What If You Are Unable to Upgrade From Windows 7 to Windows 10?
While I always recommend updating to the latest and greatest version of whatever software you are using, this may not be the best option if you are using an older device that no longer works. This is especially true with operating systems, although sometimes even an older device can benefit from an OS upgrade.
If you’re having trouble doing this update, you might feel a little stuck – for example, Lifehacker reader Daniela , who posted a 911 tech support question this week:
What do you recommend for those using Windows 7 because their laptop is incompatible with Windows 10, in light of the fact that Microsoft ended support for Win 7 in January 2020?
My husband and I have two such machines here, we do not want to buy new ones because there is nothing wrong with these two, they are a little tech-savvy, although they have no experience with Linux. Do you think Linux is a good option? If not, are there any other options please?
BTW, I’m pretty sure these 2 identical laptops are not compatible with Win 10 because a few years ago I tried to do a manual update, which resulted in my laptop failing to boot and I had to restore everything from an old backup. And THEN I found out on the manufacturer’s website that these machines are not compatible with Win 10. (It just never occurred to me that it could be anything since Windows Update kept bombarding me with update suggestions.)
First, I’d like to dig a little more to see if your laptop really doesn’t support Windows 10. Your initial upgrade process may have gone wrong for some unknown reason. Your laptop manufacturer may be right, but I would like to confirm your device is unusable at least one more time before writing off the latest version of Microsoft OS.
There used to be an Upgrade Compatibility Checker tool that you could run on Windows 7 to check if your system was having any problems upgrading Windows 10. I believe Microsoft removed it from the OS a long time ago, but just in case if I’m wrong, you’ll find it as an option in the Get Windows 10 app, which will be in the lower right corner of your system’s taskbar.
Otherwise, I believe you can download and run Microsoft Windows 10 Update Assistant , which should run a scan to make sure your system can handle Windows 10 (and it will also tell you which version you should upgrade to) …
I don’t have a copy of Windows 7 on hand, so I can’t walk you directly through the entire process. If your PC has the latest OS – or if you want to give it a try anyway – I believe the Upgrade Assistant will indicate that you should download Windows 10 through the Microsoft Media Creation Tool . Even if it doesn’t, or if it starts the update process itself, I recommend canceling and using this tool to create a Windows 10 installation image on a separate media. Your best bet is to use a USB stick, but you can burn DVDs as well.
Make sure you are performing a clean install of Windows 10 instead of any in-place update . This will give you the best chance of avoiding any problems during the installation process. That doesn’t mean you won’t run into problems – since you already mentioned that you had one the last time you tried to update – but I would turn around again to see if that helps.
Before starting the update, it is worth making a full backup of your system. I recommend creating an image that you can then use to restore your laptop exactly as it was if the update process does not go smoothly. You can use the built-in Windows tools , but if they prevent you from imaging your system on Windows 7, a third-party application like Macrium Reflect (free) is another great alternative.
Also make sure you are using the latest BIOS from your laptop manufacturer before starting the update. If you’re lucky, this might help resolve any issues your system previously encountered while installing Windows 10. (After updating your BIOS, consider resetting it to its default settings if some strange setting is also affecting the Windows installation procedure) …
Some alternatives to Windows 10
If the update process still doesn’t work or you’re waving a white flag in Windows 10, that’s fine. At the very least, you can consider upgrading to Windows 8.1 – not a big step up from Windows 7, but one that will give you three more years of extended support from Microsoft. You can install this for free , which is useful if you’re not sure if your laptop can even start it, and activate after the fact if all goes well.
As far as Linux is concerned, this is definitely an option. I would start by trying out a live session with something like Linux Mint . In other words, you will be running the OS from a CD or flash drive instead of installing it directly on your system, so you can always go back to Windows 7 if you think this is too much of a jump.
You can also try CloudReady , which is based on Chromium OS – the project itself that also serves as the basis for Google’s Chrome OS. It should sound familiar to you if you’ve ever touched a Chromebook. Even if you haven’t, it’s a great and simpler option and shouldn’t scare off those “a bit tech-savvy,” as you describe yourself.