How to update Windows yourself? Simple tips for novice users. How to update the Windows XP operating system How to update your Windows
When Windows 10 first hit the market, Microsoft showed unprecedented generosity. Until July 29, 2016 inclusive, any user could update their OS to 10 versions completely free of charge. Moreover, this service was available both to users with a licensed operating system and to pirates. However, many users missed this chance. Some were lazy, others simply did not believe in such an attraction of unheard-of generosity. In general, many users missed the opportunity to upgrade to version 10.
More than a year has passed since the release of Windows 10. Microsoft fixed all the bugs and shortcomings that did not suit users. And the users themselves “tried” the new Windows and realized what it was capable of. Therefore, at the moment, Windows 10 is considered the best system from Microsoft. This was recognized not only by the company, but also by millions of users around the globe.
How to upgrade Windows 8 or 7 to Windows 10? You can buy a licensed version of the operating system. True, this option is not suitable for everyone. After all, prices for Windows 10 are steep. For the Home version you will have to pay 8,699 rubles, and the Professional assembly costs as much as 15,299 rubles. Is it possible to get an innovative operating system for free? You will find out the answer by reading this article.
Free version of Windows 10
How to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free? Previously, this could be done through Windows Update. All you had to do was press one button and the OS would start updating. However, on July 19, 2016, a countdown counter for a free update up to ten appeared in the Update Center. As of July 29, 2016, the freebie officially ended. From then to this day, there is no button in Windows Update that offers to update Windows to version 10. Nevertheless, it is quite possible to get a new operating system for free. 
According to Microsoft, they tried to make Windows 10 as convenient as possible for people with disabilities. The company even offers them to upgrade Windows to 10 completely free of charge. Such an offer has no restrictions or special conditions. Accordingly, anyone can use it. All you need is:
Questions about upgrading to Windows 10
How to update Windows 10 is clear. Nevertheless, a couple of questions remain. The first is which version to install - Professional or Home. It all depends on the operating system that was originally installed on your computer. For example, if you used the home version of Windows 7, then you will receive the corresponding build of Windows 10.
In addition, many users are interested in what will happen to the data contained on the computer. Will they be deleted? Do you need to make a backup copy in the cloud or transfer valuable information to a flash drive? No, upgrading to Windows 10 does not delete user data. The disk is formatted only during installation via BIOS. If you use a special assistant from Microsoft to update, then Windows 10 is installed on top of the existing OS.
Custom builds of Windows 10
On the World Wide Web you can find so-called custom builds of Windows 10. What is it and what does it come with? Advanced users with programming skills take the original operating system and change its source code. Thus, users can add their own icons, images and even functions to the OS.
However, you should never download custom assemblies. Hundreds of professional programmers are involved in the development of the Windows operating system. Custom builds are typically created by one person in a short period of time. Accordingly, such operating systems cannot boast of stability. Custom builds constantly freeze and crash.
And this is the most harmless thing that can happen when loading custom assemblies. It is much worse if a professional hacker was involved in modifying the original OS. As a rule, such characters install small utilities into the operating system that are designed to steal user data. Therefore, if you use unofficial builds, be prepared for the fact that unauthorized people can gain access to your passwords, payment information, and even your webcam.
How to update Windows 7
Are you quite satisfied with the old seven and don’t want to switch to a new version of Windows? In this case, you still shouldn’t neglect updates. They improve system functionality and increase computer performance. Moreover, updates close holes in the operating system that hackers can use to get user information.
You shouldn't update the seven just anywhere. After all, by downloading updates from unverified sites, you risk infecting your computer with dangerous viruses that can cause enormous harm to the OS. It is best to download updates through Windows Update. This is done very simply:
Official updates are divided into two types: important and optional. The first ones are designed to increase the security of your computer. It is these updates that fix major bugs and close holes in the system. Therefore, they must be installed first. Optional updates are intended to improve system software and drivers. As a rule, such updates do not have a significant impact on the operation of the PC (at best, they will slightly increase performance). Therefore, they can be neglected.
When should I install optional updates? This must be done in two cases. The first is if your old drivers or system applications do not work correctly. The second is if the developers have released new functionality for their product (for example, support for additional languages, etc.).
Conclusion
The promotion, during which Microsoft gave away its new operating system, ended more than a year ago. Despite this, you can still find legal ways that allow you to install Windows 10 for free. If you find a custom build of Windows 10, do not install it on your computer under any circumstances. Download the OS and all updates only from official manufacturers. Otherwise, you risk turning your computer into a breeding ground for malware.
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I’ll start with conclusions, and then there will be detailed instructions on how I recommend updating the Windows 7 system, as well as about automatic updates, about checking for updates manually, how to turn off the update and why you shouldn’t turn them off. Go!
Updates need to be installed. A good way to do this is " Look for updates, but the decision to download and install is up to me».
And when messages appear from Windows Update that new updates have been found, you need to take the time to download and install Windows updates.
Periodically, you can manually check for Windows updates using the “Search for updates” option (number 1 in Fig. 1), without waiting for these updates to be detected automatically. And, if updates are found manually, also install them on your PC.
With this approach, the Windows 7 operating system is up to date and will be maximally protected from.
Let's now figure out how to set up updates and how to install them so that they remain useful, but do not bother Windows 7 users.
Where is the Windows 7 update program located?
This program is called Windows Update. She can be found
- through the Search line (the “Start” button – enter the text without quotes in the “Search programs and files” line: “Windows Update”),
- or through the “Control Panel” (the “Start” button – “Control Panel” – “System and Security” – “Windows Update”).
After this, the Windows Update window will open on the screen, as shown in Fig. 1:
Rice. 1. Windows Update window
In this window we will be interested in two options: “Search for updates” (number 1 in Fig. 1) and “Setting parameters” (number 2 in Fig. 1).
Setting up Windows 7 updates
To configure updates, click on the inscription “Setting parameters” (number 2 in Fig. 1). A window will appear to select how to install Windows updates (Fig. 2):
Rice. 2. Window for setting up Windows 7 updates
Screenshot in fig. 2 was made in the Windows 7 Professional operating system. For others, the update window may look different.
The developers of Windows 7 offer users of this operating system 4 ways to install updates (numbers 1 – 4 in Fig. 2).
If you are interested in the question “How to enable Windows 7 update?”, You need to choose one of three methods:
- “Install updates automatically (recommended)” (number 1 in Fig. 2).
- “Download updates, but decisions about installation are made by me” (solid twos, because in Fig. 2 there is a number 2).
- “Look for updates, but the decision to download and install is made by me” (number 3 in Fig. 2).
The question of how to “turn off Windows 7 update” is solved using the fourth method:
Let's look at all four methods in more detail.
I would also recommend this method, if not for one thing. It consists in the fact that searching, downloading and installing Windows updates is a rather complex and time-consuming task for a computer. This process does not go unnoticed by the user. While searching, downloading and installing updates, the computer loads heavily and slows down the execution of other tasks and programs. And at the end of installing the updates, it generally begins to require a system reboot.
And all this happens, as a rule, at the most inopportune moment. When there is no time to stop (pause) work and restart the PC.
For some reason, here I would like to recall Murphy’s law: “Left to themselves, events tend to develop from bad to worse.” That’s why I don’t want to give the operating system the ability to search for, download and install updates on its own.
Let's look at the second method of installing Windows 7 updates.
Method 2 “Download updates, but installation decisions are made by me”
Understanding that installing updates requires additional loading of the PC and requires a reboot to finally install new programs, Windows developers offer us this, more simplified option than the previous one (“Install updates automatically”).
Since automatically searching for updates and downloading them also requires PC resources, it also diverts computer power to these processes.
And this makes it difficult for users, again at the most inopportune moment, as luck would have it. And here I would like to remember Murphy’s Laws: “When things are going well, something is bound to happen in the very near future” and “When things are going badly, in the very near future they will go even worse.”
Therefore, let’s leave this Windows update method alone and move on to the third method.
Method 3 “Search for updates, but the decision to download and install is made by me” or How to disable automatic updates in Windows 7?
Here we see minimal distraction of computer resources. Namely, resources are diverted only to find updates for the Windows 7 operating system via the Internet.
Found updates will not be downloaded to the user's computer until the user decides to do so. This method is especially convenient for those who have Internet with limited traffic. Because downloading updates means additional megabytes downloaded from the Internet
Therefore, despite the fact that this is only the third method on the list for installing Windows updates, this is the one I recommend for PC users.
We'll look at how to download and install updates later, but for now let's move on to the fourth and final method of installing Windows updates.
This is the last, 4th method to update the Windows 7 system.
And here I agree with the Windows developers that this method cannot be recommended for computer users.
Because by using this fourth method, the PC user thus refuses to receive and install any updates. And this can lead to an increase in security threats to the operating system and an increase in its vulnerability.
In addition to selecting the method for downloading and installing Windows updates, in the window for selecting a method for installing Windows updates, check the following boxes (see Fig. 2):
- "Receive recommended updates the same way you receive important updates"(number 5 in Fig. 2). Windows developers, in order to completely confuse PC users, came up with not only important (or in other words, mandatory) Windows updates, but also so-called recommended updates. It is not possible to distinguish one from the other. Therefore, in order not to get confused, you need to check the box next to this inscription.
- "Allow all users to install updates on this computer"(number 6 in Fig. 2). Why is this? If there are several accounts on the computer under which different users can work, or even one user under different accounts, then this checkbox gives all of them the right to download and install updates. The checkbox is useful, because otherwise you can forget about updates for a long time if you work under an account where updates will not be allowed. And this can lead to an increased threat of computer vulnerability.
- "When updating Windows, provide updates for Microsoft products..."(number 7 in Fig. 2). This is also a useful checkbox, since it allows you to receive not only updates for Windows operating system files, but also receive updates for application programs, such as Microsoft Office Word, etc. These applications also improve over time, and receiving updates for them allows you to have the latest versions.
- "Show detailed notifications when new Microsoft software is available"(number 8 in Fig. 2). You don’t have to check this box, since this is a kind of consent to receive advertising information. You can do it, it won't be any worse.
So, let’s set the third method for installing Windows updates: “Search for updates, but the decision to download and install is made by me.” And check all the above boxes (numbers 5-8 in Fig. 2).
Then click the “OK” button (Fig. 2). The window for choosing how to install Windows updates will close.
Let's move on to installing Windows 7 updates
Windows Update is now set to constantly search for new updates. While there are no updates, the Windows Update window will display the message “Windows does not require an update” on a green background, as shown by number 3 in Fig. 1.
But as soon as new updates appear and they are found, you will see the inscription “Download and install updates” with a yellow stripe (Fig. 6) indicating the volume that is to be downloaded from the Internet. The information is useful because for those with limited Internet traffic, it allows them to decide whether to download updates.
Let’s say if traffic is limited to 50 Megabytes (for example, when using the mobile Internet), and you have to download 100 Megabytes of updates, then such information will be a warning that this is not necessary.
Checking Windows 7 updates manually
Updates can be checked manually, without waiting for an automatic program to do it for us. To do this, in the “Windows Update” window, click on the inscription “Search for updates” (number 1 in Fig. 1). A running green line “Search for updates” will appear (number 1 in Fig. 3).
Rice. 3. Manually check for updates using Windows Update
After some time, the search will end. The search result may be
- lack of updates,
- found optional (recommended) updates or
- Mandatory (important) updates found.
Both required (important) and optional (but recommended) updates can also be searched simultaneously.
Installing Windows 7 updates
In Fig. 4 below shows the Windows Update window after searching for updates, when one optional (recommended) update is found.
Rice. 4. Windows Update window after completing the search for updates, when one optional (recommended) update was found
In the window that opens, check the box (number 1 in Fig. 5) opposite the name of the update (in this case, it is an update for the program), and then click on the “OK” button (number 2 in Fig. 5):
Rice. 5. Prepare to install the optional update
After this, we will return to the Windows Update window (Fig. 6), where the message “Download and install selected updates” will appear indicating the download size (in this case, it is a small volume, only 417 KB). Here you should click on the “Install updates” button (number 1 in Fig. 6).
Rice. 6. Completing preparations for installing the optional update
Immediately after this, the installation of Windows updates will begin. In the window (Fig. 7) the message “Updates are being installed...” will appear (number 1 in Fig. 7). And below it the installation progress will be shown. The installation of updates can be interrupted at any time by clicking on the “Stop installation” button (number 2 in Fig. 7).
But in general, it is not recommended to interrupt the installation of updates. It is better to wait until the installation is completed, although in some cases this may take quite a long time.
Rice. 7. Performing the Windows update installation procedure
Once the installation is complete, the message “Updates installed successfully” may appear, as shown in Fig. 8. But if there are many updates and they are complex, then you may need to restart the operating system. In this case, a Windows Update window will prompt you to reboot. It is advisable to agree to this and reboot the operating system to finally complete the installation of updates.
Rice. 8. Windows update installation completion window
When rebooting the Windows 7 operating system after installing Windows updates, you must not turn off the computer until the complete cycle of unloading (stopping) the system and then booting the system has been completed. This can also take a decent amount of time, but you need to be patient and complete this process in a normal manner without interrupting it halfway.
Also, during a reboot, blue screen messages may appear indicating the progress of installing Windows updates. It will show what percentage of the installation is complete.
As a rule, when unloading the system, updates are installed at 30%, after which the computer turns off for a moment and begins to boot again. During download, updates are already installed 100%, which may also result in messages being displayed on a blue screen.
And yet, why do we need updates?
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Operating systems are imperfect; experts find vulnerabilities in many every month. While the period of use of any version of the OS is about two years. To close security holes, developers release update packages on average every 6 weeks. They must be installed on your computer for it to work properly and be reliably protected. In addition to system files, drivers and user-installed programs also need periodic updating.
The XP version is no longer supported by developers, so it is recommended to replace it with a more current operating system. The built-in Windows Update will help you update Windows 7, 8 and 8.1. To do this, open the Start menu and select the Control Panel section. Next, select the “System and Security” group. Find the “Windows Update” category in it and go inside. To call this section in Windows 8, move the cursor to the upper right corner of the desktop. When the floating settings panel appears, select the “Computer Information” section. In it you will see a link to “Update Center”, click it. Inside the section there is information about the latest update checks and their installation. There, if necessary, you can configure settings for subsequent updates. Before installation, the necessary updates are searched for. To do this, click the “Check for updates” button. You can automate this process in the same section by going to the “Settings” category. With regular checking and good Internet connection speed, searching for files for an update takes about 5 minutes. If an error occurs during your search, use a utility from Microsoft called “Microsoft Fixit”. Download it from the official website of the developer. To do this, press the “Run Now” button. When the program downloads, launch it by double-clicking the left mouse button. It will begin scanning and searching for damaged files. Once Microsoft Fixit determines the cause of the problem, it will fix the problem and report it. Then start searching for updates again.
Periodically updating the Windows OS allows you to keep the system up to date, use new features and work on your computer as efficiently as possible. In addition to making your PC more efficient, updates improve Windows security and help prevent unauthorized access to your data.
In most cases, the system, be it Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, will offer you to update to Windows 10 automatically, but if for some reason this does not happen, the update process can be started manually. Just a couple of years ago it was possible to install the system from a bootable DVD or flash drive, but today the easiest way to do this is via the Internet - you don’t have any problems with it, I assume? Namely - through the Microsoft website
The program is available on the page https://www.microsoft.com/ru-ru/software-download/windows10 in two versions - 32-bit and 64-bit, you should download the version that corresponds to the system installed on your computer or laptop .
Here you will find two options: either run a small program for updating windows, which will install Windows 10 on your computer (preserving almost all your programs and documents), or download a complete “image” of the system installation disk, which can then be turned into a bootable one. flash drive" and install Windows completely. But we will consider this option a little lower, for now I will say that in this case you will also need a Windows serial number, which you can buy here, in the Microsoft “store”.
The process of updating windows 7/8.1 to windows 10
Once you run the installer, you will be given the choice of “Upgrade this PC now” or “Create installation media for another computer.” If you update using a backup copy in "Get Windows 10", everything will be exactly the same, except for the absence of the first few steps before actually installing the update.
It must be said that upgrade windows 7 to windows 10 Without losses it is not always possible. For example, if you already have 32-bit Windows 8 installed on your computer, you won't be able to upgrade to 64-bit Windows 10. More precisely, not so: the system will be updated. But at the same time, you will lose all installed programs, except for standard Windows applications, and only your personal files - documents, photos, music - will move to the new system. In the most difficult cases (for example, if you install a Russian version of Windows over an English version), the ability to update will be completely blocked - Windows will be installed completely, having first copied the previous version along with all your documents to the Windows folder. Old on the hard drive.
By selecting “Update your PC now”, Windows 10 files will automatically download to your computer, after which “Verifying downloaded files” and “Creating Windows 10 media” will occur. Upon completion, the process of installing Windows 10 on your computer will automatically begin (the same as when using the backup method).
The process of updating to Windows 10 almost completely repeats the usual installation of Windows 10 - except that it goes much faster, and more beautiful pictures are shown during installation. However, experts recommend updating Windows (that is, installing a new version over the old one) only in cases where the system works flawlessly. Otherwise, there is always a chance that the errors and failures accumulated by your old OS will be inherited by the new one. Still worth a try. After all, reinstalling all programs, which will inevitably follow the complete demolition of the operating system, will take you several hours, and reinstalling Windows on top of Windows will take about forty minutes.
Immediately after you can upgrade Windows 7 to windows 10 begins to actively download updates and patches from the Internet, as well as new drivers - for the video card, built-in sound, and so on. This process, in fact, does not require your intervention and takes place completely unnoticed, in the background (unless the computer is warned in the future about the need to reboot).
But if you want to unveil this mystery, there is nothing easier - click on the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen and select the menu Settings ⇒ Updates and security ⇒ Windows Update. If you wish, you can start the update checking process manually, and by going to the Advanced options menu, you can enable the download mode for updates not only for Windows, but also for other Microsoft programs (for example, the Microsoft Office suite).
Question How to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10 for free has become relevant for many. Practice has shown that users reach a dead end and do not know how to start an update to Windows 10. Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10 already installed on a computer or laptop, without deleting it and saving all user data, is quite simple.
How to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10
In fact, everything is very simple and prosaic, and does not require any special skills. Microsoft provides the opportunity for everyone to officially upgrade Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 completely free of charge, of course, if you have a license for the current version of the operating system from which you plan to upgrade to Windows 10.
Next, the entire process of updating Windows 7 to Windows 10 will be shown and described step by step. The transition from Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 in terms of the actions performed is no different from the operations performed for the “Seven”. So let's get started.
First, you will need to determine the bit depth of the installed version: 32 or 64 bits. To do this, click on the “Start” button, find the “Computer” item and right-click on it, select “Properties” from the drop-down menu that appears. A new window will open with basic information about your system; the “System Type” line will indicate the bit depth.
Based on the knowledge gained, you need to download the appropriate version of the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool update program (links are provided at the end of this page).
Make sure that your computer or laptop has an Internet connection; the automatic update program will need to download about 4 gigabytes of data. Launch the downloaded Media Creation Tool, select “Update this PC now” and click on the “Next” button
Windows 10 will begin downloading from the Internet, at which time a progress indicator will be displayed. You can continue to use your computer, but do not restart or turn off it. The download can take from several minutes to several hours depending on the speed of your Internet connection.
and then windows for searching for updates and preparing the system for updating
Upon completion of the preparatory processes, a window will appear with the license terms, which you will read carefully and if you are satisfied with everything, click on the “Accept” button
The search for updates will be started again, then the readiness for installation will be checked, and if there are no problems, a window will appear with the inscription “Ready to install”, which will indicate which version will be installed, i.e. if you had Windows 7 Home installed, then Windows 10 Home will be installed, if you had Professional, then it will be updated to Professional, and all your data will be saved and the system will be activated automatically. All that remains is to start the update by clicking on the “Install” button
After launching the update, which will take from several minutes to an hour depending on the speed of your PC, the computer will reboot several times; all ongoing processes are accompanied by explanations in Russian and will not cause difficulties in understanding. After installation is complete, you will become the proud owner of the operating system. According to statistics collected by Microsoft, 92% of users are satisfied with the new operating system;-)
