Windows 8.1 to 10 upgrade

britblue

Hi all
IT idiot here! -getting message on my PC that 8.1 is not going to be supported going forward & i need to upgrade to windows 10 (or 11 i wasn't paying much attention!) - is this a scare tactic to get me to load my credit card with som more xmas expense? - can i ignore & just keep using installed windows 8.1 - or is there a cheap(free!) way to get latest Windows OS?
 Thanks in advance!

shiraz99

I'm pretty sure that W10 upgrade is still freely available.

flashg67

Have a read here. Personally, I'd forget about Windows 11 - a PC of a few years old is unlikely to be compatible and Windows 10 is supported for 3 years+ yet

uk.pcmag.com/migrated-3765-windows-10/143981/still-stuck-on-windows-81-how-to-upgrade-to-windows-10-or-windows-11

Neil_Jones

britblue said:

Hi all
IT idiot here! -getting message on my PC that 8.1 is not going to be supported going forward & i need to upgrade to windows 10 (or 11 i wasn't paying much attention!) - is this a scare tactic to get me to load my credit card with som more xmas expense? - can i ignore & just keep using installed windows 8.1 - or is there a cheap(free!) way to get latest Windows OS?
 Thanks in advance!

Windows 10 free upgrade still available:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

Grey_Critic

Neil_Jones said:

Windows 10 free upgrade still available:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

Just done it with a desktop W8.1 that someone bought and quickly gave up on - been stuck in a cupboard for years and no problems.

britblue

Many thanksfoir this - just had quick look at microsoft download site & it is mentioning entering  product key codes, i don't have one for 8.1 currently on this machine (long since lost in the ether! ) and obviously don't have one for the Windows 10 - can i still download & install/use windows10 without this (apologies if it's an idiotic question but i am a stranger in a strange land when it comes to tech!) - thanks again

Grey_Critic

Don't need it - I just followed the onscreen instructions - took about two hours start to finish with the various updates.

You can find your product key(s) by downloading Belarc

https://www.belarc.com/products/belarc-advisor?xs=1

Been using it for years  - and it is free

Neil_Jones

britblue said:

Many thanksfoir this - just had quick look at microsoft download site & it is mentioning entering  product key codes, i don't have one for 8.1 currently on this machine (long since lost in the ether! ) and obviously don't have one for the Windows 10 - can i still download & install/use windows10 without this (apologies if it's an idiotic question but i am a stranger in a strange land when it comes to tech!) - thanks again

You don't need a product key for anything.

Just click on "Upgrade Now" and follow the instructions.

What this will do is give you a digital licence. Which is valid for the rest of the life of your computer.  You'll be able to reload 10 in the future (with no product key) with that digital licence.

britblue

Brilliant! - thanks for the help!

britblue

Just a quick update - finally got my a*se in gear and did update using info provided - worked a treat! -thanks to all who advised me on here!

stephanyu

So we keep getting the Windows 11 update message. Our computer is windows 10, guessing we will need to get a new PC? Is there much different for windows 11?