upgrading to windows 8 to 10

It's difficult as you cannot run the Media Creation Tool inside Windows 8 without enabling the TLS 1.2 protocol.

Enabling TLS 1.2 is not officially supported in Windows 8.

Also what do you mean you have to. You are too late to upgrade for free, so why now?

Once you manage to run Windows 10 setup inside Windows 8, yes, your files and settings will be kept.

Hi,

Marcin is correct, the recommendation is not to update but to do a clean install using the USB method.

First of all, if you want to do a direct update, back up your files before and after. You will download the Microsoft Media Creation Tool from the link below:

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209

Select the option to update this PC and follow the steps, just wait for the update process.

There is a chance of failure and compatibility problems with software and drivers. If you want to do a clean install of Windows 10 using the USB method, let me know here so I can instruct you.

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Thanks

The free upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 ended long ago. Thus you will have to pay for Windows 10. However ...

Microsoft stopped selling Windows 10 on January 31, 2023 and by now there is no safe place we can recommend where you can purchase a legitimate copy of Retail Windows 10.

If you already have a legitimate Retail copy of Windows 10, and your computer is currently on Windows 8.1, you will be able to upgrade.

But please keep this in mind: Unless Microsoft changes its mind, Windows 10 will lose all support - including security updates - in less than 6 months. A Windows 10 computer will be dangerously exposed on the internet.

Upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 10 does not delete your personal files if you choose the “upgrade” option rather than a clean install. Your documents, photos, and most programs are intended to stay in place. That said, things can go wrong, so you should back up anything important to an external drive or cloud storage before you start.

Some older programs or drivers might not work perfectly after the upgrade, but Windows will usually warn you ahead of time. Before you start, make sure you backup your files first.

You typically start by downloading Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool from the official website and running it from within Windows 8. When prompted, you choose “Upgrade this PC now.” The tool will download several gigabytes of installation files, check your system for compatibility, and prompt you to accept the license terms. During this phase it may flag incompatible software or drivers and suggest removing them before continuing.

Next, the installer asks what you want to keep. For a true in-place upgrade, you select the option to keep personal files and apps. After that, the system prepares the installation and begins the upgrade. Your computer will restart multiple times, and you’ll see progress screens such as “Copying files,” “Installing features and drivers,” and “Configuring settings.” This stage can take anywhere from about 30 minutes to a few hours depending on your hardware.

When the upgrade finishes, Windows 10 loads and walks you through a brief setup where you confirm privacy settings, region, and sign-in details. Once you reach the desktop, your files should still be in their original locations and most programs should open as before. Windows will also create a folder called Windows.old containing your previous system files, which can be used to roll back to Windows 8 for a limited time if needed.

Afterward, it’s important to run Windows Update to install the latest drivers and patches. You may also need to reinstall or update some applications, especially older ones, and check that devices like printers or scanners are working correctly.

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hth

Marcin