Win 10 pro license. Types of Windows licenses. Upgrade only to similar versions

PC users have heard about the release of a new OS Microsoft Windows 10, there are also those who managed to update their device to it on their own or with the help of competent friends. Despite criticism over privacy, initial glitches and lack of drivers, it is a very balanced and optimized system.

The material below will help you understand how to install Windows 10 on a computer (any one, from a tablet to a desktop PC). All stages of installing Windows 10 and activating it through a previously obtained digital license are described here.

Why is “ten” better?

Experiments on rather weak PCs show that the optimized 32-bit “ten” shows better performance than the OS before it. And this can be seen when working with office packages, and when surfing the web. If you have a “light” third-party or standard antivirus (provides good basic protection) Windows 10 64-bit edition shows higher performance than version 8.1 or 7.

However, the benefits will be appreciated only by those who have installed this OS and configured it properly. Users, having read negative comments since 2015, fundamentally do not install this operating system, but now it is the best that Microsoft has.

Competent Windows installation 10 from scratch allows you to get a stable and functional system even on a very weak device. This system has the same hardware requirements as Windows Vista, that is, all mid-priced PCs from 2006 (with dual-core processors and 2 GB of RAM) will work well on it.

To ensure that the gradual transition to a new OS is completed correctly, without losing your license and user data, you should follow the upgrade instructions.

Switch to Windows 10 while maintaining your license

Despite the fact that it was possible to upgrade to “ten” for free only until July 2016, many users can make the transition now, and without purchasing a new OS.

Thanks to the fact that Microsoft is using a new type of license - digital (starting from Windows 8), users have the opportunity to activate the “top ten” using their keys from older systems (Windows 7 and 8.1).

This method does not always work, but it’s worth a try: when installing from scratch, enter the key from the old version.

Perhaps, during the process of “forced transition” in 2015-2016, your computer was already updated to 10, if so, then the license was saved on the corporation’s servers and you were “remembered”. Even if you then “rolled back” to the old version, you can reinstall ten and automatically receive a license (the Internet must be turned on).

But how to install Windows 10 on a laptop with a license if the above steps were not taken? The easiest way to do this is to use a program for people with disabilities. Formally, no one will check your “limitations”; the wording of this concept is very vague, but the license comes (the main thing is that you have an official OS before this).

Is the update scary?

Many users know from experience the “features” of Windows when upgrading from older to new versions (usually accompanied by “glitches” and freezes). Here Microsoft has no changes - as before, full installation Windows 10 is preferable to updating (corporate employees write about this directly). However, the update is a must if you want to properly upgrade to the OS and get the license. The unpleasant procedure can be carried out only once in order for the corporation to enter your device into its database. All subsequent installations will receive a digital license automatically.


Don't know how to switch to a new OS? First, get a license or find a cracker, although its use violates the law. Remember, you need to switch only after thoroughly saving your data. When updating, all programs and files will be saved, but it is better to play it safe, since the “updated” OS works much worse than the one installed completely. Theoretically, the system can help itself by removing old version OS and spending automatic cleaning. But, as a rule, the performance of this version is still unsatisfactory.

Reasons for unsuccessful installation of Windows 10

Users often have difficulties, such as “I can’t install the system, drivers, program”, “I want to switch to another edition of my operating system(for example, from 32 to 64 bits),” etc. Problems can be adequately solved only with experience or good instructions. During a clean installation of another edition of the system, the license is attached automatically. Problems with installation are associated either with bad installation media (flash drive, DVD), or with an incompletely downloaded, “broken” OS image, or unofficial drivers. These are the reasons why it was not possible to install Windows 10 on a PC.

Although there are rare cases of incompatibility, for example, on a laptop with a single-core processor the system will not install at all.

To install Windows 10 from scratch, you need to take into account a number of factors: you must have a dual-core processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, 1, or better yet, 2 GB of RAM and a drive of 20 GB or more. It is better to install 32-bit Windows on weak laptops and desktop PCs, otherwise working on them will be difficult. Although there is information on the Internet that some people managed to install ten on a Pentium 4 with 1GB of RAM, it is impossible to work on such a weak machine.

Where can I get the installation disk?

Initially, in order to install Win 10 without problems, you need to download its image from the corporation’s website. You can use the MediaCreationTool utility, which will not only download the latest edition among all the “dozens,” but will also help automatically create bootable USB flash drive or burn the image to a DVD. It is with the help of this utility that automatic installation Windows 10, although there is another way. The same utility or a separate website of the corporation will only help you download the “system image” in the ISO standard, which you will then write to your media third party applications. If earlier (Windows XP-8.1) this method was preferable, now, with constant updates to the “dozens”, it loses its meaning. It is not advisable to store the image for a long time; in the case of the “ten” it becomes outdated too quickly. If, nevertheless, you downloaded the image, then the UltraISO program will help you burn it onto installation media without any problems. There are other programs, there are plenty of them on the Internet, but this one, even in the trial version, allows you to perform all operations quickly, without restrictions, without violating the law.

System installation steps

As soon as the image is correctly downloaded and recorded on the installation media, proceed to installing the system. It is preferable to use a flash drive; with it, installing Windows 10 on a laptop or desktop PC is faster.

To begin with, you should set the boot order of the drives in the PC BIOS. To do this, when you start the computer, press F11 or F12, the boot menu will launch, in which you can select the boot order once. This method is the simplest: select the drive with the system (keyboard arrows) and agree by pressing Enter. Next, the system will reboot and boot from your drive. On Win 10 step by step installation no different from Vista-8.1 systems. You will need to select “System installation” - “Clean, for advanced users” in the menu, then a menu with disks will appear. It is advisable to format drive C and select it for installation by highlighting and clicking “Format”, then click “Next”. Next you will have to wait for the installation process. At the very end, you will be asked to connect to the Internet and enter your Microsoft account information.

Improving privacy on Win 10

In a civilized world, it is quite normal to want freedom and maintain privacy, so users often configure their “ten” so as to share less of their secrets with Microsoft. To do this, at the final stage of installation, they select the advanced privacy setting (do not select “Default”). By selecting the “advanced option” you can disable almost all spying tasks. It is also advisable not to enter your email or create a corporate account. After all, you can switch to Windows 10 from local. If you plan to deeply integrate Microsoft services, use the Store, Outlook, MS Office 365 and other applications or synchronize with Windows Phone, then you will definitely need Account from Microsoft.

Registration there is quick, you need an email and a phone number or just the phone itself, the corporation will offer its email.

As soon as Windows installed will gain access to the network, it will be automatically activated. If you have not previously obtained a digital license (via purchase or upgrade from Win 7 or 8.1), you will need a 25-character license key. It can be purchased from official Microsoft dealers.

How to activate Windows

Installing Windows 10 pro or home versions is not a problem; it is difficult to find a license if you don’t have one and don’t have the money to buy it. You can use the non-activated version. However, constant reminders and cyclical reboots will make the work unbearable. Trial test or corporate versions are also not an option, as they have many problems.

If you didn't have a license initially, there is an option that allows you to get a license for the new OS. You can buy a cheaper Win7 disk and use the program for people with disabilities to upgrade to Win 10. In 2015, it was even possible to install with a license after a pirated OS.

On this moment The method is not always implemented and not on all activators, and it is illegal.

The safest way is to use the “gray” method and install Windows 10 on a laptop after activation through a program for people with disabilities (it works without time restrictions and does not require proof of disability). You will need to spend time updating (lots of traffic, hard drive space), but you will receive a license forever.

What's new in Windows 10?

Among key functions can be distinguished:

  • Advanced Start Menu. The familiar Start menu is back in place and provides fast access One-click access to your most frequently used features and files, plus the ability to personalize your favorite apps, programs, people, and websites.
  • Applications that run on Windows. Applications from Windows Store now open in the same format as desktop programs. They can be dragged around, the window can be resized, and there is a title bar at the top that allows users to expand, collapse, and close the app with just one click.
  • Improved pinning feature. Thanks to the new quadrant layout, you can pin up to four apps on one screen. Windows will show you other running apps and programs that you can pin, and even make recommendations on how to fill the remaining screen space with other open apps.
  • New task view button. New taskbar button provides one view for everyone open applications and files, allowing you to quickly switch between user-created desktops.
  • Several desktops. Instead of cluttering one desktop with files and applications, you can now simply create multiple desktops for different purposes and projects and easily switch between them.

What editions of Microsoft Windows 10 are there?

Flaws:
The software is “tied” to the hardware upon activation. Purchasing a license separately from a computer is illegal 1 .

Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro editions are sold as OEM.

Box

Advantages:
Possible variant, if you purchase licenses separately from computers. Easy licensing, no minimum quantity restrictions. If the seller has it in stock, the delivery time is minimal. The price includes VAT. Licenses are not personal, they can be transferred to another organization, but no more than once.

This is the only type of Windows licensing that allows you to transfer the license to another computer.

Flaws:
High price. There is no right to use previous versions. Inconvenient logistics for large purchases. The need to store packaging (empty boxes) to confirm the legality of the software. A box license is not the same as a corporate license.

Windows 10 Home and .

Electronic key

In the online stores of Microsoft partners you can purchase electronic Windows keys 10 and download the corresponding distributions. These licenses are intended for personal users and correspond to the boxed versions.

Windows 10 Home and editions are sold in the form of electronic keys:

Enterprise license

Under volume licensing programs, Windows OS is available only as an update (“upgrade”). This means that volume licenses are purchased after OEM licenses, boxes or dongles are purchased.

Of the commercial editions of Windows 10, volume licenses exist for the Pro and Enterprise editions.

Advantages:
Multiple installation keys (VLK). It is possible to legally use previous versions - downgrade. The production time for licenses is from 2 working days.

Flaws:
Licenses are personal and cannot be transferred to another organization. There are restrictions on the minimum order (at least 5 licenses).

How to legalize Windows?

The optimal and most economical way to purchase complete Windows licenses– purchasing a pre-installed OS on a new computer (OEM license). However, if you find counterfeit software or are using Volume Licensing for Windows Updates without the corresponding operating system on your computers, you can use solutions to resolve the inconsistency. We are talking about the so-called “legalizers” of Windows.

Today, we would like to take a more global look at the operating system, which can be started to be used by any user who takes it into their head. Analysis of the use of this particular OS comes down to the fact that some PC users begin to consider themselves somewhat limited, since they do not have a fully activated OS, which ultimately leads them to panic. Panic, in turn, comes down to the fact that time after time, a person thinks that: “I don’t have a licensed Windows 10, which means my computer will soon be blocked...?” This kind of thoughts visit the average PC user constantly and ultimately make him a kind of paranoid... Just so that this does not happen, today we will plunge more globally into the world of licensed software from Microsoft and once and for all we will sort it out all the dots over the “I”, so that you have an idea of ​​what and how you can use without an activation key for Windows, and what it is best to refuse.

What's happened using Windows 10 without a license?

In fact, you can work with the Windows operating system even without an activation key, since any program developed by Microsoft has a test period of time during which you can actually try out the software. Thus, if you do not currently have an activation key for Windows 10, there is nothing to worry about, because you can use the program completely free of charge. The only thing we recommend that you do without fail when using this is that you must download and install a licensed distribution kit of the program, because if you use Prirat software, then you won’t be able to talk about the pleasure you get from working in the program you won't have to.

After installing a new operating system and skipping program activation using a license key, any PC user receives a trial period of time during which he must understand: “Is it worth buying this OS or is it better to abandon it?”

What is the trial period for Windows 10 without a license?

In fact, it all depends on the specific OS version, so the license period can vary from 30 to 90 days. By the way, some versions of the operating system have additional option located in the depths of the program, and specifically, to get to it, you need to use the BIOS, where you can select the option to use an additional period of time, since during the first period of time, you were not able to familiarize yourself with the OS 100%.

Are there any restrictions when using Win 10 without a license?

The trial period system for the operating system is built quite cleverly, since it has the ability to offer everyone just all the capabilities that the OS has. So, no one will restrict you in anything, and you will have complete freedom of action exactly until the introductory period of the OS has passed.

Why is it dangerous to try to fool Windows 10 by changing the time dates on your computer?

Some PC users consider themselves to be very cunning guys who wonder what kind of quality software it is not worth paying, and therefore, they express a desire to perform various manipulations associated with changing the correct time to the incorrect one. Simply put, someone is trying to rearrange their calendar or exact calendar dates to incorrect ones through the BIOS. You can succeed in all this, but believe us that this will not last long, since the very day will come when the system recognizes the deception and blocks everything on your computer and, what’s most interesting, the blocking will happen at the moment when you need it most. A computer or laptop will be required. So, before committing a scam, consider buying a Win 10 activation key, especially since its cost is not high.

Why is it dangerous to use: Keygen, Crack and Patch to activate Windows 10?

Also, there are a number of users who try not to buy an activation key for their OS, because they believe that it is best to take: Keygen, Crack and Patch, activate the system with them and forget about it for many years. Everything would not be bad here and the plan of such villains would work perfectly, but again there is a catch, which is hidden in the fact that in 95% of cases, this kind of fraud violates license agreement by Microsoft users, it is easily discovered and, as a result, the operating system becomes not entirely functional.

Permanent Windows reinstallation 10

If it doesn’t bother you that you have to reinstall your OS every 30-90 days, then you can safely do it, especially if you don’t have important data on your computer and you use it very rarely. This variation using the OS is not bad, unless you take into account what you will spend on reinstalling: the OS, drivers, programs, etc., your time and this waste will be constant - periodic.

Is it worth buying Win 10 or can you use it without a license?

It seems to us that anyone is able to pay some thousand rubles for

If you are interested in the question of how to get activated for free and legally using a non-piracy method Windows version 10 , then you almost certainly know that the free upgrade to this operating system from the “seven” and “eight” has ended July 29, 2016. For a whole year, owners of versions 7 and 8 could get Windows 10 absolutely free and, of course, many have the idea that this “free cheese” could not end forever. This is true. Microsoft itself has left for those in particular need the opportunity to upgrade to “ten” without paying anything.

So, after July 2016, it will no longer be possible to upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or 8 using the same method. But there are other workarounds that allow you to use the latest version of the Microsoft operating system completely free of charge. Let's start in order with the simplest.

Free Windows 10 for a computer that already has it installed

The most obvious option is free upgrade to Windows 10 computers whose owners had already tried to install this operating system during the free update period (from July 29, 2015 to July 29, 2016), but then for some reason decided to switch back to Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.

The good news is that it's free activation (license) at the time of that previous installation, it was already tied to the computer. All you need to do now is install Windows 10 by selecting the “I don’t have an activation key” option, and the system will be activated automatically via the Internet after the installation process is completed.

You can download a tool with which you can upgrade your computer to “ten” or create media with a clean image of Windows 10, absolutely free and legally from official website Microsoft company. If you want to upgrade to “ten” from version 7 or 8 of the operating system, select “ Update now" But it’s better to install the OS completely by selecting “ Download the tool now" After this, a program will be downloaded to the computer that will record setup files Windows 10 on a flash drive or DVD.

Don't immediately discount this option until you read this section of the article.

One more option to get officially activated version Windows 10 operating system for free is actually recognizing oneself as a person with disabilities (or maybe we mean our material capabilities?). For such people, Microsoft has provided an offer for free upgrade to Windows 10 from version 7 or 8 without expiration date. Acquainted with detailed information about this you can special page corporations. I myself did not use this method, since I received a license for Windows 10 for free at the time of its first official release as a participant in the Program preliminary assessment. But my friends wrote that it works.

This offer for a free update for the “ten” is intended for people with disabilities, but this does not mean that the operating system itself will be somehow special and limited in functionality. This will be the most common version of Windows 10. The update itself is simply intended for people with disabilities and those who need to install additional support programs.

As I understand it, Microsoft is not going to monitor whether the version of the OS legally activated in this way uses any third-party services for people with disabilities. This can be understood from the following phrase on the FAQ page for this offer: “We do not limit the offer to users of any specific assistive technologies. If you use similar technologies in Windows, you have every right to a free update." If you think about it carefully, the terms “people with disabilities” and “assistive technology” can mean a lot of things. Perhaps you have limited financial resources and need to use “assistive technologies” for typing text using your voice (by the way, finding and installing such a program for your own peace of mind will not be difficult). In general, I would definitely try this method myself if I had not chosen to participate in the Insider Program and had not already received my licensed version of Windows 10 there.

Let me add that I in no way want to encourage you to deceive Microsoft. I'm just describing the possibility legal and free upgrade to activated Windows 10, pointing out the vagueness of Microsoft’s wording. As they say, he who has ears, let him hear. In general, there is talk on the Internet that an international corporation deliberately left such a loophole for free updates. On the one hand, caring for people with disabilities increases the reputation of any company, on the other hand, many believe that it is beneficial for Microsoft to at least somehow legalize those users who have traditionally used pirated activation methods and will never buy a licensed product anyway. You can make money on these in other ways, for example, by displaying advertising in the Start menu (by the way, it is also available in all purchased versions of Windows 10, but it can be turned off). How things really are, we can only guess.

This method no longer works! Its only advantage over non-activated regular Windows 10 is when a watermark appears on the screen technical version. Unlike the usual one, it can be removed. Alternative to it way to get legal Windows activation 10 described on our new website. At the beginning of September 2017 it was working.

Absolutely Insiders can get a free activated version of Windows 10 from Microsoft. This service was created for users to test the latest versions of the operating system. By participating in this program, you agree to try upcoming versions of Windows 10. They have not yet been introduced to the mass user. Of course, sometimes they may not be fully developed, but personally I don’t consider this a serious obstacle. Moreover, it is possible to choose one of three levels of OS readiness for the end user. I recommend participating in the Windows 10 Insider Program for those who:

  • It does not have a licensed version of Windows 7 or 8, 8.1, which could be updated to “ten” in another way.
  • Wants to legally use not Home, but Professional (Pro) version of Windows 10.
  • Wants to be a pioneer and use the latest version of the operating system.
  • I agree to periodically completely update my Windows 10 to the latest version of its design (once every 2-4 months the OS will offer a major update that takes 1-2 hours).
  • Wants to help Microsoft improve its product (this is not required, but all program participants can leave feedback about their impressions and problems that arise).

Of course, if this whole proposal did not have its inconveniences and disadvantages, then this a way to get Windows 10 legally and for free everyone would use it. But the pros, in my opinion, in this case outweigh the cons. It’s definitely better to use the insider version of “ten” than the pirated version. Besides, as they say, trying is not torture. Moreover, after several months of participation in the Insider Program, Microsoft will most likely will link an absolutely legal activation to your computer for the most common (non-test) version of Windows 10. At least, this was the case before for all Insider Preview participants who received a license for Windows 10 despite the lack of a legal “seven” or “eight” (I myself am among them).

You can join the Windows Insider Program at this project page Microsoft official website. After registration, you will need to download (select “Download tool now” on this page) and install clean Windows image 10. During the installation process, you must sign in using your Microsoft account that was created (or used) when you agreed to participate in the Insider Program. After installation, “ten” may not yet be activated. You need to select in the operating system settings All Settings → Update → Insider → Get Started, restart your computer and wait in the coming days for an update to the activated insider version of “Ten”.

I will add that even if you participate in the Windows Insider Program, you can choose what level of readiness the version of the system will be installed on. This may be the so-called early access"(the most recent construction, but it may have many shortcomings), " late access"(here there are fewer bugs) or a version almost ready for mass release" Release Preview» (the most secure pre-release, almost ready-to-release updates that are usually offered to Insiders a few days before they are released to all users). To select your membership level after restarting your computer, you need to go back along the path All Settings → Update → Insider.

Legal ways to get an activated version of Windows 10 for free

So, let's summarize. For those who have licensed Windows 7 or Windows 8, 8.1 and wants to update his system to latest version there are two ways get an officially activated “top ten” even after July 29, 2016:

  • Just update to it again or install it completely if you tried to install Windows 10 between July 29, 2015 and July 29, 2016.
  • Take advantage of a free upgrade offer for people with disabilities who need assistive technology.

For those who want to get an activated version of Windows 10 for free, without having a licensed “seven” or “eight”, legal way only one:

  • Participate in the Windows Insider Program.

When the message “Your Windows 10 license is about to expire” appears at the bottom of the screen, it creates a slight discomfort in your work, because it is impossible to get rid of this message in a simple way. The user cannot simply change the screensaver while the operating system Windows system will not be activated. We will discuss what to do when this message appears later in this article.

Windows license expiration message

Free update to version 10

Previously, Microsoft offered everyone to update their Windows operating system to the new Windows 10, which had just come off the production line. This update was offered to everyone who was using supported versions at that time. This promotion lasted until June 29, 2016. Unfortunately, it ended, and those who managed to switch to new version They still use a free annual license to this day. But the campaign is still ongoing for people with disabilities. Find out how to resolve “Your Windows 10 license is about to expire” later in the article.

So, if you have a licensed Windows 7, 8, 8.1 on your computer and have no conscience, then you can easily use the upgrade to version 10 for people with disabilities, because No supporting documents are required to be provided to the corporation. The only confirmation is to click on the “Update Now” button. After this, the image is downloaded to your computer. The image weighs more than 3 GB. You can delay installing a new operating system, and you can also create boot disk, all the details are on the official Microsoft website. This promotion has been extended until December 31, 2017. It is quite possible that the company will further extend the free update of its product.

Upgrade to Windows 10

How to get rid of the message “Your license is about to expire”

To get rid of the message about your license expiration, we will simply disable the services that are responsible for reminding the user about this. For this:


Close the windows and restart the computer. The message “Your license is about to expire” will force you to leave your Windows 10 computer.

KMS Auto – will eliminate the message about the expired license

KMS Auto is a special activator program that will help rid your computer not only of the message about expired license Windows 10, but will also help you activate other Microsoft products absolutely free. For the activator to work, some conditions are required:

  • Operating system – Windows 7, 8, 10.
  • You must have administrator rights on your computer to install the activator and allow it to change computer resources.
  • The .NET Framework package is at least version 4.
  • The program will take about 5 MB of space on your hard drive.

The activator has several operating modes:

All these modes and methods of activation are based on the principle of deceiving the system so that it “understands” that the server of the activator program is not on your computer, but somewhere very far away, in remote nodes on the Internet.

How to update your license using KMS Auto

In order to use the KMS Auto activator you do not need to have any special knowledge. The program is very easy to use. You can easily find the activator on the Internet. During installation, it is best to temporarily disable antivirus software and other firewalls on your computer. After that, launch the activator.

The most convenient and easiest way to remove “Your Windows 10 license is about to expire” program is to use it in automatic mode. After installing the program, it is enabled by default if you want to use the program in professional version, with all the settings available in it - enable this mode on the “About” tab.

To start activating Windows 10, click on the button in the middle of the “Activation” program and a selection of modes will start. After successful activation, you will be informed about the completion of the program right there in the window. After this, you can set your operating system to reactivate every 25 days. The same steps are required to activate Office products.

There are severe cases when it is not possible to activate Windows using the usual method. In this case, switch to the professional mode of the program and in the “Utilities” section you will need to try installing the GVLK file for your OS, and then try to activate it again. But this happens quite rarely, most often traditional way works.

For those who have Windows 8.1 installed, for the activator to work, you need to have the TAP driver installed, as well as use the IP address 10.3.0.2-254, or use a special adapter. All these necessary tools are built into the activator program. If you use a local activation method (without the Internet), then you can not use the TAP interface, but use the computer address on the network. In any situation with the program settings, if you have gone into the wilds, configured unknown parameters, after which the program does not work correctly - this can be corrected by selecting the “Reset settings” item in the menu. After this, the program will work stably, as it did during installation.

All you have to do is choose the appropriate method to get rid of the “license is expiring” message on Windows 10 among those described above.