Windows 8 to Windows 10 - how?

[Bev]

I know a few years ago all Windows 8 machines had an icon with an option to upgrade to W10 for free, but that is no longer available.

 

I have a few Win 8 laptops I'd like to upgrade, and I have Windows Volume Licensing. Is it a case of reinstalling Windows 10 from a boot disk (easier said than done on modern laptops) or USB, or is there still a downloadable upgrade option if you have a legal license. I can't see a download on the VLSC website which surprised me.

[LeMarchand]

I know a few years ago all Windows 8 machines had an icon with an option to upgrade to W10 for free, but that is no longer available.

 

I have a few Win 8 laptops I'd like to upgrade, and I have Windows Volume Licensing. Is it a case of reinstalling Windows 10 from a boot disk (easier said than done on modern laptops) or USB, or is there still a downloadable upgrade option if you have a legal license. I can't see a download on the VLSC website which surprised me.

 

If you have an appropriate volume license it should be on VLSC.

 

 

I'm not a fan of in-place OS upgrades, but I think you can do it from within W8. I'd suggest you'd be better off creating a W10 image and doing it that way, but you can also boot from USB/DVD and do a clean install.

Edited March 14, 2018 by LeMarchand

[Bev]

I've got lots of Windows 10 options but they all look like clean installs to me.

[ShellfishClive]

You should be able to download it if you have the licenses for it. You could create media USB sticks to boot then install that way using the VLSC.

 

Edit:

 

Why can't you do a fresh install? Assuming that you can take the data off and put it back on?

Edited March 14, 2018 by ShellfishClive

[Bev]

Hmm, I don't have those VDA options - I wonder why? As I thought I had a pretty comprehensive license. Seems crazy I'm licensed to do a clean install but not an upgrade.

[LeMarchand]

I've got lots of Windows 10 options but they all look like clean installs to me.

 

Could be wrong (never tried it!) but if you download the ISO and try to run it from within W8, it should give you the option to upgrade.

 

That said, I still think you're better off starting from a clean install or creating a W10 image.

[Bev]

I just want to update the staff laptops, which are all Windows 8, all different makes and models and staff have their own data on them. It seemed easier to upgrade them rather than do a clean install. I will be doing a fresh install on all desktop PCs as they aren't individual machines and I am happy to wipe them, but I'm not so happy to wipe staff laptops.

[ShellfishClive]

Try what @LeMarchand said, if you boot via CD or USB with Windows 10 on it should ask for a clean or upgrade which should do it for you.

 

Also as advice look into using Offline Files, it's a lifesaver!

[LeMarchand]

I just want to update the staff laptops, which are all Windows 8, all different makes and models and staff have their own data on them. It seemed easier to upgrade them rather than do a clean install. I will be doing a fresh install on all desktop PCs as they aren't individual machines and I am happy to wipe them, but I'm not so happy to wipe staff laptops.

 

How many? What vintage?

 

I'd try to make them responsible for backing up their data (preferably to a school-controlled cloud storage/encrypted device) and wipe 'em. Likely they'll benefit from a clean install, especially if they've been in the wild for a while.

 

If they're getting on, you may find that some drivers aren't available.

 

If you have more than a handful to do, I'd strongly suggest looking at creating an image. If it's not something you have done before it's a useful thing to know how to do and will save time in the future.

 

Also as advice look into using Offline Files, it's a lifesaver!

 

...and this! (If you have server space).

[mavhc]

Download Media Creation Tool, download Windows 10 Pro 64 bit, to a usb/network drive, run setup.exe from that drive, see what happens. Once upgraded switch to Enterprise if you wish to, just an option in Windows, put in new product key, it alters itself.

[LeMarchand]

Just loaded up the current W10 ISO onto a W8.1 machine I've been meaning to store - Dell Vostro 1520. Used a virtual optical device, but a physical disc or (probably) just copying the ISO to the machine and double-clicking it would also work. Ran setup.exe within W8.1and went for defaults and EDU (IIRC this was some discussion on here that we shouldn't be using ENT). Seems to be doing it's thing - though I feel it would be at the end of its set-up by now if it had been a clean install.

 

Will report back when done.

[LeMarchand]

Update.

 

Jogged the cable to my drive and messed up the install, so copied the ISO to the desktop and ran it that way. Upgraded as expected (had to answer the usual questions) and recognised my login - obviously there was the usual wait while it created a W10 profile. A brief check suggests everything in order (obviously the Start Menu and Taskbar have been messed with) and W10 even shows as activated (we do already have a KMS key for W10). May have just been lucky, but not even any Unknown Devices.

 

I didn't have a load of rubbish on the desktop or loads of documents so YMMV.

[Bev]

Can you expand on the Offline Files comment,

 

they currently have their home drives set to sync as offline files, although we frequently have problems with it not working, but i'm not sure how that's relevant to this discussion.

[LeMarchand]

Can you expand on the Offline Files comment,

 

they currently have their home drives set to sync as offline files, although we frequently have problems with it not working, but i'm not sure how that's relevant to this discussion.

 

IF Offline Files is working, then there should be no worries about wiping. That said, depends what you're syncing: I refuse to sync Pictures and Videos (usually full of personal/copyright infringing stuff) but in theory everything they have in "My Documents" is synced to the server. (Even though all my schools have ample O365 or Google space, but that's another argument!).