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Did you know that there are ways to upgrade to Windows 10 without splashing out? This article will cover a few different ways you can upgrade your existing Windows version without using a pirated copy.
Use an existing Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key
It might be surprising to learn that you can actually use the license key from a previous Windows version to activate Windows 10. When you enter an activation key, it gets sent to a team who only check that it is valid – not the version type it should be used for! This is a great little hack if you've already got an old key.
To check it's all working, go to your Settings – Update & Security – Activation. It will say “Windows is activated with a digital license”.
Forget the key and live with the activation reminders
Did you know that you can actually use Windows 10 without putting in an activation key?
Although this works, it does mean you will be reminded to activate your Windows version. It also stops you from changing the Personalisation Settings, but all other functions will be fine.
All you have to do is download Windows 10 installation media from Microsoft, it's that simple. While it's a great way to get Windows 10, we would only recommend using in on Mac Boot Camp or on a virtual PC.
Reinstall on PC that previously had Windows 10
Already had Windows 10 on your PC but lost it? Even if you've replaced the hard drive or done a reset, you can still recover your old Windows 10. All you have to do is reinstall it from Microsoft and it will do the rest, just skip over the part with the activation key.
Thanks to recent upgrades, the install program will automatically locate Windows 10 activation codes previously used on that PC. Simple!
So there you have it, you're now ready to explore Windows 10!
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