Reserve Your Free Upgrade to Windows 10

Geoff Rasmussen

01 Jun 2015

This morning I glanced at the "notification area" (formerly known as system tray) of my Windows 8 desktop and noticed a brand new icon:

Nervous to click it (I had a dream last night where I clicked on an email and got a virus…) yet excited to see what it was – I clicked.

What a welcome way to begin my week! It was a notification to reserve my free upgrade to Windows 10.

Clicking on the "Reserve your free upgrade" button, this screen appeared:

After clicking the "Send confirmation" button, it stated that I will receive a notification when Windows 10 is ready:

Cool!

What's New in Windows 10?

Click here for the list of what's new.

When will Windows 10 be available?

July 29, 2015

Who is eligible for the free upgrade?

Microsoft's website says:

The only requirements are that a) your device is compatible, and b) you're running genuine Windows 7 Service Pack 1 or Windows 8.1. Windows 10 is designed to run on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 PCs. That means your device is likely compatible and will run Windows 10.

Other Q&A

Click here

Reserve Your Copy of Windows 10 today!

If you do not see the notification in your notification area, click here to reserve your copy of Windows 10 today.

Does Legacy Family Tree work with Windows 10?

Yes, from what I hear it works great!

Comments (28)

If I don’t like windows 10 can I go back to windows 8.1

I tried to reserve my Windows 10! Being computer illiterate, I am not sure what it meant by “administrator sign in”, but now I am wondering if I really want to upgrade (after reading all the “trouble” comments) on their website. My question is will Legacy still run as good as it does now without the upgrade? I do realize that eventually Legacy will only work with the latest Windows but I am very hesitant right now!

Help! My computer went crazy, and my icon to reserve my windows 10 upgrade disappeared. Computer is fixed, but no icon! Please I want to reserve a my free copy!
Thanks,
Catherine Hockstad
chockstad@gmail.com

The Windows 10 icon is a sleazy way of marketing the upgrade not to mention that it wastes system resources. That said, you can get rid of the icon by uninstalling the Windows update that created it [KB3035583] using Windows Update through the Control Panel. Although, when I tried this it only worked until the next load of updates arrived so it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Any UPGRADE to an O/S will result in a lethargic and clumsy combination of the old and new systems. Most users will decide to go with a full install and therefore won’t require the reservation of the upgrade. The full W10 package for 32 and 64 bit systems is available on the Microsoft Downloads page which can be copied to a DVD or flashdrive for installation.

I’m in Canada running Win 8.1, and the upgrade offer does appear. I will probably wait a bit before installing it. I do, incidentally, run Classic Shell over top of Windows 8 and it works flawlessly. I can switch to Win8 easily by just hitting [shft][start button] (hitting the [start button] alone, brings up the classic shell which I have set for Win XP Classic Menu). Some of the feature of Win 10 do look tempting, but will have to see if they are too intrusive. I hate it when the computer tries to out think me and goes down the wrong rabbit hole.

Thanks, this is very cool

I’m in Canada; running Win 7 Home 64bit sp1. No icon on taskbar.

Launa – you won’t have to do anything different with Legacy.

I run a Mini Mac with Parallels so I can use Legacy and WordPerfect. I have Windows 7 with the Parallels program. Do you know if Windows 10 will work on my machine? And will it give me any advantages by having it it it does. I tried 8.1 and disliked it so much, that is what motivated me to move to the Mac. However, have not been all that pleased with the Mac either.
Thanks for all the good work you do

Will we be able to move our Legacy back-up between a Win XP, Win Vista, Win 7 & Win 10 without things crashing. I know Microsoft wants everyone to run out and buy all new computers & all the other equipment, but not everyone can do that, So want to know IF Legacy will keep working between all the above?
LaunaD

Windows 7 is working well. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Especially with windows. I will likely have to buy a new computer before Microsoft stops sending security updates for 7 and then will have to take what comes with it.

Don’t upgrade blindly! From past experience in upgrading to a new version of MS Windows, I found some software, and drivers for various hardware devices (printers, scanners, cameras, etc.) did not operate with the new version of Windows. For some of the software packages, I had to upgrade to new versions at significant cost. For the hardware drivers, I was able to upgrade to new versions, some free and some at a minimal cost. In one case, for a perfectly good HP Laser printer, a new driver was not available and I had to buy a new printer at significant cost. So your free Windows 10 upgrade may not be completely free. My recommendation would be to check that all of your hardware and software will work with Windows 10, and if not, you can then figure out the real cost of the upgrade.

As I understand it, the free upgrade will be available for one year. After that, if you want to upgrade, you will need to buy it.

It’s great that it will be free and I can sign up so easy.

I have a desktop and a laptop. Do I have to reserve a copy for each computer?

Thanks for the heads-up. Can’t wait to get rid of Windows 8

I was eager for Windows 10 to arrive until I learned that Windows Media Center has been dropped. I record a lot of television shows for later viewing, so until I find an alternative providing that functionality, my upgrade to Windows 10 will be on hold.

Yes, the update notice is on my desktop. You do have one year to get your free update to win 10. So I will wait. Let the adventurers try it out first and work out the bugs.
My printer died a couple of months ago and I am waiting to get a new one so that I know that it will be compatible with Win10. Miss my Canon printer–about 7 years+ old.
We will all have to get Win10 or switch to Apple. Take the bite in the next year so you will not have to pay for it.
Agnes

I am a bit wary also, will wait. have not had a notification yet here in Australia.

If, having got the initial window up, you click on the new Menu icon (looks like 3 horizontal bars) in the top left-hand corner, you’ll see a menu. In the bottom half, there’s an option that will tell you what software you have installed that might have problems being used on Windows 10.

Thanks for pointing this out. I think it’s a move in the right direction to allow users of W7 and W8 to upgrade for free. I’m hoping that there aren’t as many surprises and changes as there were with W8 and glad they made some needed adjustments with W8.1.
That being said I tend to wait to do upgrades until some of the initial bugs are worked out and I get a feel for whether the upgrade is right for me. Some of these releases are like phase 2 of the Beta testing. Also folks should consider that upgrading your OS sometimes means you will have to pay for other software upgrades that might not be compatible with the new W10, those companies have to pay their programers to write upgrades and patches and in the end it is the consumer who pays.

I have the offer in Australia. Check of the website indicates a flowon of notifications over several days. Go to Microsoft.com and check the Windows 10 tab if you do not receive the offer. There is advice in the Q&A about getting eligible.

Microsoft 10 free update is offered in Australia, but Cortana is not part of the Australia release, yet.

Thanks, Geoff. I didn’t even notice the icon until you pointed it out.

Does this offer work here in Australia?

Annie – Microsoft has stated that it is a free upgrade if you have Windows 7 or 8.

ooooh thanks for the heads-up Geoff …. I also saw the notification in the system tray window when I turned on my computer this morning … but I wasn’t game enough to click it.
I’d like to upgrade as I have had Windows 7 for some years now …. but I would also like to know what cost in $$$ I’m up for before I say “yes” to upgrading.

Thanks for heads up, Geoff. For folks who have Win7, MS says to click on “Windows Update in Start menu. Whiz band, a funny little icon showed up in my little Win7 tray. Nifty. My Win10 is reserved, and the check says it will run fine on my machine. Suspect some features won’t apply (I don’t have a touch screen and don’t particularly want one– I have short arms). But looking forward to other features.

BN
BJ Nelms

9 years ago

If I don’t like windows 10 can I go back to windows 8.1
CM
Christine Maguire

9 years ago

I tried to reserve my Windows 10! Being computer illiterate, I am not sure what it meant by “administrator sign in”, but now I am wondering if I really want to upgrade (after reading all the “trouble” comments) on their website. My question is will Legacy still run as good as it does now without the upgrade? I do realize that eventually Legacy will only work with the latest Windows but I am very hesitant right now!
CH
Catherine Hockstad

9 years ago

Help! My computer went crazy, and my icon to reserve my windows 10 upgrade disappeared. Computer is fixed, but no icon! Please I want to reserve a my free copy!
Thanks,
Catherine Hockstad
chockstad@gmail.com
BD
Bob Dawes

9 years ago

The Windows 10 icon is a sleazy way of marketing the upgrade not to mention that it wastes system resources. That said, you can get rid of the icon by uninstalling the Windows update that created it [KB3035583] using Windows Update through the Control Panel. Although, when I tried this it only worked until the next load of updates arrived so it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Any UPGRADE to an O/S will result in a lethargic and clumsy combination of the old and new systems. Most users will decide to go with a full install and therefore won’t require the reservation of the upgrade. The full W10 package for 32 and 64 bit systems is available on the Microsoft Downloads page which can be copied to a DVD or flashdrive for installation.
R
Robert

9 years ago

I’m in Canada running Win 8.1, and the upgrade offer does appear. I will probably wait a bit before installing it. I do, incidentally, run Classic Shell over top of Windows 8 and it works flawlessly. I can switch to Win8 easily by just hitting [shft][start button] (hitting the [start button] alone, brings up the classic shell which I have set for Win XP Classic Menu). Some of the feature of Win 10 do look tempting, but will have to see if they are too intrusive. I hate it when the computer tries to out think me and goes down the wrong rabbit hole.
SJ
Sanadra Jarvis

9 years ago

Thanks, this is very cool
LE
Llb El

9 years ago

I’m in Canada; running Win 7 Home 64bit sp1. No icon on taskbar.
GR
Geoff Rasmussen

9 years ago

Launa – you won’t have to do anything different with Legacy.
RB
Richard Brough

9 years ago

I run a Mini Mac with Parallels so I can use Legacy and WordPerfect. I have Windows 7 with the Parallels program. Do you know if Windows 10 will work on my machine? And will it give me any advantages by having it it it does. I tried 8.1 and disliked it so much, that is what motivated me to move to the Mac. However, have not been all that pleased with the Mac either.
Thanks for all the good work you do
L
LaunaD

9 years ago

Will we be able to move our Legacy back-up between a Win XP, Win Vista, Win 7 & Win 10 without things crashing. I know Microsoft wants everyone to run out and buy all new computers & all the other equipment, but not everyone can do that, So want to know IF Legacy will keep working between all the above?
LaunaD
P
Peg

9 years ago

Windows 7 is working well. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Especially with windows. I will likely have to buy a new computer before Microsoft stops sending security updates for 7 and then will have to take what comes with it.
WB
Wayne Bower

9 years ago

Don’t upgrade blindly! From past experience in upgrading to a new version of MS Windows, I found some software, and drivers for various hardware devices (printers, scanners, cameras, etc.) did not operate with the new version of Windows. For some of the software packages, I had to upgrade to new versions at significant cost. For the hardware drivers, I was able to upgrade to new versions, some free and some at a minimal cost. In one case, for a perfectly good HP Laser printer, a new driver was not available and I had to buy a new printer at significant cost. So your free Windows 10 upgrade may not be completely free. My recommendation would be to check that all of your hardware and software will work with Windows 10, and if not, you can then figure out the real cost of the upgrade.
BH
Bob Hobbs

9 years ago

As I understand it, the free upgrade will be available for one year. After that, if you want to upgrade, you will need to buy it.
DJ
Donna Jean Mason

9 years ago

It’s great that it will be free and I can sign up so easy.
LG
Linda Greethurst

9 years ago

I have a desktop and a laptop. Do I have to reserve a copy for each computer?
TC
Tom C

9 years ago

Thanks for the heads-up. Can’t wait to get rid of Windows 8
DP
David Paine

9 years ago

I was eager for Windows 10 to arrive until I learned that Windows Media Center has been dropped. I record a lot of television shows for later viewing, so until I find an alternative providing that functionality, my upgrade to Windows 10 will be on hold.
A
Agnes

9 years ago

Yes, the update notice is on my desktop. You do have one year to get your free update to win 10. So I will wait. Let the adventurers try it out first and work out the bugs.
My printer died a couple of months ago and I am waiting to get a new one so that I know that it will be compatible with Win10. Miss my Canon printer–about 7 years+ old.
We will all have to get Win10 or switch to Apple. Take the bite in the next year so you will not have to pay for it.
Agnes
DM
David mcKay

9 years ago

I am a bit wary also, will wait. have not had a notification yet here in Australia.
MF
Mike Fry

9 years ago

If, having got the initial window up, you click on the new Menu icon (looks like 3 horizontal bars) in the top left-hand corner, you’ll see a menu. In the bottom half, there’s an option that will tell you what software you have installed that might have problems being used on Windows 10.
D
D

9 years ago

Thanks for pointing this out. I think it’s a move in the right direction to allow users of W7 and W8 to upgrade for free. I’m hoping that there aren’t as many surprises and changes as there were with W8 and glad they made some needed adjustments with W8.1.
That being said I tend to wait to do upgrades until some of the initial bugs are worked out and I get a feel for whether the upgrade is right for me. Some of these releases are like phase 2 of the Beta testing. Also folks should consider that upgrading your OS sometimes means you will have to pay for other software upgrades that might not be compatible with the new W10, those companies have to pay their programers to write upgrades and patches and in the end it is the consumer who pays.
BM
bob Millman

9 years ago

I have the offer in Australia. Check of the website indicates a flowon of notifications over several days. Go to Microsoft.com and check the Windows 10 tab if you do not receive the offer. There is advice in the Q&A about getting eligible.
P
Peter

9 years ago

Microsoft 10 free update is offered in Australia, but Cortana is not part of the Australia release, yet.
ML
Michele Lewis

9 years ago

Thanks, Geoff. I didn’t even notice the icon until you pointed it out.
JS
John Spooner

9 years ago

Does this offer work here in Australia?
GR
Geoff Rasmussen

9 years ago

Annie – Microsoft has stated that it is a free upgrade if you have Windows 7 or 8.
M
Maggie

9 years ago

ooooh thanks for the heads-up Geoff …. I also saw the notification in the system tray window when I turned on my computer this morning … but I wasn’t game enough to click it.
I’d like to upgrade as I have had Windows 7 for some years now …. but I would also like to know what cost in $$$ I’m up for before I say “yes” to upgrading.
AS
Annie Stratton

9 years ago

Thanks for heads up, Geoff. For folks who have Win7, MS says to click on “Windows Update in Start menu. Whiz band, a funny little icon showed up in my little Win7 tray. Nifty. My Win10 is reserved, and the check says it will run fine on my machine. Suspect some features won’t apply (I don’t have a touch screen and don’t particularly want one– I have short arms). But looking forward to other features.