After several years of good and loyal service, Windows 7 is about to bow out. In fact, the operating system will not disappear since it will continue to operate after January 14, 2020. What changes is that it will no longer receive an update or security patch from it from Microsoft. In other words, it will be more likely to be the target of hacker attacks. Microsoft will wash their hands of any flaws.
This is why, for several months, the American firm has been pushing Windows 7 users to migrate to Windows 10. A campaign that has resulted in numerous notifications on PC screens under this obsolete operating system. Between December 2018 and December 2019, the number of Windows 7 machines worldwide fell by almost a third. In Belgium, in December, 12.77% of Windows machines were still under version 7, according to figures from Statcounter .
Gone free offer
When Windows 10 was launched in July 2015, Microsoft offered its users to upgrade to this new version for free. An offer which is unfortunately no longer available today. It will therefore be necessary to go to the cashier to be able to install Windows 10. Depending on the version chosen (professional or family), the price will obviously be different. Count 145 euros for the family version and 259 euros for the professional version.
Minimum configuration
First of all, it is better to check the compatibility of your computer with the modern operating system. Here are the minimum requirements to install the operating system:
- Processor: 1 GHz
- Memory for 32-bit system: 1 GB
- Memory for 64-bit system: 2 GB
- Storage space for 32-bit system: 16 GB
- Storage space for 64-bit system: 32 GB
- Screen resolution: 800 x 600
In some cases, Windows 10 installation may not work, although your machine has the minimum system requirements. In this case, you can either continue with Windows 7 or turn to a newer computer that already integrates Windows 10.
Which option to choose?
After making sure that your machine can support Windows 10, you will have to decide how to proceed. There are several possibilities to install the operating system. The safest way is to go to a store to buy a license.
If you prefer to acquire it online, it is quite possible. However, favor official or recognized sales sites, in particular that of Microsoft.
Back up your personal files
Beyond choosing how to install Windows 10, it is essential to back up all of your data. This will prevent you from losing your personal files in the event of a problem. You can save your data via the Cloud, on an external export medium or a partition on your hard disk.
For this, a simple copy / paste of your documents on an external hard drive will suffice. You can also use the automated backup tool in Windows 7. Go to Control Panel, Systems and Security options, then Back up computer. Another option offered by Windows 7; creating a system image.
From the System and Security tab, select Backup and restore, then Create a system image.
Install Windows 10
Once you have purchased a license for the operating system, you just need to follow the instructions to install it. You have several options, you can use a USB key or an installation CD to download Windows 10, but the simplest solution is to use Microsoft's media creation tool.
Just download it and follow the steps on your screen. After which, you will simply need to enter the activation code for your Windows 10 license to complete the installation.
Once Windows 10 is installed - it can take between half an hour and several hours depending on your computer - you will need to carry out various system updates. This step should also take some time.
Fortunately, the transition should be smooth. Windows 10 looks pretty much like Windows 7 in how it works. New users will be able to take advantage of the new features developed by Microsoft and will be quiet for several years with their operating system.
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