Updated July 29, 2016

Microsoft says we will find Windows 10 to be familiar and easy to use. There are noticeable new features such as an improved Start Menu and a new browser known as Microsoft Edge. Importantly, the upgrade has been designed around compatibility and ease of use paving the way for a pleasant experience for end users. When the Windows 10 upgrade was first released on July 29, 2015 Microsoft offered it for free to qualifying customers - many qualifying customers.

This free upgrade offer from Microsoft ended on July 29, 2016 - one year after the offer was first made available.

Some important details about upgrading to Windows 10:

Qualifications: Your device must be compatible. Windows 10 is designed for NEW PCs, or existing PCs (desktops, notebooks, and tablets) currently running Windows 7 (SP1) or Windows 8.1 (Update). Microsoft lists full specification requirements and detailed notes at this page.

Availability Dates: The free upgrade offer that Microsoft was providing ended on July 29, 2016 - one year after the original release of Windows 10.

Purchase a Windows 10 Upgrade: You can still purchase a copy of Windows 10 to upgrade your existing qualifying PC, however the free upgrade offer that Microsoft was providing is no longer available.

Installation media for upgrades completed between July 29, 2015 and July 29, 2016: The free Windows 10 upgrade was made available as a download through the Get Windows 10 App and Windows Update functions. If you upgraded your qualifying PC during that time window, and need to reinstall your upgrade on that same PC, you have an option to make your own backup installation media. This will require a sufficient USB drive or DVD blank media. This media can then be used in the future to reinstall or clean install Windows 10 on that same PC provided that it was initially licensed during the free upgrade period. Microsoft has an Installation Media Creation Tool for this purpose available at this page. Please be aware that if you attempt to use this installation media on a PC that was not already licensed during that free upgrade window, it will require you to enter a product activation key to use the Windows 10 software. This could also happen on a PC that was previously upgraded but has since experienced significant hardware changes - not limited to, but possibly including, motherboard changes, BIOS updates that change the identification of the board, or significant changes in individual hardware components.