Get Windows 10 Legally: A Step-By-Step Guide

If you want to upgrade to Windows 10 without breaking the bank or the law, there are a few ways to do it. Microsoft allows anyone to download and install Windows 10 for free, without a product key, directly from their website. This will give you access to a fully functional Windows 10 system, with only a few cosmetic limitations. If you want to upgrade to a licensed version later, you can purchase a Windows 10 license from the Windows Store, ranging from $120 for the Home Edition to $200 for the Professional Edition.

If you are upgrading from an activated version of Windows 7 or 8.1, you can use the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft’s official website to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. This tool is crucial for the upgrade process and is free to download.

Another way to activate Windows 10 for free is through manual activation or using a batch file.

Download Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft for free

You can download the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft for free, without a license key, to install on a PC or a virtual machine. Here's how:

Using the Media Creation Tool

First, you'll need to download the Media Creation Tool from Microsoft. This tool will help you create a USB drive to install Windows 10 or download the ISO file.

To use the tool:

• Select the "Download tool now" button and run the file. You need to be an administrator on your computer to run this tool.
• On the License terms page, if you accept the license terms, select "Accept".
• On the "What do you want to do?" page, select "Create installation media for another PC" and then select "Next".
• Select the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10.
• Choose whether you want to use a USB flash drive or an ISO file.

If you choose to use a USB flash drive:

Attach a blank USB flash drive with at least 8GB of space. Any content on the flash drive will be deleted.

If you choose to use an ISO file:

• Save the ISO file to your PC, which you can then use to create a DVD.
• After the file is downloaded, go to the location where the file is saved, or select "Open DVD burner" and follow the instructions to burn the file to a DVD.

Downloading Directly via a Web Browser

Alternatively, you can download the Windows 10 ISO file directly using a web browser such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox.

• Go to the Windows 10 download page on your preferred browser.
• Open the Inspect Element section (usually by right-clicking anywhere on the page and selecting "Inspect" or pressing F12).
• Find and select the mobile device icon.
• Refresh the page (press F5).
• Close the Inspect menu.
• Select the Windows 10 Multi-Edition ISO and click "Confirm".
• Wait for the next options to load and select your preferred language.
• Select the 64-bit or 32-bit download according to your preference.
• Wait for the download to finish.

After Downloading

Once you have downloaded the ISO file, you can use it to install Windows 10. Here are the general steps:

• Go to the location where the ISO file is saved, right-click the file, and select "Properties".
• On the "General" tab, click "Change..." and select Windows Explorer for the program you would like to use to open ISO files. Then, click "Apply".
• Right-click the ISO file and select "Mount".
• Double-click the ISO file to view the files within, then double-click "setup.exe" to start the Windows 10 setup process.

Please note that while you can download and install Windows 10 for free, an unactivated copy of Windows has some limitations. For example, you won't be able to customise the appearance of the desktop, menus, and taskbar. If you want to upgrade to a licensed version later, you can purchase a Windows 10 license from the Windows Store.

Upgrade from Windows 7 or 8.1 without a product key

You can download the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft for free, without a license key, to install on a PC or a virtual machine. However, an unactivated version of Windows 10 will limit your ability to customise the appearance of your desktop, menus and taskbar.

To download and install Windows 10 without a product key, follow these steps:

• Download Windows 10 directly from Microsoft. You don't need a product key to download a copy.
• Use the Windows 10 download tool, which will help you create a USB drive to install Windows 10 or download the ISO.
• Begin the installation process and install Windows 10 as normal. When asked to enter your product key, click the "I don't have a product key" link. You may be asked to enter a product key later in the process, in which case, look for a similar small link to skip that screen.
• If you don't see the "I don't have a product key" option, you can provide a KMS client setup key to continue. These keys won't activate Windows unless you're in an organisation with a Key Management Service, but they will allow you to get through the installation process.
• Select either "Windows 10 Home" or "Windows 10 Pro" to install. If you plan to pay to upgrade to the paid version later, it will be cheaper to upgrade to Windows 10 Home.

After installing Windows 10 without a key, your version of Windows will not be activated. This means you will not be able to change your desktop wallpaper from the Personalisation > Background screen in the Settings app. You will also see a watermark in the bottom-right corner of your screen, and a "Windows isn't activated. Activate Windows now." link at the bottom of the Settings app.

If you want to upgrade to a licensed version of Windows 10 after installing, you can purchase a Windows 10 license from the Windows Store. The Home Edition costs $120, while the Professional Edition costs $200.

Use the Media Creation Tool

The Media Creation Tool is a legitimate way to get Windows 10 without breaking the law. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to use it:

Step 1: Download the Media Creation Tool

Visit the official Microsoft website to download the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10. Click the "Download tool now" button to start the download.

Step 2: Prepare a Bootable USB Drive

Insert a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage into your computer. Launch the Media Creation Tool by double-clicking on the downloaded file. Accept the license terms, and select "Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC." Click "Next."

Step 3: Select Language, Edition, and Architecture

Choose the desired language, edition (Windows 10 Home or Pro), and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) for the Windows 10 installation. Click "Next."

Step 4: Select USB Flash Drive

Select "USB flash drive" as the installation media type and click "Next." Choose the USB drive you inserted earlier from the list and click "Next" again. The tool will now download the Windows files and create a bootable USB drive. This process may take some time, depending on your internet speed and computer performance.

Step 5: Boot from the USB Drive

Insert the bootable USB drive into the computer where you want to install Windows 10. Restart the computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings. This usually involves pressing a specific key (such as F2, F10, or DEL) during startup. Refer to your computer's documentation or search online for specific instructions.

In the BIOS or UEFI settings, locate the boot order settings and move the USB drive to the top of the boot order. Save your settings and exit. The computer should now boot from the USB drive.

Step 6: Install Windows

When the Windows installation screen appears, select your language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method. Click "Next," then click "Install Now."

If you have a Windows product key, enter it. If not, click "I don't have a product key" to proceed. You will be able to activate Windows later with a valid product key. Choose the Windows edition you want to install and click "Next." Accept the license terms and click "Next" again.

Step 7: Select Installation Type

Select "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)." Choose the drive or partition where you want to install Windows. If you need to, create a new partition or format an existing one using the available options. Formatting a partition will erase all data on it.

Step 8: Start the Installation

Click "Next" to begin the installation process. The computer may restart several times during the installation.

Step 9: Complete the Setup

After the installation is complete, follow the on-screen instructions to set up your preferences and create a user account.

Notes:

• It is important to back up your files and data before proceeding with the installation, as the process will delete all files on the USB drive and the target computer partition.
• While it is possible to install and use Windows 10 without a product key, some customization options will be restricted. You can purchase a Windows 10 license from the Windows Store later if needed.

Manual activation

If you want to get Windows 10 without breaking the law, you can download it directly from Microsoft for free and install it without a product key. However, an unactivated version of Windows 10 has some limitations, such as the inability to customise the appearance of the desktop, menus and taskbar.

You can manually activate Windows 10 by following these steps:

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator

• Click on the Start button, then search for "CMD".
• Right-click on CMD and choose "Run as administrator".

Step 2: Remove any Existing Product Key

If you used a trial key, enter and run the command `slmgr.vbs /upk` by pressing Enter.

Step 3: Clear the Product Key from the Registry

Run `slmgr.vbs /cpky` and press Enter.

Step 4: Enter Your New Product Key

Enter the command `slmgr.vbs /ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx`, where the x's are your actual product key, and press Enter.

Step 5: Activate Windows

Enter the command `slmgr.vbs /ato` and press Enter. Windows will now be instantly activated.

If activation is not reflecting immediately, you may need to restart your computer.

Using a batch file

A batch file is a text file that contains one or multiple commands that run in sequence to perform various actions with Command Prompt. Batch files can be used to automate tasks, saving time and avoiding mistakes.

To create a basic batch file on Windows 10, follow these steps:

• Open a text editor such as Notepad.
• Type the following lines in the text file:

@ECHO OFF

ECHO Hello World! Your first batch file was printed on the screen successfully.

PAUSE

• Save the file with a `.bat` extension, for example, `first_basic_batch.bat`.
• Double-click the file to run it, or use Command Prompt or File Explorer to execute the script.

You can also create an advanced batch file with multiple commands by adding more lines to the text file. For example, you can include system information, hardware information, and networking information.

To run a batch file, you can either double-click on the `.bat` file or use Command Prompt. If you want to run the batch file from the Command Prompt, you need to know the location of the file. You can use the cd command to navigate to the folder containing the batch file and then type the name of the batch file to run it.

Batch files are a powerful tool to automate tasks and simplify complex processes. They use the same language as the Command Prompt, allowing you to input commands through a file instead of typing them out manually.

Frequently asked questions