From ensuring your system fulfills requirements to downloading the tool that creates an installation disk, here’s how to get up and running with Windows 10 today
Windows 10 is a free upgrade. But don’t take that statement at face value: your system would need to fulfill certain criteria to be able to use the new operating system without paying anything.
Windows 10 will only be free for current, registered Windows users: you will have to be running an official installation of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 in order to qualify for the free upgrade to Microsoft’s new OS.
To manage the upgrade delivery process, the rollout of the download to users’ computers will happen in phases, so if your system qualifies and you haven’t seen the update notification yet, expect to see it during the course of the day. You’ll need to update your computer with the latest system updates (specifically the KB3035583 patch, which installs the ‘Get Windows 10’ app that delivers the notification on your system and downloads the Windows 10 update.) Note that to install this particular update, you’ll need to have installed the April 2014 rollup update for Windows 8.1 or install Windows 7 SP1.
Of course, if you’re planning on buying a new computer altogether, brands have already pledged Windows 10 availability on their systems beginning today itself, albeit with limited availability. Expect to quickly see a proliferation of Windows 10 devices over the next several weeks.
If you happen to be a participant in the Windows Insider program and are already running the final build that was released--version 10240--you’re lucky to already be running the Windows 10 being rolled out today. Simply check for final updates in Windows Update and you’ll have boasting rights for being the first on your block with this latest operating system. If you’re part of the Windows Insider program and haven’t yet upgraded to this latest build, you can do so here (you’ll need to sign in with your Insider ID.) Use the relevant 32- or 64-bit Media Creation Tool that will download Windows 10 and even burn the installation files to a USB drive or DVD that can be used to install the OS to your computer.
If, unfortunately, your computer doesn’t fulfill the relevant criteria for the free upgrade and you’re still hankering for the new OS, you will need to buy it. The good news is that it is priced on par with current Windows 8.1 retail packs: Windows 10 Home will cost $119 with Windows 10 Pro being $199. Expect the INR prices to be updated on the Microsoft India Store in due course.
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