Dell OptiPlex 9020 desktop machine from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnet.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: windows; windows10; windowspinglist; windowsupgrade
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To: wastedyears
> No, it's an upgrade to go from 10/8.1/8 to Win7.

Agreed. Win8.x was an unmitigated disaster, a toxic dumpster fire. Win10 has some nice capabilities in amongst the detritus, but Win7 will always have my admiration as the Best of Breed.

21 posted on 11/26/2019 8:12:24 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: ducttape45

Looks like I was wrong. Trying it on a spare laptop tonite. I’ll let you know if it blows up.


22 posted on 11/26/2019 8:13:01 PM PST by TangoLimaSierra (To the Left, The Truth is Right Wing Extremism.)
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To: dayglored

I assumed they were broken out of VLPs. But I wouldn’t call that ‘illegal’; they’re still legit licenses, just being used in an unapproved way.


23 posted on 11/26/2019 8:16:07 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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To: dayglored

We had two Macintoshes in our office in the mid-80’s that were basically unused while we were all using our IBM’S and Compaqs.


24 posted on 11/26/2019 8:17:23 PM PST by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: CatOwner


I am not upgrading my Win 7 Pro PC. I will disconnect it from the Internet for security reasons.

no need for that.

1) use noscript or the like, and allow scripting only when absolutely necessary on very trusted sites like your bank.

2) never allow html format email: plain text only. never open an attachment unless you already know what it is

3) never download and install an application unless it's from a verified, trusted source.      installing an .exe is like giving a stranger the keys to your house.

4) never autoplay an external drive like usb or dvd (use file explorer to look at them first).      stuxnet was beleived to have wrecked hundreds of iranian uranium centrifuges through a usb virus.

even the best antivirus program is useless against a zero day virus, which can strike before your antivirus program can update its database.

I have used these rules, without any antivirus program, since windows 98, and never a problem.           javascript is the root of all internet browser evil


25 posted on 11/26/2019 8:19:22 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
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To: dayglored

“It wasn’t until the late 1980’s that large numbers of otherwise sane individuals started losing tons of productivity at work and home to the curse of trying to make a personal computer work as expected”

They actually worked as expected.


26 posted on 11/26/2019 8:20:16 PM PST by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: dayglored

“If you want to solve issues with time, run Linux.”

It isn’t Linux so much as the crap I have to go thrugh to install it.

Last time around converting a Win 7 box to Linux Mint with Legacy Boot I had no difficulties during or after the installation as a dual-boot system and later full blown LM only. Plug and play and no need for the terminal at the time or since. I will go so far as to describe the experience as orgasmic.

Sadly, that box needed to be replaced and thinking it would be just as simple as before I replaced it with an HP box using AMD Ryzen and Radeon graphics. Run of the mill machine. UEFI is in the way and a month later I still haven’t found the solution although procedural instructions abound and were followed in every attempt. Once solved LM will once again be my home OS. Updates in 10 to 20 minutes max for major upgrades is to good to lose.

Windows sucks as well as the monitoring by HP.


27 posted on 11/26/2019 8:21:12 PM PST by chulaivn66 ("...government will follow its natural tendency to despotism.")
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To: GrandmaPatriot

Bookmark


28 posted on 11/26/2019 8:23:12 PM PST by GrandmaPatriot
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To: 867V309
> I have used these rules, without any antivirus program, since windows 98, and never a problem.

What you prescribe is useful, and do-able, for some people who can maintain high focus while using their computer. FWIW, I do a variant of the same thing, and like you, I've been extremely careful, and fortunate, for over 25 years.

Most users lose focus at some point while computing. I've seen it happen SO many times, to co-workers, family members, friends. They forget for just a moment.

And it's like losing your situational awareness while flying a plane, or in combat. A few seconds of letting yourself get wrapped into a state of mind that's not 100% focused could cost you everything.

I applaud your care, and second your list of cautious instructions. But we have to recognize that not everybody can do it.

29 posted on 11/26/2019 8:24:58 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored
Go to the Download Windows 10 website.

And the link to that is not that but https://www.ojrq.net/p/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fmicrosoft.msafflnk.net%2Fc%2F1243925%2F433017%2F7593%3Fsharedid%3D0JlRymcP1YU-VnlXMTJQuDvCTEP8SpuhzA%26subid2%3D24542%26u%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.microsoft.com%252Fen%252Dus%252Fsoftware%252Ddownload%252Fwindows10%253FranMID%3D24542%2526ranEAID%3D0JlRymcP1YU%2526ranSiteID%3D0JlRymcP1YU-VnlXMTJQuDvCTEP8SpuhzA%2526epi%3D0JlRymcP1YU-VnlXMTJQuDvCTEP8SpuhzA%26level%3D1&cid=7593&tpsync=yes

Do NOT go to that, though for me it just results in "Firefox can’t find the server at www.ojrq.net."

30 posted on 11/26/2019 8:30:53 PM PST by daniel1212 ( Trust the risen Lord Jesus to save you as a damned and destitute sinner + be baptized + follow Him)
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To: chulaivn66
An HP laptop with UEFI was damn near the end of my sanity a few months ago. Trying to get it run Ubuntu 18.04 LTS with a docking station so I could have multiple large monitors.

Problem turned out to be that the docking station has its own embedded GPU (graphics controller), and the Linux drivers apparently can't handle the offboard GPU under certain conditions of power/reset and removal from the dock. I eventually got it stable, but it requires that I leave it in the dock whenever powered up. If I want to remove it and carry it, I have to turn it off, remove power from the dock (unplug the power adapter), then separate them. Same in reverse when reconnecting. Otherwise, at some point it will spontaneously lose its mind and it's hell to get it back. Insane.

31 posted on 11/26/2019 8:31:19 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

Wow, I just realized that a bunch of the links in the article got re-written as FreeRepublic links, because the embedded “A HREF” path is relative to the “current website”, not an absolute path. Sorry about that.


32 posted on 11/26/2019 8:34:49 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

I want to upgrade from win 10 Home to Pro...for free


33 posted on 11/26/2019 8:34:58 PM PST by Vendome (I've Gotta Be Me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB0ndRzaz2o)
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To: musicman

BFLR


34 posted on 11/26/2019 8:36:48 PM PST by musicman (The future is just a collection of successive nows.)
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To: dayglored

Going from windows 7 to windows 10 is DOWN grade


35 posted on 11/26/2019 8:40:14 PM PST by Steve Van Doorn (*in my best Eric Cartman voice* 'I love you, guys')
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To: TexasGator

http://oldcomputers.net/AIM-65.html

A Rockwell AIM 65? (My BIL has one)


36 posted on 11/26/2019 8:40:47 PM PST by Tellurian (Demonicrats would smugly tell even God "you didn't build that".)
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To: dayglored


And it's like losing your situational awareness while flying a plane...

...or driving a car.     exactly how important is it to you not to wreck?

btw, I left out one thing: cover your webcam!      that way the next time you get a scammer email saying "I saw you..." you won't have to wonder if your webcam was hacked.


37 posted on 11/26/2019 8:41:11 PM PST by 867V309 (Lock Her Up)
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To: dayglored

This stupid Alienware they stuck me with didn’t come with a physical disc.

I have done something with a thumb drive that’s supposed to be like a bootable recovery option but I *hate* that and worry it won’t work.

How can I get a full install of [yuck!!!] Windows 10 Pro?

[God I hate this OS SO bad]


38 posted on 11/26/2019 8:46:01 PM PST by Salamander (Living On The Ledge....)
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To: 867V309

What webcam? :-)

First thing I do with a new laptop is tape the camera. And my workstations simply DO NOT have one.


39 posted on 11/26/2019 8:47:09 PM PST by dayglored ("Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."`)
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To: dayglored

I think ‘gray market’ is probably a better description than illegal.


40 posted on 11/26/2019 8:47:30 PM PST by Still Thinking (Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
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