From what I've read, upgrading often works well and you don't have to
reinstall programs after an upgrade. If an upgrade doesn't work well,
there is plenty of time to do the extra work of an installation of the
operating system as an entirely new installation. And you don't have
to customize programs again.

You should back up the hard drive before doing the upgrade but I would
think that if an upgrade works well, you would save a lot of work.

Gene
----- Original Message -----

From: Steve Matzura
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2019 6:42 PM
To: main@TechTalk.groups.io
Subject: Re: [TechTalk] Is it still possible to upgrade to Windows 10
for free?


The best thing to do is perform a fresh install. Make sure you back up
your system first, and can dip into that backup to pull out data
you'll lose by following the procedure below.


Also, before beginning the actual install, be sure you have all the
software registration information for any third-party products you may
own and use. Keyfinder, the tool from Magical Jellybean, can help in
this regard. Trouble is, I just tried to go there and get the URL to
paste in here to download Keyfinder, and apparently their site has
been compromised in some way because I can't get pqast the
Malwarebytes warning screens. There may be other such tools.


Here's a short how-to to install Windows 10 from scratch. I didn't
write it.


Install Windows 10 from scratch
Tip: Before you run this operation, make sure to backup the existing
Windows installation so that you can restore it should things go wrong.

1. You need a Windows 10 DVD or ISO image. Make sure you pick the
right architecture and version.E.G. if you have windows 7 pro
installed, you need the ISO or DVD of windows 10 pro. Tip:you can
obtain the ISO or creat bootable media by using the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft.
Googleing that should get you the file.

2. Burn the ISO, mount it or extract it.
3. Navigate to the folder inside the ISO:

\Windows Disk\sources

And copy the file:

"gatherosstate.exe"

And paste it to the desktop. The file is located on the installation
media you created. This is why you have to extract all files from the
ISO using a utility such as 7ZIP.
4. Run the file:

"gatherosstate.exe"

with administrators rights. It creates a file called:

"GenuineTicket.xml"

On the desktop. This file is needed so copy it to a USB drive or other
location.
5 Run a clean install of Windows 10 afterwards on the system. Make
sure you skip the product key.
6. Once you are done and in Windows 10, copy the file:

"GenuineTicket.xml"

To the following location:

%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\GenuineTicket

7. The folder may be hidden by default. If you cannot see it, select
File > Options > View > Show hidden files, folders and drives in File
Explorer.
8. Reboot your PC.
The next time you boot into Windows 10 it should be fully activated.
You can verify that easily with a tap on Windows-Pause. This opens the
System Control panel and the system's activation status at the bottom
of the page.


On 12/17/2019 11:40 AM, Peter Spitz wrote:

Could someone please give me instructions on how to do the upgrade?
I couldn't find anything on Microsoft's website.

Thank you!

On 12/17/19, Joseph Lee <joseph.lee22590@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,
Yes - free (at least for now). A few weeks ago we had a discussion
on a Windows 10 forum and the answer is that it is possible to
upgrade for free (at this time).
Cheers,
Joseph