After reflecting at length on what, are you finally ready to upgrade to Windows 10 on your computer with Windows 8 . Although this is the first time you are about to undertake a similar operation, you have every intention of proceeding in complete autonomy – without bothering your friend with IT skills – and therefore you would like to have some “tips” on how to complete everything. optimally, without causing any kind of damage to your data or computer.
How do you say? Did I perfectly describe your need at the moment? In this case, you will be pleased to know that you are in the right place, at the right time! In the course of this tutorial, in fact, I will take care of explaining how to switch from Windows 8 to Windows 10 in a very simple way, even leaving the personal data already present on the computer intact.
So, without hesitating a single second more, make yourself comfortable and take all the time necessary to complete the reading of this guide: I am sure that, at the end of it, you will have acquired the necessary skills to succeed in the intent you had set for yourself. . That said, there is nothing left for me to do but wish you good reading and good work!
Index
- Windows 10 requirements and costs
- How to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10
- How to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10 for free
- How to switch from Windows 8 to Windows 10 without losing data
- How to go from Windows 8 to Windows 10 by formatting the disk
Windows 10 requirements and costs
Before you get to work and proceed with the upgrade from Windows 8 (or 8.1) to Windows 10, I think it is appropriate to provide you with some more information about the specific requirements of the latest operating system from Microsoft, and the costs of the same. .
Let’s start with the minimum requirements that the PC must meet in order for Windows 10 to work properly, which do not differ much from those required for Windows 8 and 8.1 (therefore, in principle, you shouldn’t have any problems).
- Processor: 1 GHz or more powerful.
- RAM memory: 1 GB (preferably 2 GB) for the 32-bit version of the operating system, 2 GB (preferably 4 GB) for the 64-bit version of the operating system.
- Disk space: 16GB for 32-bit OS version, 32GB for 64-bit OS version.
- Video Card: Any GPU with DirectX 9 or later support, with WDDM 1.0 driver.
- Screen: any display of 800 x 600 pixels or higher, preferably 1024 x 768 pixels. Resolutions lower than the latter, in fact, could cause the incorrect display of some elements or malfunctions of various kinds within programs and applications.
As for costs , a clarification must be made: although Microsoft has granted, on several occasions, to upgrade Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 for free (the first time on the occasion of the release of Windows 10), the initiative is officially over.
To tell the truth, at the time of writing (December 2020) many users testify that they were able to upgrade at no cost; given, however, the scarcity of official indications from Microsoft on the subject, I cannot say so and I tell you that it may be necessary to purchase a valid license for the operating system.
Speaking of licenses, the Windows 10 Home license officially costs € 145 , while the Windows 10 Pro license costs € 259 . You can, however, save quite a bit of money by purchasing the license on sites like Mr Key Shop , which sells 100% original licenses for Windows and Microsoft Office unused by businesses and corporations (for switching to cloud or subscription services), or Amazon (in the latter case, you must always be careful to avoid potentially dishonest sellers).
Windows 10 Professional ESD Key Lifetime / Invoice / Immediate Delivery …
See offer on Amazon
For more information on purchasing Windows 10, I invite you to read the specific guide I have dedicated to the topic.
How to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10
Having made the necessary clarifications above, it is time to take action and to explain, in practice, how to update from Windows 8 to Windows 10 in various ways: with free update, update without data loss and installation from scratch.
As a preventive measure, although switching from one operating system to another does not involve the loss of data (unless you explicitly choose it), it is still a good idea to make a backup copy of the data , to be restored if things do not should go the right way. In this regard, my guides on how to backup your PC and how to transfer files to external hard drive will surely make you comfortable . In case you need an external drive to use for this purpose, you can consult my buying guide dedicated to these devices.
How to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10 for free
As I have already explained to you in the opening bars of this guide, the terms under which Microsoft grants the ability to switch from Windows 8 to Windows 10 for free are not clear .
However, if you have activated Windows 8 / 8.1 automatic updates and notice the presence of a white flag (the Windows logo, so to speak) inside the system notification area, near the clock, then I have great news for you: in all likelihood, you can request and get your free copy of Windows 10!
Then click on the icon in question and press the Book your free update button to proceed: if you are entitled to it, the operating system will be downloaded and installed automatically via Windows Update.
If the icon in question is not visible for you, you can try to use the update tool made available by the big Redmond, to try to get a free copy of Windows: I am going to tell you about it in the immediately following section of this guide.
Be careful, though: if your copy of Windows 8 / 8.1 is not compatible with the free upgrade to Windows 10, following the upgrade, you will need to purchase a license for Windows 10 (with relative Product Key), or revert to Windows 8 / 8.1 within 30 days of installing the new operating system.
How to switch from Windows 8 to Windows 10 without losing data
If you want to upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 10 without losing data and in complete safety, you can contact the Media Creation Tool utility , which is the official tool made available by Microsoft for downloading and upgrading the operating system.
So, to start, connected to the Redmond company’s website , click on the Download the tool now button and wait for the necessary file to be downloaded to your computer; when the download is complete, start the executable obtained (eg MediaCreationToolXY.exe ) and press the Yes and Accept buttons to start the analysis of the computer.
At this stage, you may be prompted to close some programs or to download and install any important updates that are available: perform any required operations and, if necessary, restart the Microsoft assistant when they are finished.
Once the initial checks have been completed, Accept the operating system conditions of use and wait for further checks to be completed. If successful, you can choose whether to proceed with the update of the operating system or whether to create an installation drive: therefore, place the check mark next to the Update PC now item , in order to indicate your willingness to update your computer immediately; then click on the Next button and wait for the necessary files to be downloaded from the Internet. Depending on the speed of your connection, this may take some time.
Subsequently, click again on the Accept button and, if necessary, wait for the program to download and install any updates for Windows 8. Subsequently, to complete the operating system update leaving all personal files and settings intact (where possible), click on the Install button .
Alternatively, click on the Change items to keep link and indicate the type of file to keep (personal data and applications or just personal data).
Once this step has been passed, the system update should start completely automatically, causing some computer restarts; when necessary, press the Next and Yes buttons to complete the installation phase and give rise to the last restart of the computer.
At the next login, you will find yourself in front of the Windows 10 first configuration screen , in which you will be asked to specify the settings to apply for Cortana , Windows Ink , Windows diagnostic services , the graphic theme , the user account and other aspects strictly related to the operating system.
To proceed quickly, you can choose to use quick settings . If, on the other hand, you prefer to manually set all the details, follow the wizard that is proposed to you on the screen (which I told you about in detail in this tutorial ).
How to go from Windows 8 to Windows 10 by formatting the disk
How do you say? Would you rather perform a clean installation of Windows 10 and start all over again, thus going to delete the entire contents of the disk? It can be done but, in this case, you will not be able to retrace your steps and cancel the update made: following this operation, in fact, the current copy of Windows 8 / 8.1 installed on the computer will also be deleted.
To do this, you will need to create a USB key (the pendrive must have a capacity of at least 8 GB and must be empty) or a DVD containing the operating system, start the PC from the installation media created and proceed, in this way , format the disk and the next copy of the Windows files.
All clear? All right, let’s go. To begin, download the Media Creation Tool as I indicated in the previous section of this guide , start it and, after accepting the Microsoft license terms, put the check mark next to the word Create installation media (USB flash drive , DVD or ISO file) for another PC .
Then, click on the Next button , verify that the language , edition and architecture of Windows 10 are suitable for the computer on which you want to install the operating system (if not, remove the check mark from the box corresponding to the item Use the recommended options for this PC and use the drop-down menus proposed to define the download options you prefer) and click on the Next button .
Now, specify whether to create a USB flash drive to use as installation media or to download the operating system ISO file to burn to DVD later. In the first case, connect the USB key to the computer, click on the Next button , select the name / drive letter of the device and start creating the media by clicking on Next again .
If you want, instead, to proceed with the download of the ISO file , check the appropriate item, click on the Next button , indicate the folder in which to save the file and press the Save button .
Regardless of the type of media you have chosen to create, the data download phase may take some time: it all depends on the speed of your Internet connection. Remember that if you have chosen to download the operating system ISO file, you must burn it to a blank DVD using your preferred burning software .
Once the creation of the Windows 10 installation drive is complete, insert (if necessary) the media inside the PC, restart it and wait for the message Press a key to boot from DVD … to appear : carry out this last operation, to have the computer boot from the Windows 10 installation disk / stick.
If, on the other hand, you still see the Windows 8 loading screen, enter the BIOS and change the boot order of the PC peripherals, to ensure that the boot is performed first from a USB stick or DVD, and then from the disk fixed. If you do not know how to complete this operation, I recommend that you read my tutorial on how to access the BIOS , in which I have provided you with all the necessary explanations.
Anyway, when the Windows 10 installation screen starts, specify the language , time / currency format and keyboard layout to use, click the Next and Install buttons and, if necessary, enter the product key of Windows (or click on the entry Not now , to insert it later ).
After this step too, if necessary, specify the edition of Windows 10 you want to install, accept the terms of use and click on the Next buttons and select the Custom item : install Windows only , to access the disk and partition management screen.
Having reached this last section, making use of the tools proposed and aware of the fact that subsequent operations will delete all the data on the disks / partitions on which you are going to operate, select and format the partition in which you had installed Windows 8 and, if you think appropriate, repeat the same operation for all other partitions and / or disks present. If you prefer, you can delete any partitions you no longer need.
Once you have performed the necessary operations on the disk (or disks), choose the partition in which to install Windows 10 and click on the Next button , to start the operating system setup process, which will be completed automatically.
At the end of this phase, the computer should restart and show you the Windows 10 welcome screen, through which you will have to perform the first configuration of the operating system: Cortana and Windows Ink settings, privacy and location settings, user account, graphic theme and so on. More info here .
