Accepting Windows 10 upgrade, without installing

[VF-1A Valkyrie]

Greetings

So the windows 10 offer ends in two days time and I was wondering if there is a way that I can accept the upgrade without installing it right away.

I'm currently on Windows 7 and a very limited connection, both in speed and data, so I would like to accept the upgrade but not install it right now, is this possible?
I've been on the google without luck, so I'm taking it to the forums.

Hope you can help.
Thanks

 

[nutcrackr]

You can schedule it for later but it's limited to the 2nd of August right now (I'm currently installing it). So you have basically 4 days from when you agree. This is after you download it though.

 

[Lazy8s]

Is it possible to download the iso somewhere with a fast connection, save it to a usb drive and do the install later?

 

[deadite_9]

Yeah, I think your best bet at this point is probably going to involve laying hands on some install media and manually upgrading/performing a clean install with your existing Win7 key if downloading is out of the question.

 

[borat]

Is it possible to download the iso somewhere with a fast connection, save it to a usb drive and do the install later?

Ya, I managed to create an ISO for DVD, but the same tool will make something for USB...

I went to this address https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10
That's the Canadian page but maybe it'll work for you as well.
This link https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10 redirects me to the first link I posted so maybe it'll redirect you to the US page. Also, it might be safe to assume the US page is https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10. Between the 3 of those, you should have it. Thing is, the page is really flaky and it took me awhile to get anything other than a blank white screen...Eventually the first link worked for me.

 

[borat]

SIDE QUESTION:

After downloading the DVD version of the upgrade, can I install it in the distant future?

Also, I have 2 computers that qualify for the upgrade, but the media creation tool said the upgrade can be downloaded on one computer and installed on another. Should I download it again on the other computer just in case? I have plenty of bandwidth....

 

[deadite_9]

SIDE QUESTION:

After downloading the DVD version of the upgrade, can I install it in the distant future?

Also, I have 2 computers that qualify for the upgrade, but the media creation tool said the upgrade can be downloaded on one computer and installed on another. Should I download it again on the other computer just in case? I have plenty of bandwidth....

You only need one copy, and you can use it to install Win10 on however many computers you want, whenever you want. You'll just need a proper license for each machine you install Win10 on. It technically won't expire, but it will be superseded by the anniversary update that's officially releasing next week, so I'd just toss it and create new install media once the new .iso drops.

If you have newer hardware and a spare drive, create the bootable USB installer instead of the DVD. You'll be up, running, and ready to tweak in less than ten minutes.

 

[borat]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Is a Windows 7 OEM license proper enough???

Why would they scare us into thinking we need to at least download the upgrade by today, then make that download obsolete???

 

[x-voodoo]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Is a Windows 7 OEM license proper enough???

Why would they scare us into thinking we need to at least download the upgrade by today, then make that download obsolete???

If you do a clean install, entering the Windows 7 OEM key will activate Windows 10 (at least while the free upgrade lasts).

In-place upgrade doesn't ask for a key and will self-activate (again, while the free upgrade is still possible).

Once upgraded, it's yours forever on the machine you upgraded (and the ISO you download can be used to reinstall anytime).

 

[deadite_9]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Is a Windows 7 OEM license proper enough???

Why would they scare us into thinking we need to at least download the upgrade by today, then make that download obsolete???

Any good Win7/8.1 license will work. An OEM license will maintain the same restriction as before, which means it's supposed to be used on only one PC and can't be transferred if you upgrade the hardware later. Most folks seem to get around that, though, so YMMV.

Each major update they release constitutes the next "version" of Win10, so the install .iso is updated each time; the latest version just happens to be coming out right after the upgrade deadline. You're better off with a newer, updated image if you need to reinstall later.

 

[Lazy8s]

Ya, I managed to create an ISO for DVD, but the same tool will make something for USB...

I went to this address https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10
That's the Canadian page but maybe it'll work for you as well.
This link https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10 redirects me to the first link I posted so maybe it'll redirect you to the US page. Also, it might be safe to assume the US page is https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10. Between the 3 of those, you should have it. Thing is, the page is really flaky and it took me awhile to get anything other than a blank white screen...Eventually the first link worked for me.

Oh I'm all set. I was thinking of the OP. Thanks though

 

[borat]

Oh I'm all set. I was thinking of the OP. Thanks though

Oh, well, that was also for anyone who might need it...unfortunately, the link I posted all appear to be dead, even though they're on the MS site... Anyone who needs it is better off just searching for "Windows media creation tool" it looks like...

So there never was a way to opt-in for the upgrade, but install it for the first time years later?? If that's the case I guess I should be thankful it forced the upgrade on my newer computer!

Also, my OEM versions of Windows 7 are the kind you buy separately from the computer. Are those also non-transferrable???

EDIT: I heard somewhere that all free versions of Windows 10 are non-transferrable, regardless of the original license....not true?

 

[deadite_9]

Oh, well, that was also for anyone who might need it...unfortunately, the link I posted all appear to be dead, even though they're on the MS site... Anyone who needs it is better off just searching for "Windows media creation tool" it looks like...

So there never was a way to opt-in for the upgrade, but install it for the first time years later?? If that's the case I guess I should be thankful it forced the upgrade on my newer computer!

Also, my OEM versions of Windows 7 are the kind you buy separately from the computer. Are those also non-transferrable???

EDIT: I heard somewhere that all free versions of Windows 10 are non-transferrable, regardless of the original license....not true?

Nope, OEM is OEM regardless of whether it came preloaded on the device or shrink-wrapped in plastic. Most people say that you're always able to transfer the license by calling them up and giving some sob story, but MS are certainly within their rights to refuse if they ever decide to enforce the EULA. That's why I only deal with retail copies myself.

Not 100% sure on the last question, and I don't think MS ever bothered to officially clarify that point, either. I've read that a retail license actually continues to be treated as a retail license once it's been upgraded (meaning that you can transfer it to different hardware if you want). Dunno for sure, though, and I honestly didn't trust MS enough to risk my Win7 license by putting the theory to the test.

 

[0091/2]

Nope, OEM is OEM regardless of whether it came preloaded on the device or shrink-wrapped in plastic. Most people say that you're always able to transfer the license by calling them up and giving some sob story, but MS are certainly within their rights to refuse if they ever decide to enforce the EULA. That's why I only deal with retail copies myself.

Not 100% sure on the last question, and I don't think MS ever bothered to officially clarify that point, either. I've read that a retail license actually continues to be treated as a retail license once it's been upgraded (meaning that you can transfer it to different hardware if you want). Dunno for sure, though, and I honestly didn't trust MS enough to risk my Win7 license by putting the theory to the test.

I bro use his laptop's OEM key for his new desktop. Windows 10 isn't picky with the keys.

 

[borat]

AHHHHHHHH! I thought I was out of the woods with this, but now Windows update in stuck in limbo and I'm not sure if I can update (hasn't been long enough to be sure...)

Here's what my screen looks like:

When it boots up, it doesn't go into any setup, it just boots normally, even if I click that button.

As you can see, it's still checking for updates, but if I click "Check for updates", it tells me to finish the upgrade first. I also can't view installed updates anymore.

Here's what I've tried:
1. Ran Fix WU http://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-fix-windows-updates-with-fix-wu-utility
2. Ran Windows update troubleshooter from MS website.
3. Ran Microsoft FixIt 50202 in normal mode.
4. Ran it again in aggressive mode.

Still the same. I saw that there's a bunch of command line things you can enter to reset update, but haven't I covered that by now?

 

[deadite_9]

AHHHHHHHH! I thought I was out of the woods with this, but now Windows update in stuck in limbo and I'm not sure if I can update (hasn't been long enough to be sure...)

Here's what my screen looks like:

When it boots up, it doesn't go into any setup, it just boots normally, even if I click that button.

As you can see, it's still checking for updates, but if I click "Check for updates", it tells me to finish the upgrade first. I also can't view installed updates anymore.

Here's what I've tried:
1. Ran Fix WU http://www.thewindowsclub.com/repair-fix-windows-updates-with-fix-wu-utility
2. Ran Windows update troubleshooter from MS website.
3. Ran Microsoft FixIt 50202 in normal mode.
4. Ran it again in aggressive mode.

Still the same. I saw that there's a bunch of command line things you can enter to reset update, but haven't I covered that by now?

I'm confused. I thought you had already downloaded the image and burned it to disc. Why didn't you just run the upgrade/do a fresh install with the disc before the end of that last day if you wanted to reserve a free copy?

Also, no idea how to get around the situation you've got with Windows Update now. How in the world did you manage to get it stuck like that?

 

[Bitey]

I had a pc do something similar, kept failing silently.

Tried a forced manual update form a usb and found the system reserved partition did not have enough space for the upgrade... so it had been failing to update by itself for a month with no indication of why it was failing as seemed it was perpetually trying to download/install the update but never succeed.

Finally did a new fresh install on a new ssd.

 

[deadite_9]

I had a pc do something similar, kept failing silently.

Tried a forced manual update form a usb and found the system reserved partition did not have enough space for the upgrade... so it had been failing to update by itself for a month with no indication of why it was failing as seemed it was perpetually trying to download/install the update but never succeed.

Finally did a new fresh install on a new ssd.

Good point. I know that not having enough free space in that System Reserved partition can also keep you from successfully creating a system image with the built-in tool, so I guess that makes sense. Definitely something to check into.

@borat
You can manually resize the partition after the fact, but it's not for the faint of heart since you have to shrink C:\ and move everything to the right to make room for extending the hidden partition.

You can also copy the bootmgr to your C:\ drive and eliminate the need for the System Reserved partition if that is indeed the problem.

Or you can assign it a drive letter and have a look at what's actually in the partition. Could be that something else is writing to it when it shouldn't. You'd need to manually clean it up in that scenario to reclaim some free space.

 

[borat]

I'm confused. I thought you had already downloaded the image and burned it to disc. Why didn't you just run the upgrade/do a fresh install with the disc before the end of that last day if you wanted to reserve a free copy?

Ah, should have been more clear....It's been like this since before the expiry. I wasn't trying to actually upgrade then, I wanted to opt in then install it years from then. So I started the process, thinking there'd be a way to say "install much later" and there wasn't so I aborted the upgrade cause I wanted to keep Windows 7 for now...

I didn't realise until voodoo's post that I'd actually have to go through with the upgrade to reserve my copy, but this was after I'd started and aborted the upgrade. I decided it wasn't worth upgrading then immediately reverting back, since this computer really doesn't need anything newer than 7 anyway...

Does any of that change how I should go forward???

 

[deadite_9]

Ah, should have been more clear....It's been like this since before the expiry. I wasn't trying to actually upgrade then, I wanted to opt in then install it years from then. So I started the process, thinking there'd be a way to say "install much later" and there wasn't so I aborted the upgrade cause I wanted to keep Windows 7 for now...

I didn't realise until voodoo's post that I'd actually have to go through with the upgrade to reserve my copy, but this was after I'd started and aborted the upgrade. I decided it wasn't worth upgrading then immediately reverting back, since this computer really doesn't need anything newer than 7 anyway...

Does any of that change how I should go forward???

Hmmmm... not sure. The ideal scenario would've been doing a fresh install of Win10, but using your Win7 key to activate it before the deal expired. Then you should've been able to reinstall Win7 from scratch and keep using it on that hardware, but eventually go back and reinstall Win10 again at some point later on. Or at least the random crap that I read on the internet has led me to believe that would've worked. I honestly don't know.

Not sure if you're stuck now, or what, exactly. If you can manage to get the upgrade to finish, it may still grant you the "digital entitlement" since you started before the deadline. Then you should just need to roll back to Win7 within the first 30 days. But getting the upgrade to finish on its own may not be a feasible option in the end. Go ahead and look into the System Reserved partition (like Bitey suggested) and see if it's possible that's what is causing the problem... I think it has to have more than 50% free in order for it to not cause an issue.

If it were me, I'd just reinstall Win7 and be done with it. Of course, I'm no fan of Win10. You can always buy a license for Win10 later on when you're ready to actually use it, and it might be better to save it for newer hardware anyway.