The new operating system will be available as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users starting from the mentioned date. The OS will be free for anyone who has bought a computer in the past six years and is running Windows 7 or a later version. Tablets running Windows 8.1 are also part of the free upgrade cycle.
To reserve your free upgrade, you have to use the Windows 10 app. Simply click on the small Windows icon in the taskbar, click ‘Reserve your free upgrade’ and enter your email address to receive a confirmation. Clicking on the popup also brings up a slideshow detailing the new features of Windows 10 and its benefits such Cortana, Edge, Passport and the new start menu. If you have multiple eligible devices, you’ll have to repeat the process for each of them.
In case you cannot see the icon in your taskbar, check and confirm if you have Windows updates enabled. If you have, then either Microsoft is working on drivers for your device or you don’t qualify for the free upgrade.
Windows 10 relies heavily on the new universal Windows Apps and those parts of the operating system can be easily updated before the new OS hits the market. General system updates can also carry patches after the release date to get rid of those final little blemishes in the OS.
Windows 10 Mobile will also be released sometime later this year though no date has been mentioned. Microsoft has only two months until the desktop version releases so they have their work cut out for them. Let’s hope that all goes well and we get a polished new Windows.