We know that when Windows 10 was launched, it launched a one-year free upgrade campaign. As long as you are using Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 systems and have been activated, then you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free, and the system is automatically activated. For many users, this is equivalent to giving away “genuine” Windows 10 for free.
The duration of this event is one year. Logically speaking, by now, the event has already ended. However, people discovered that in fact, Windows 10 can still be upgraded for free according to this method! So here comes the question. Now that Win7 has ended its life cycle and has less and less hardware support, what needs to be paid attention to for the “genuine” free upgrade of Win10? Let’s talk together.
Is the free upgrade to Win10 really genuine?
First of all, we need to clarify a concept. Through such a method to upgrade Win10 for free, can we “whitewash” the pirated old system and obtain the genuine version of Windows 10? I am afraid there are some misunderstandings.
After the activated pirated system is upgraded to Windows 10, Windows 10 is also activated by default and does not require the original activation method. Technically speaking, this is almost the same as the genuine one. This is also the basis for many friends who believe that the pirated system can be turned into a genuine Windows 10.
However, judging whether the system is genuine is not based on technical details, but legal authorization. Windows 10, which is upgraded for free through the pirated system, is in the active state like the genuine version, but from a legal point of view, it is still a pirated version.
Therefore, the free upgrade of Windows 10 is only technically “whitewashed”, and from the perspective of authorization, it is still not genuine.
What are the benefits of upgrading Win10 from the old system for free?
Although upgrading Win10 for free does not mean that you have obtained a genuine copy, in fact, there are still many benefits to doing so.
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Pirated Windows 7 and other systems are often activated through KMS and other means, which is equivalent to simulating a system activation service mechanism, and the regular verification system keeps it active.
In some scenarios, this type of activation method will fail, such as reinstalling the system, or Microsoft Core wants to verify whether you are a pirated version, at this time the activated system will return to the inactive state.
After this type of system is upgraded to Win10 for free, activation no longer requires KMS and other means. The activation information of the system is bound to the motherboard serial number. Even if you reinstall the system, as long as you have not replaced the main components such as the motherboard, you only need to log in to your Microsoft account again, and the system can be automatically activated online, which is much more convenient than before.
In other words, even if you install a pirated system for a new DIY computer and use a free upgrade method from the old system to get the automatically activated Win10, the experience is better than the direct installation of Windows 10 and activation.
Of course, it needs to be emphasized here that the author does not advocate the use of pirated systems. This is just a conclusion drawn from experience. The experience of Windows 10, which is a free upgrade from the old system, is very close to the genuine Win10.
What should I pay attention to when upgrading Win10 for free now?
At present, the operation of upgrading Windows 10 for free from the old version of the system is still similar to the original one. Regardless of whether you are using a genuine or pirated old system, you can upgrade through the official Microsoft Windows Media Create Tool, which can be downloaded on the Microsoft website.
Windows Media Create Tool: https://www.microsoft.com/zh-cn/software-download/windows10
However, compared with the beginning of the release of Win10, the current hardware and software environment has changed. If you still plan to use the old system to upgrade to Windows 10 after assembling the computer, you need to pay attention to the following aspects.
- Windows 7 is no longer suitable as a springboard to install Win10. The newer hardware currently supports Win7 quite poorly. At present, the new hardware platform has popularized the UEFI mechanism, and Windows 7 cannot be booted through a pure UEFI environment, and can only be used in compatibility mode.
But first, some motherboards do not provide UEFI compatibility mode. Second, even if the compatibility mode is used, many current chipsets do not provide Win7 compatible USB and other interface drivers, so the USB mouse and keyboard cannot be detected, and the Windows 7 system cannot be started. There is no way to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10.
- Windows 8.1 is more suitable as a springboard for upgrading Windows 10. Compared with Windows 7, Windows 8.1 supports UEFI boot environment and is compatible with the USB driver of the current mainstream chipset, which can be installed and booted normally. Although Windows 8.1 may lack the latest graphics driver, it runs without problems. Although the market experience is not good, it is more than enough to be used as a springboard to upgrading Windows 10.
If you need the image of Windows 8.1, you can download and make an installation disk through the following open-source gadget.
Fido can download the mirror image of Windows 8.1 from official channels very conveniently, which is more suitable for current PC installation
Fido: https://github.com/pbatard/Fido
Fido tutorial: https://www.pconline.com.cn/win10/1402/14024345.html
To Sum Up
In general, Windows 10 can still be upgraded for free today, which is indeed quite conscientious. Although Microsoft has not officially responded or confirmed this matter, it is obvious that this is intentional by Microsoft. Data from Netmarketshare shows that at the end of 2018, Windows 10 finally surpassed Win7 in market share, and the strategy of freely upgrading Windows 10 obviously played a vital role. Win10 will launch the 21H2 version with a comprehensive UI innovation this year. I hope it can bring even greater surprises.
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