Windows 10 is available as boxed software and as a download.
Jump straight to how to upgrade to Windows 10 Performing a clean install of Windows 10īest cheap laptop 2021: Our favourite budget Windows laptops and Chromebooks
It should be noted that Microsoft pulled mainstream support for Windows 8 in January 2018.Īnd if you're in the market for a new Windows 10 machine, we've put together lists of our favourites in our best laptop and best cheap laptop pages. If you opt for choice two, and you're using Windows 8 you'll have until Microsoft pulls extended support for the software on January 2023 (at the latest) to upgrade.
The UK government's National Cyber Security Centre recently warned Windows 7 users to stop using online banking and email after this date and you can read more about that here. If you opt for choice two, and you're using Windows 7, you will stop receiving updates after 14 January 2020, putting you and your files at significant risk of security flaws and hackers. If you opt for choice one, you can read how to download and upgrade your operating system to Windows 10 below.
If you're looking to upgrade, you've got three choices: Sadly, that period has long since passed, as the free upgrade progamme came to an end on 29 July 2016.Īs a result, you'll now need to pay for Windows 10 to upgrade to the new operating system. During the first year of Windows 10, Microsoft offered a free upgrade for all existing Windows 7 and Windows 8 users.