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How to manually enable tablet mode in Windows 10

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Continuum is Microsoft's fancy new way of switching between tablet and desktop mode in Windows 10 as and when the need arises, but what if you want to play around with tablet mode on your desktop PC? Well, no worries, as is often the case there's a manual way to do it so long as you know where to look.

Here's where to find it.

Tablet mode will basically go fullscreen full time, removing windowed apps and turning the Start menu into the Start screen. To turn it on or off, follow these easy steps.

If you want to do it the short, quick way, there should be a toggle by default in the Action Center in the bottom right hand corner of the desktop. Just click it on or off when you want to go into and out of tablet mode.

The other, more long winded way to find it is:

  • Click or tap the Start button
  • Open the Settings application
  • Click or tap on "System"
  • In the pane on the left of the screen scroll all the way to the bottom until you see "Tablet Mode"
  • Ensure the toggle is set to either on or off to your preference.

Simple. But the great thing is it gives everyone a chance to play around with tablet mode without the need to install it on a tablet.

For more Windows 10 tips be sure to check out our dedicated page here

Originally published in January 2015, updated July 2015


Getting error code -54 in iTunes on Windows 10? Here's your fix

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Here's a fix for iTunes issues after Windows 10 update

If you are having trouble syncing your Apple device — don't worry, we don't judge — after the Windows 10 update, don't worry. With just a few clicks you will be back up and running, and able to sync your device with your computer again. It appears as though the Windows 10 update is marking the iTunes folder as Read Only, meaning that your computer won't allow it to sync with the device you have plugged in. So, how do you fix this -54 error? Simple.

  1. Open Windows Explorer
  2. Head to the Music folder
  3. Right click on your iTunes folder
  4. Go to Properties
  5. Uncheck the Read Only option under Atrributes

You will notice another pop up window as it applies the changes to all the sub-folders. If the problem still persists, verify that you have full control over the iTunes folder. To do this, right click the folder again, go to properties, then security, and finally click edit and then full control and apply. Once this is done, you should be able to head back into iTunes and sync your device again without an issue.

Thanks for the tip, Darran!

This is Windows Hello with a RealSense camera and fingerprint scanner

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Intel RealSense F200 camera

With Windows 10 out for the masses this week we decided to focus a little more on Windows Hello. Although I covered it in my review, Windows Hello is so unique and interesting we know you want to see it in action.

Windows Hello is Microsoft's new biometric authentication system for Windows 10 for logging into the OS. You can also use it for Store purchases. Coming soon, Windows Hello will work with Passport. Passport is a secure system to "access a growing set of websites and services across a range of industries – favorite commerce sites, email and social networking services, financial institutions, business networks and more."

In the video demo above, I'll walk you through using Windows Hello on Windows 10. The demonstration includes:

  • Intel RealSense F200 developer camera
  • Fingerprint scanner (Lenovo X1 Carbon)
  • Setting up Windows Hello for both face and fingerprint
  • Demo of Windows Hello unlocking a Surface 3 and making a Store purchase

There are already a few laptops on the market with a RealSense camera built in natively. We shared that list here if you are curious. Of course, more cameras and systems with RealSense are coming, so you will not have to wait too long. For those wondering, no you cannot use Windows Kinect for Windows Hello.

How to set up Windows Hello facial recognition in Windows 10

Many laptops already have fingerprint scanners built-in, and those should automatically work with Windows Hello. Previously users had to rely on proprietary software from companies like Lenovo to utilize the scanner. Now, the system is native to the OS making things much more straightforward.

Privacy

As I noted in my review and as explained by Microsoft, your data never leaves the computer. It is encrypted and stored locally not sent over a network or stored by Microsoft. From the Microsoft support page:

"During setup, Windows takes the data captured from the face or iris sensor or fingerprint reader and creates a representation that it encrypts and stores on your device. (This isn't an image; it's more like a graph.) The representation of you stays on your device. Windows never stores pictures or images of your face, iris, or fingerprint on your device or anywhere else."

This why you need to do the 30-second setup for Windows Hello on each computer. Your biometric information does not roam with your profile. Although it would be neat to walk up to any computer, scan your finger, and have your Windows profile load, such a system has many weaknesses at this time, so it is not implemented. Maybe someday.

Even more interesting is the fact if someone stole your laptop, hacked it, decrypted the files (highly unlikely) they still could not use the data in any meaningful way. Once again, Microsoft explains this:

"The identification data collected to sign you in isn't an actual image. It's a representation based on the unique qualities of your face, fingerprint, or iris (more like a graph than an image). This data can't be used to recreate an image of your face, fingerprint, or iris."

All in all, Windows Hello is a very secure and simple solution. You can read more about Windows Hello and privacy here:

Windows Hello and Privacy: FAQ

Intel RealSense F200 camera

Intel RealSense F200 camera – Where to buy, cost and issues

For home PC users, you can opt to buy the $99 Intel RealSense developer camera aka the F200. However, there are a few caveats:

  • Currently, it is sold out
  • The F200 is not a consumer-grade device, it is for software development
  • There are some compatibility issues we have experienced
  • You need a 4th Generation Haswell or later Intel processor

I am currently using the F200 on my Dell XPS 27 computer with Windows 10. It works flawlessly. It also works with the Surface 3, although this is not at all practical due to its size. In our testing, Mark and I did have some compatibility problems running it on the Lenovo X1 Carbon (2015) and Surface Pro 3, although others have no issues too.

The F200 is a developer device, and it may not work perfectly, all the time, so heed caution if you are thinking of buying one. It can work perfectly well as a webcam too. However, I find something like Logitech's C920 to give overall better quality.

You also must install the Intel RealSense Depth Camera Manager (DCM) software (see below). You do not need to install the full SDK for Windows Hello. Once installed Windows Hello under Settings should let you set up facial recognition. Here are some important links to get you started:

Intel RealSense F200 Main Product Page

Order Intel RealSense F200

Download latest Intel RealSense Depth Camera Manager software

Intel RealSense Support Forums at Intel

The Future is Simple

Once you use Windows Hello, it is hard to fathom going back to the older password system. Windows Hello is just starting so expect more hardware, more cameras (including Iris ones), and more support from hardware manufacturers in the coming months.

Should you consider Windows Hello for your next PC, laptop, or accessory purchase? Absolutely. In fact, I would put it at the top of my list because it makes using Windows 10 that much better. This is not a trivial convenience issue either. Windows Hello does make computing life much easier, but it is also a much more secure system. Once Passport rolls out for websites, logging into to your favorite destinations will be a breeze. The thought of logging into my online banking account just by looking at my computer display is a lot better than entering a password.

As I said before, this is cool stuff, folks, and we are just getting started.

More Resources

Need more information or need some help? Here are some great links to get you started:

Windows Hello Topic Page at Windows Central

NEW - Windows Hello Forums at Windows Central

The definitive Windows 10 Review

Windows 10 Help, Tips, Tricks at Windows Central

Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central

How to do a clean installation of Windows 10

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Windows 10 is now rolling out to millions of users around the world, in fact, our early report shows that over 67 million computers have been upgraded in the first three days. Now, if you are an advanced user or if you have been running an installation of Windows for quite some time, you probably want to perform a clean installation of the new operating system.

A clean installation of the operating system, in this case Windows 10, involves formatting the hard drive. This process will delete everything on your computer, so basically you'll be starting from scratch. This process also means that you will have to restore your personal files from a backup, and you'll have to reinstall all your applications.

Although performing a clean installation could be considered one of the most time-consuming process to set up Windows, it's also the process that give you a peace of mind that everything should work as advertised.

While starting from scratch with Windows 10 technically remains unchanged from previous versions, because Microsoft is offering the operating system as a free upgrade, the overall process is a little tricky. As such in this new how-to guide, we're going to go through the instructions to help you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8 and remain activated.

Note, it's worth pointing out that the best way to make the jump to Windows 10 is by reserving the free upgrade using the "Get Windows 10" app. This process will ensure that every component in your system is compatible with the new operating system.

Before moving forward, it's recommended that you perform a full backup of your system in case something goes wrong. You can refer to my previous how-to guide on how to do a system image backup.

Also, you will want to download the latest device drivers available for your computer before upgrading. You want to do this in case after the installation some of the components, such as network adapter and graphics, are not detected during the installation. Below, you'll find a list with the most common PC manufacturers where you can download the latest drivers:

If you need more information on how to prepare for Windows 10, you can also check this previous guide. There you'll find minimum system requirements information and various helpful tips.

It's important to note that even though Microsoft is offering Windows 10 as a free upgrade for users running a genuine copy of Windows 7 and Windows 8, the company is also allowing users to perform a clean installation. However, the only catch is that you must upgrade your current operating system to Windows 10 via Windows Update first, before you can do a clean install. This is to ensure your current product key gets converted to a Windows 10 product key and that your copy of the operating system remains activated.

If you try to do a clean installation without going through the upgrade process first, chances are that you will have problems trying to activate Windows 10 – So, you have been warned!

Know your Windows 10 product key

To perform a clean installation of Windows 10, you'll be needing your product key to activate, as such you want to make sure you know this information before doing anything else. There are various tools and methods to recover your product key, I personally like to use the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder tool. This is a free tool that is easy to download and use. (During the installation of the tool, make sure to select the custom installation and remember to uncheck the installation of additional add-ons.)

Once you run the tool, make sure to export the information to a USB drive and/or write down the product key on a piece of paper.

Upgrading to Windows 10

Upgrading to Windows 10 can be done in two different ways: you can reserve your free copy using the "Get Windows 10" app, and you'll be notified when the operating system is ready for you to install. Or you can manually download the installation files from Microsoft to perform an upgrade.

If you're downloading Windows 10 manually, when using the "Download Tool" make sure you select your correct version (32- or 64-bit). If you don't know, go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System, and under System type, you'll see what version you need to download.

When you launch the Download Tool, you'll will be given two choices, here you want to use the Upgrade this PC now option, and then follow the on screen instructions. The upgrade process should only take around 20-30 minutes, but the time will depend on your internet connection and hardware in question.

If everything worked as expected, your computer should be activated. To check if your computer is activated, open the Settings app, and navigate to Update & security, and on Activation, you should see "Activation: Windows is activated".

Doing a clean installation of Windows 10

Now that you have upgraded and you're sure that Windows 10 is activated correctly, it's finally time to do the clean installation.

Open your web browser and once again go to this Microsoft support page to download Windows 10. Once you're in the "Download Tool", choose the Create installation media for another PC option to create either a USB bootable media or an ISO file that you can burn later on a DVD. If you choose to make a USB, you'll need a USB drive with at least 3GB of storage.

During this process, you have to make sure you choose the correct language, architecture (32- or 64-bit), and edition. If you don't know, go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\System to get this information.

Once you have created your installation media, reboot your computer with the USB drive or DVD you just created. During the reboot access your system BIOS to make sure you can boot from media with the Windows 10 installation files. (Note: The process to enter the BIOS will vary from PC-to-PC, so make sure to check your manufacturer support website to learn more on how to do this.)

Alternatively, most computers today offer an option during boot to access a boot menu, usually this involves pressing one of the functions keys, such as "F12". If you have this option, you don't need to change the BIOS settings.

If everything is going as expected, you should see the Windows Setup. Click Next, and then Install Now. At this point, you need to enter the product key, you can skip this step, but entering the product key now will ensure you're installing the correct edition of Windows 10.

Click Next, accept the licensing terms, and click Next again. Now, you want to pick the Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced) option to perform a clean installation.

Select and delete any partition on the hard drive that you have currently Windows installed. After deleting all the partitions, usually on "Drive 0", select the empty drive and click Next.

Now the installation process will begin, so you can now grab a cup of coffee and wait until the installation is complete. Then you'll be presented with the out-of-box experience to configure your installation. Here simply follow on the screen directions to configure Windows 10 to your needs. During the configuration process you'll be prompted to use a Microsoft Account, so make sure you have this information ready. You can also create a local account, but if you go this way, you won't be able to take advantage of many Windows 10 features and you won't be able to access the Windows Store to download apps.

After the configuration, the setup will complete any remaining process, and then you'll be presented with the new Windows 10 desktop.

You done it!

Quick tip: now that you in Windows 10, make sure to open the Settings app, go to Update & security to check for updates and to make sure your computer is activated. Also go to Device Manager and double-check if you need to install any additional drivers. You can also launch the new Windows Store and check for Windows App updates to make sure you are using the latest services. Finally, restore your data from backup and reinstall all your applications.

How are you installing Windows 10 via Windows Update or are you performing a clean installation? Tell us your installation process in the comments below.

More Resources

The definitive Windows 10 Review

Windows 10 Help, Tips, Tricks at Windows Central

Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central

How to start an Xbox Live party on Windows 10

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Windows 10 comes with a bunch of handy Xbox integrations, and one of the most useful is the ability to party chat between PC and Xbox One.

The ability to party chat between devices will become a necessity as games like Killer Instinct and Fable Legends arrive with PC and Xbox cross-platform play. For now though, it's simply a handy feature if you want to chat to your friends on Xbox without having them fire up the Skype app.

Here's a brief run-down of how to achieve Xbox to PC party chat in Windows 10.

  • Before starting, you'll need to configure your microphone settings properly. I have a Surface Pro 3 which uses a built-in mic, but for voice chatting I tend to use a dedicated headset instead.
  • To alter your microphone settings, type "Change System Sounds" into the start menu to pull up the sounds options.

  • From here, you can navigate to the recording tab and select your default microphone with a right click menu. There's no way to adjust your microphone in the Xbox app at present.
  • Once you're happy your microphone is set up, head off to the Windows 10 Xbox app by hitting the tile, or typing "Xbox" into the start menu.

  • On the Xbox app, it's a simple case of clicking "Start a Party (beta)" in the top right hand corner.
  • Once you're in a party, simply click the + sign to add friends, click the volume sign to mute and the padlock to prevent people joining without an invite.

I've been using the Xbox app's party chat with a cheap £8 PC headset, and the sound quality seems to be a step-up at both ends. If you close the Xbox app however, the app will register you as leaving the party. It'd be cool if Microsoft allows for the Xbox app to be minimized to the system tray in a future update.

How to take screenshot like a pro with Windows 10

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Now that many millions of users around the world are using Windows 10, we figured it was time to cover some beginner basics. After all, some people are getting new PCs and laptops while others are installing Windows 10 on their Mac and need some help.

The ways to take a screenshot is our focus here today. Sure, you may know about Print Screen, but do you know all the other combos? What about if you are on a Surface? Moreover, what if you need something more powerful than the built-in apps?

We have you covered, so read on. You may be surprised at a few of these tricks.

Windows 10 Native Screenshots

1. Whole Desktop (copy to clipboard)

  • Key Combo: [PrtScn]

Probably the easiest and most popular method for screen capturing is by pressing the [PrtScn] key on your keyboard, assuming you have one. Print Screen copies everything visible in the UI to the clipboard and lets you paste it the image to Paint, another image editing app, Office, or any app that allows you to paste images. Even if you are running a multi-monitor setup, Print Screen grabs all the displays at once.

2. Whole desktop + Auto-save

  • Key combo: [Win] + [PrtScn]

Building off of Print Screen, you can simultaneously press the Windows Key on your keyboard and [PrtScrn] at the same time. This method differs above in that it saves the image automatically to your Pictures > Screenshots directory. When using this style the screen briefly dims to let you know it captured and saved automatically.

3. Just an app

  • Key Combo: [Alt] + [PrtScn]

This handy key combo also builds off of Print Screen. However, instead of capturing the whole desktop and all opened apps, it captures the full window of an active app. Using this trick you can just screenshot an app for sharing and leave your desktop out of it.

4. Screencap + Share to Windows Apps

Key Combo: [Win] + [H]

Here is one that many people may not know (including ourselves). If you hit [Win] + [H] the OS will grab a screenshot and push it to the Share feature immediately. This trick lets you quickly snap a screen grab and push it to Outlook, Tweetium, or other Windows Apps from the Store.

5. Snipping Tool to be precise

Search for Snipping Tool using Cortana/Search. This tool has been around for ages, but it is very handy for capturing specific areas of your screen. Under the New menu, you can choose from:

  • Free-form snip
  • Rectangular snip
  • Window Snip
  • Full-screen snip

The image is copied to your Clipboard, so you need something like Paint to paste to to view it. New in the Windows 10 version, you can add a delay to the capture, which is very useful for something that disappears when you hover over it with the mouse.

Surface specific ways

1. Just an app

  • Key Combo: [ALT] + [FN] and [SPACE]

Press and hold the right-hand [ALT] + [FN] and then hit [SPACE] takes a screenshot within an app (but not the desktop)

2. Hardware keys

  • Key Combo: Win + Volume Down

This is the go-to method for screenshotting the whole display. Press and hold the Windows button and then press the volume down button. The screen dims for a second, and the image saves to the Screenshots folder in the Pictures library.

3. Surface Pen + OneNote

Using the Surface Pen, double-click the top button. Select what you want to capture in the screenshot by dragging the tip of the pen from one corner to the opposite corner. When you lift the pen tip, your selection appears in a new page in OneNote. You can then add more notes or drawing to the image.

Third-party Apps

Besides all of these native solutions, you can venture out into the world of third-party apps. Why? Simple, like all third-party apps they tend to add many more features, customizations and are sometimes easier and more convenient. Here are a few that the community around here like:

Screenmask is a neat Windows Store app that works with the Share option in other Windows Store apps. It is not ideal for desktop use but for those using tablets it can offer some handy editing options.

Do you have a screenshot solution that we missed? Do you know of a third-party app and want to recommend? Sound off in comments and let us know!

More Resources

Need more information or need some help? Here are some great links to get you started:

The definitive Windows 10 Review

Windows 10 Help, Tips, Tricks at Windows Central

Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central

How to change your Windows 10 wallpaper

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Surface Pro 3 Wallpaper

With Windows 10 now on the market being sold in new PCs, offered through a free upgrade or even those Mac users trying it for the first time we are covering the basics. Sure, you may be a pro but everyone has to start somewhere!

Changing your wallpaper on Windows 10 is really easy. The hard part is deciding on which wallpaper to use. While it is very straightforward, we've made a how-to video to help you get started. See it in action on our Surface Pro 3.

  1. Right-click your desktop and select Personalize
  2. You have a choice in using a Picture, Solid Color or a Slideshow. Select Picture if you simply want to make an image as your wallpaper.
  3. There are five recent images you can choose from. You can also tap or click the Browse button to select a photo from your computer.
  4. Under the Browse button, there's an option on how to fit the image to your desktop because not all wallpapers have the same size or aspect ratio. You can choose from Fill, Fit, Stretch, Tile, Center, or Span. You can play with these options to see which one works best, but Fill should work for most people.

Windows 10 Wallpaper

That's it! There are plenty of resources for awesome wallpapers, but a good place to start would be Interfacelift (interfacelift.com). Microsoft Edge doesn't currently give you the option to right-click an image and choose "Set as desktop background," so you'll need to save images to your device first. Create a folder in your hard drive and save them all there.

Slideshow

You can let Windows 10 automatically change your wallpaper from every minute or up to every 24 hours. Select Slideshow from the Background dropdown and select a folder with all your wallpapers.

Where do you get your wallpapers from? Let us know in the comments!

More Resources

Need more information or need some help? Here are some great links to get you started:

The definitive Windows 10 Review

Windows 10 Help, Tips, Tricks at Windows Central

Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central

How to upgrade to Windows 10 over USB

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Windows 10 install over USB

Whether you just can't wait for the Windows Update app to handle your upgrade automatically, or you're having some other issue getting it to work, we're going to help you get to Windows 10 with a USB stick alone.

If you're installing on a fresh machine or you want to wipe your current one prior to upgrading, be sure to read our guide on how to do a clean install of Windows 10. What we're doing here is a bit more straightforward, though very similar, and still not quite as easy as using the automated tool. If you can't get it to work, try these tips on fixing the Get Windows 10 app before going the USB route.

Back up

First off, backup all of your important data. Here are a few ways to go about it. Though this process will be painless and hassle-free, you never know what can go wrong. Better safe than sorry, eh?

Get your existing Windows product key

Windows Product key

Getting your product key isn't always required to upgrade, but it's good to have just in case. If you don't have the key on a sticker on your computer or somewhere in your product documentation, The Magical Bean KeyFinder is a free tool you can download and use to get your product key and write it down. It's worth noting that if you're running an enterprise version of Windows, that key isn't accessible, and you may very well need your IT guy to help with the upgrade.

Create the installation USB stick

Windows 10 USB stick setup

Next you'll need to download the installation file from Microsoft. 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available. To find out which version you're currently running, right-click Computer, and left-click Properties. Under the System tab, it will tell you which version you're running (which is also which version you should upgrade to.)

Then you'll need a USB stick with at least 4 GB of storage on it. The stick will be wiped, so make sure to save your files on it before running the installer. Plug in the stick, launch the Windows 10 installer you downloaded earlier, and pick Create installation media for another PC. You can choose Upgrade this PC now if you like though the installation media will let you use the USB stick later or on another machine provided you have the product key for it. As we mentioned earlier, this is where you could choose to do a clean install. Just pick the Custom box for that and follow these instructions.

Then you'll be provided options for language, version of Windows to install on the stick, and architecture (32-bit, 64-bit, or both). If you want both 32-bit and 64-bit versions installed, you'll need 6 GB of spare storage. After hitting Next, pick USB flash drive, select the USB drive you want to install to, and then you're off to the races. Give your PC some time to download Windows 10.

Insert the USB stick and reboot

Windows 10 USB boot

Next, you'll need to designate USB as a bootable drive. Shut down the computer you want to upgrade, and insert the USB stick. While your machine is powering back up, you'll need to hit an F-key to go into BIOS or otherwise interrupt the normal boot-up. F12 is usually the key, but sometimes it will be F2 or F8, depending on the manufacturer. Look for the prompts as your computer starts up.

Once you've designated to boot from the flash drive, the on-screen instructions that follow are pretty straightforward, even though the preparation and installation proper may take awhile. You may be prompted for a product key during this phase, which you can skip since your system should be able to activate Windows 10 automatically after it's installed. Pick Upgrade when choosing your installation type in order to save all of your existing files and folders.

That's it!

Now you should be ready to rock with Windows 10. You'll get an out-of-the-box experience once the install is complete, which should round out all of your various user settings and OS configuration. If you're having any issues with this upgrade process, let us know in the comments, or hit up our forums.

More Resources

Need more information or need some help? Here are some great links to get you started:

The definitive Windows 10 Review

Windows 10 Help, Tips, Tricks at Windows Central

Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central


What's better: Clean install or upgrade to Windows 10?

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Surface Pro 3 Start

Since Microsoft launched its next operating system on July 29th to the world, millions of computers are already running Windows 10, and millions more are expected to follow. In fact, Microsoft hopes to upgrade over one billion devices in the next 2-3 years, and at this rate, chances look promising.

Although Windows 10 is packed with new features, such as the return of the Start menu, a new Action Center, new security features like Windows Hello, and Cortana, there is another good reason why people are upgrading so quickly. It's because the company is making Windows 10 a free upgrade to every computer running a genuine copy of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.

If you haven't upgraded, you probably are still wondering, what is the best option to upgrade to Windows 10? It's possible to do an in-place upgrade via Windows Update, or you can also do a clean installation of the operating system.

To clear things up a bit and help you decide what's the best option for you, we'll go through benefits and disadvantages between a clean install and an in-place upgrade of Windows 10.

Upgrading to Windows 10

One of the most common methods to move from one version of Windows to another is by doing an in-place upgrade. The major advantage of doing an in-place upgrade is that you don't have to reformat your hard drive. The new operating system will simply replace your previous installation, and you'll be able to keep all of your files and programs. This process takes the least amount of time, as technically you're not required to do a backup (though it's highly recommended you do). Also, you're not prompted to enter a product key, at least for those users upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.

Choosing the upgrade path using the "Get Windows 10" app over the clean install will also help users to install the right edition of the operating system. A clean installation requires to manually download the correct version of Windows 10 that will upgrade your system.

Technically, upgrading through Windows Update should be the easiest and safest way to make the move to Windows 10. However, performing an upgrade can also be problematic. You can stumble upon errors caused by pre-existing issues in your system. After the upgrade, there are chances that applications and peripherals may not work correctly, and it could result on additional time trying to troubleshoot and fix the problems.

Quick tip: If you're planning to upgrade, make sure to uninstall any security software, such as antivirus, and software you don't need. Take the time and check online to verify your hardware and software are compatible with Windows 10. Also, make sure to disconnect any peripherals, such as printers, scanners, and USB devices to avoid possible errors.

Another advantage worth to point out is that performing an upgrade will also allow you to roll back to Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 if something goes wrong or you simply don't like the operating system. You can't do this if you perform a clean install by booting from the Windows 10 installation media.

Clean install of Windows 10

If you have a custom computer or you want to start from scratch with a clean installation of Windows 10, you can opt to format the hard drive and start with a clean install of Windows 10.

There are many advantages performing a clean install of Windows 10. For example, a clean install is an opportunity to start fresh from scratch without any bloatware and trial software that might have come pre-installed with your system. You will also regain control over your apps, as you can now install only the applications you need, and you'll also start with a brand new and clean Windows Registry.

Also, your chances of running into errors and other issues will significantly be reduced. If your PC had any software or hardware issues, doing a clean install likely resolves any problems.

While a clean install is always the way to go for many technical users, upgrading to Windows 10 can be tricky. Microsoft is allowing users to perform a clean install of the operating system when upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. However, it requires users to upgrade before the product keys can work on a clean install of Windows 10. Otherwise, chances are, your installation won't activate correctly.

Windows 10 version

Starting from scratch also takes longer than doing a plain in-place upgrade because you'll need to reinstall and reconfigure any software you previously had. It also requires that you have the applications installation files and products keys.

If the Windows setup can't recognize different hardware in your computer, you'll have to manually find and install all the necessary drivers. Sometimes, it's not an easy task.

Besides deleting all your applications and settings, performing a clean installation of Windows will delete all your files. (Make sure you backup all your data before using the upgrade path.)

Microsoft doesn't offer an option to do a clean install if you're upgrading using Windows Update. The only way to perform a clean install is by manually downloading the Windows 10 installation files.

Using the Windows 10 Setup tool, you can choose to "Upgrade this PC now" or "Create installation media for another PC". Choosing the "Upgrade this PC now" will give you the choice to keep all of your files and apps. If you choose to keep your files and apps, you will be doing an in-place upgrade. Choosing not to keep your files and apps can be considered as the option to do a clean install.

Personally, I like to create an installation media. This way I can have a better control on how Windows 10 will install, as I can reorganize the hard drive partitions as well.

It's worth noting that doing a clean install will prompt users to enter their product key. It's not a big deal, but it's something to keep in mind. Also, performing a clean install with a bootable media won't offer the option to roll back.

In practice, it's always better to start fresh with a clean install of Windows, even more if you've been running the same installation for quite some time.

Windows 10 desktop

Conclusion

While there are multiple methods to upgrade to Windows 10, both in-place upgrade and clean install have their benefits and disadvantages. Microsoft has been making various improvements in the upgrade process to the point that an in-place upgrade looks like a true solution for most users, but it all comes down to what you feel more comfortable doing.

Microsoft wants and recommends users to upgrade to Windows 10 by reserving their copies using the "Get Windows 10" app, which only offers the option of an in-place upgrade. This way allows users to keep their files and apps, which is a great choice for regular users.

I like to do a clean install of the operating system even though it takes more time and more work. Also, knowing that Microsoft is offering Windows as a Service, I will probably be avoiding some upgrade issues in the early days.

Additional Resources

How are you installing Windows 10? Let us know in the comments below.

21 best Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts you should know

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Surface 3 keyboard

Keyboard shortcuts can save you time as you use Windows 10. You probably already know about Ctrl + C and Ctrl +V (copy and paste), but we're here to tell you 21 other shortcuts that you should know when using Windows 10. Some of these shortcuts might already be familiar to you, but think of new users who just switched from a Mac or simply have relied more on mice or touchscreens.

Keyboard shortcutAction
Windows key + AOpen Action center
Windows key + COpen Cortana in listening mode
Windows key + DDisplay and hide the desktop
Windows key + EOpen File Explorer
Windows key + HOpen the Share charm
Windows key + IOpen Settings
Windows key + LLock your PC or switch accounts
Windows key + SOpen Search
Windows key + NumberOpen the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows key + Arrow keySnap app windows left, right, corners, maximize, or minimize
Windows key + CommaTemporarily peek at the desktop
Windows key + Ctrl +DAdd a virtual desktop
Windows key + Ctrl + Left or Right arrowSwitch between virtual desktops
Windows key + EnterOpen Narrator
Windows key + HomeMinimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)
Windows key + PrtScnCapture a screenshot and save in Screenshots folder
Windows key + Shift + Up arrowStretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Windows key + TabOpen Task view
Ctrl + Shift + EscOpen Task Manager
Alt +TabSwitch between open apps
Ctrl + Alt +TabView open apps

There are plenty of keyboard shortcuts on Windows 10, but we think these are the best ones to remember. What other keyboard shortcuts do you think should have made it to this list? Let us know in the comments!

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in ourWindows 10 help, tips and trickspage.

How to check for app updates on Windows 10

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Windows 10 Store

Windows 10 can automatically install app updates when they become available, but you can also check for updates manually. We'll show you in a quick how-to video. Some people like to check manually so they can see if there are any changes mentioned in the update. We're guilty of that because we report on app updates that readers might want to know about.

How to enable automatic app updates

  1. Open the Store
  2. Tap or click the user icon on top, next to the search form
  3. Tap or click Settings
  4. Toggle On Update apps automatically

How to manually check for app updates

  1. Open the Store
  2. Tap or click the user icon on top, next to the search form
  3. Tap or click Downloads
  4. Tap or click Check for updates

You can also check specific apps for updates by going to their Store page. You can use the search form to find the app, or check My Library for a list of all your apps.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in ourWindows 10 help, tips and trickspage.

28 essential keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Edge that you should know

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Microsoft Edge keyboard shortcuts

You seemed to like the 21 best keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10, so here are a few more shortcuts that you should know. This time, we share 28 keyboard shortcuts that can be very handy when using Microsoft Edge. These shortcuts can help you browse the web more efficiently on Microsoft's latest OS. Give them a try and let us know which shortcuts you'll be using.

ShortcutAction
Ctrl + DAdd current site to favorites or reading list
Ctrl + EOpen a search query in the address bar
Ctrl + FFind on page
Ctrl + HOpen history pane
Ctrl + IOpen favorites pane
Ctrl + JOpen downloads pane
Ctrl + KDuplicate tab
Ctrl + L or F4 or Alt + DSelect the address bar
Ctrl + NOpen a new window
Ctrl + PPrint the current page
Ctrl + R or F5Refresh the page
Ctrl + TOpen a new tab
Ctrl + WClose current tab
Ctrl + Shift + POpen a new InPrivate Browsing window
Ctrl + Shift + REnter reading view
Ctrl +1, 2, 3,…, 8Switch to a specific tab number
Ctrl + 9Switch to the last tab
Ctrl + plus (+)Zoom in (25%)
Ctrl + minus (-)Zoom out (25%)
Ctrl + 0Reset zoom level
Backspace or Alt + Left arrowGo back
Alt + Right arrowGo forward
EscStop loading the page
Ctrl + clickOpen link in a new tab
Ctrl + TabSwitch to the next tab
Ctrl + Shift + TabSwitch to the previous tab
Ctrl + Shift + clickOpen link in a new tab and switch to the tab
Alt + Shift + clickOpen link in a new window

While we can perform all of these actions with the mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen, there may be situations when using the keyboard shortcuts might be faster. Will you be using any of them? Let us know in the comments!

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in ourWindows 10 help, tips and trickspage.

How to add wallpaper to the Windows 10 Mail app

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Outlook Mail background

In our continuation of beginners tips, we are going with an easy one that new users may not know about but is pretty neat.

When it comes to customization in the Mail app for Windows 10, there is not a whole lot that you can do. In fact, besides customizing the swipe functions there is just one: add a background image.

To be honest, this feature is interesting and yet not that overwhelming. Adding a background image simply lets you see a photo of your choice but only when no email is selected. As is, you will not even see the picture all that often as usually people will have the latest email opened. However, when you do see it, it does add a subtle pizzazz to the otherwise stark app. Here is how it works.

Add background wallpaper to Mail

1. Open Mail

2. Hit the Settings cog near the bottom left pane

3. Select Background Picture

4. Choose a photo or image

Obviously, this is a very simple option, but for people new to the app or even Windows 10 they may not even know about it. Either way, it does look quite nice.

What other ways would you customize Mail if you could? Let us know.

For those interested, the background image used in this article is from Michael Gillett (@MichaelGillett), and you can download it and others here from his OneDrive.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in ourWindows 10 help, tips and trickspage.

How to use Live Tiles in Windows 10

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Windows 10 Start in Surface Pro 3

Live tiles in Windows 10 display information that are useful at a glance without opening an app. For example, the News tile displays headlines while the Weather tile displays the forecast. You can rearrange, resize, and move these tiles to make them work better for you. We'll show you how.

How to pin tiles to Start

Windows 10 pin start

Pinning tiles to Start is very easy. Right-click an app in the app list and then tap or click Pin to Start. Alternatively, you can drag the app from the list and drop it in the tiles area. If you're using the touchscreen, tap and hold the app from the list, and then drag it to the tiles area. To remove a tile, right-click and tap or select Unpin from Start.

How to resize tiles in Start

Windows 10 resize

You can resize live tiles to your liking. There are four different sizes available: small, medium, wide, and large. However, some apps only have three sizes as it is up to the developer to enable the large one. Right-click a live tile > Resize, and then select a size. If you're using a touchscreen, tap and hold a live tile, tap the ellipsis on the lower right corner, and select a size.

How to move tiles in Start

As you add more live tiles in Start, you'll want to move things around and even organize them into groups. To move a tile, just drag them into place. If you drag a tile all the way to the bottom of Start, a new group will be created. You can name the group whatever you want. To add a name, click or tap above the group. If you're using a mouse or trackpad, hovering above the group displays "Name group." You can also move a whole group of tiles by dragging the two lines next to the group's name.

Windows 10 start group

How to turn off live tiles

Live tiles can be handy, but it's good to know that you can easily turn them off. You just need to right-click on a tile, and select Turn live tile off.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like thisonein ourWindows 10 help, tips and trickspage.

How to enable the Dark Theme for Windows 10

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Dark Theme in Windows 10

Windows 10 by default uses a lot of white for the backgrounds of system apps. This look, of course, is quite normal, but some users may want an even darker version of the OS. Not the evil kind, but the theme kind.

We covered how to do this back in the earlier builds of Windows 10 during the Insider releases. Believe it or not, the trick still works. However, the directions have changed.

Today, we are going to show you how to bring on the black for your Windows 10 PC experience!

Enable the Dark Theme

We should caution that modifying your registry, which is what we are doing, could cause problems should you touch something you are not supposed to touch. So read these directions carefully.

Having said that warning, this is very easy, and it takes you just a few minutes to accomplish. The difficulty level is medium , only because you are modifying the OS registry by hand.

1. Open up the registry editor

Type in the search bar Regedit. Select 'Yes' when it asks for permission.

2. Change key #1

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Themes\ Personalize by double clicking each "folder" aka key

3. Missing Personalize?

You may not have the sub-key \Personalize (I did not) so you can create one; if you already have one just go to Step 5

4. Create \Personalize Key

If you are missing the \Personalize key, just right-click on \Themes and select New> Key and call it Personalize

5. Create new DWORD

Right-click \Personalize and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value

6. Name it

Name the DWORD AppsUseLightTheme

7. Correct value?

For its value, it should already be 0 so leave it

Change Key #2

Repeat the above but for HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Themes \ Personalize. Once again, create a new AppsUseLightTheme DWORD (32-bit) Value with a 0 value.

Now, log out of Windows 10 and back in again. Start menu> Select your photo> Choose 'Sign out'

That is it!

If you ever want to go back to the light theme, simply re-edit the values of the two AppsUseLightTheme DWORDs and change their value from 0 (off) to 1 (on). Then sign out and back in again and you are back to the system default.

Please note that this theme only works in Windows 10 system apps like Settings. It does not add a dark theme to Mail or File Explorer, so its effect is limited. Still, it does look rather cool, but you decide if you want it or not.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in ourWindows 10 help, tips and trickspage.

Via: WinPoin; Thanks, Jonas K., for the tip


How to enable 'Hey Cortana' in Windows 10

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Windows 10 Cortana

Microsoft's 'Hey Cortana' is a feature on Windows 10 that lets your personal assistant recognize your voice and wake it up just by calling its name. The feature is disabled by default, so we'll show you how to enable it. See it in action on our Surface 3.

  1. Tap or click the search area in the taskbar
  2. Tap or click the notebook button
  3. Select Settings
  4. Toggle On the option, Let Cortana respondto"Hey Cortana"

Hey Cortana settings

That's it! You can let Cortana respond to anyone, or just your voice. Tap or click Learn my voice if you prefer the latter. Cortana gives you six phrases to repeat so she can get familiar with your voice. They're all things you can actually ask her:

  • Hey Cortana, do I have anything on Wednesday?
  • Hey Cortana, what's the traffic like on the way to work?
  • Hey Cortana, what's a cheap pizza place that's open now?
  • Hey Cortana, when I talk to Joy, remind me to tell her 'congratulations on the job.'
  • Hey Cortana, remind me to look for the yellow tape measure when I get home.
  • Hey Cortana, tell me a good joke.

Note: Cortana is currently only available for the U.S., UK, China, France, Italy, Germany and Spain. Cortana is also expanding to Japan and Australia, and in English in Canada and India for those on the Windows Insider program (early access). Later this year, Cortana will be available to Windows Insiders in Brazil and Mexico, and in French in Canada as well. Read more about Cortana's cultural training and programming from Microsoft right here.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in ourWindows 10 help, tips and trickspage.

How to track your favorite sports team with Cortana on Windows 10

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Windows 10 Cortana

Cortana, your personal assistant in Windows 10, has a notebook where she stores a lot of information about you. The more Cortana knows, the more she can be helpful. If you're a big sports fan, you should let her know your favorite teams right away. We'll show you how.

  1. Tap or click the search form in the taskbar
  2. Tap or click the Notebook
  3. Scroll down, and tap or click Sports
  4. Tap or click Add a team at the bottom
  5. Start typing the name of a team, and the select from the results. If the team does not show up in the results, it can't be added to the notebook.
  6. Use the on/off switches to choose whether you want Cortana to display score updates and upcoming games
  7. Tap or click Add

Windows 10 Cortana

That's it! Cortana supports baseball, football, soccer, basketball, and others, but don't be surprised if you can't add one of your teams. For example, Major League Soccer (MLS) teams aren't currently supported. A workaround is to add the team as a news topic you'd like to track. You can also use this method to track your favorite player.

  1. Tap or click the Notebook
  2. Tap or click News
  3. Scroll down and select Add a topic
  4. Enter the team or player

Which teams are you following with Cortana?

Note: Cortana is currently only available for the U.S., UK, China, France, Italy, Germany and _Spain. Cortana is also expanding to Japan and Australia, and in English in Canada and India for those on the Windows Insider program (early access). Later this year, Cortana will be available to Windows Insiders in Brazil and Mexico, and in French in Canada as well. Read more about Cortana's cultural training and programming from Microsoft right here.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in our Windows 10 help, tips and tricks page.

How to change your Quick Action buttons in Windows 10

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Windows 10 Quick Actions

Quick Actions are a set of buttons which let you quickly open things or switch settings on or off in Windows 10. You can see the Quick Action buttons at the bottom of Action Center, which appears when you swipe in from the right edge of the screen. There are 13 Quick Action buttons, and you can customize which four buttons appear on top. We'll show you how.

  1. Open Settings. You can use the keyboard shortcut, Windows key +I
  2. Go to System > Notifications & actions
  3. Choose your quick actions

Windows 10 Quick Actions

That's it! The four you've selected will appear on top of the other Quick Action buttons. They'll also stay visible even when you choose to collapse Quick Actions in Action Center.

My top four Quick Action buttons are: Tablet mode, Rotation lock, Brightness, and All settings. What are yours? Let us know in the comments!

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in our Windows 10 help, tips and tricks page.

You do not need to Activate Windows 10 to install it, but this is how you can activate later

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Microsoft has done an interesting thing with Windows 10. Besides giving it as a free upgrade to anyone with an activated Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC the OS is also one big shareware demo.

Specifically, by the demo I mean near fully functional OS that you can install anywhere to try out. This ability means you can download the Windows 10 ISO right from Microsoft and install it on a home-built PC, or any PC for that matter. Even Mac users can do this and install the OS using Bootcamp (more on this later).

How it works

Anyone can go and download the Windows 10 ISO from Microsoft. Simply navigate to www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10.

If you are on a PC, you can download the Windows 10 Media Creation tool that lets you make an ISO for use on a DVD or USB key. You can then use this to install Windows 10 on any computer. The process allows you to pick the language, edition, and architecture.

How to upgrade to Windows 10 over USB

What's better: Clean install or upgrade to Windows 10?

Once you put the ISO onto that USB key or burn to a DVD, you are all set.

You do not have to Activate Windows 10

Perhaps one of the little unknown secrets about a Windows 10 installation is that you do not need to use a product key during the process.

Oh, Windows 10 prompts you for it, twice in fact. However, in both cases you can hit the little 'Skip for now' button and let Windows 10 install. It is tiny, but it is there.

So what happens? Nothing. Windows 10 Home or Pro is installed, and you can use it. There are just two limitations that I have come across:

  1. Watermark on the lower right-hand corner saying Activate Windows
  2. You cannot use anything under Personalization e.g. change wallpaper, accent colors, lock screen, themes, etc. All options are there, they are just grayed out and inaccessible

Other than this you have a fully-functional Windows 10 OS. There are no nag prompts either and yes, you get all system updates (at least for the year).

You can enroll in the Windows Insider program. However, this just removes the watermark, but it will not allow you to personalize the computer.

Shhh, you still can personalize

What is amusing is although you cannot personalize the computer, you still can. This trick assumes you have other Windows 10 PCs that are activated, and you use the same Microsoft account on both. If you do, whatever you personalize on the activated PC or Mac syncs over to your non-activated version. This method is how I have a non-default wallpaper on the non-activated device used for this article.

Another trick, pointed out in comments, is that you can add new wallpaper. Simply open up the Photos app and hit the ellipsis in the upper right-hand corner. Choose 'Set as lock screen' or 'Set as background' and voila, you have personalized your PC.

It is an odd workaround, but you likely won't notice the limitations.

All of this works on PC or Mac, too. This ability means those with Apple computers can just download and try out Windows 10 without consequence. Tomorrow Windows Central will show you how that works.

Now you want to Activate

However, maybe you do want to change that wallpaper or color. Alternatively, maybe you just feel bad and want to pay for a full-fledged license. Microsoft made this very simple. To buy a license to activate either Windows 10 Home or Pro, do the following:

1. Go to Settings

2. Go to Update & Security

3. Choose Activation

4. Select Go to Store

The Windows Store now opens to a product page for either version of Windows 10. You can now buy Home or Pro, and it unlocks and activates your version of Windows 10.

Windows 10 Home costs $119.99 , and Windows 10 Pro costs $199.99.

The purchase runs through the Store like any app purchase, and you can just use your Credit Card, PayPal, or whatever payment methods you set up.

The Takeaway

Microsoft has actually opened up Windows 10. The fact that you can download the ISO and install it without a product key on any PC or Mac is neat.

The idea here, of course, is to get the OS into as many hands as possible. This tactic is not much different than Google and Android and giving it away for free (granted, there are patent fees).

Microsoft wants Windows 10 on every computer because it is the Store and their services that are important. This strategy means that Windows 10 can be put everywhere with a tiny drawback. Sure, you have a watermark, and you cannot change the wallpaper, but if you are a Mac user and you want to tinker with Windows 10, there is literally nothing stopping you. It just works.

Even better, Microsoft makes buying Windows 10 through an un-activated copy very easy with a mere Store purchase. You do not even have to leave the house.

It is a strange new world if you enjoy Windows, but a much more user-friendly one too.

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in our Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks page. Or try our massive Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central for more help!

What do you think of Microsoft's new "just take it!" approach to Windows 10?Let us know your thoughts in comments!

These are the most common errors with the Windows 10 upgrade and how to fix them

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Windows 10 was made available on July 29 and since then millions of people have been upgrading. Microsoft has made it very easy to upgrade by letting users reserve their free copy of Windows 10 using the app or by grabbing the ISO files to perform a clean installation of the operating system. However, not everyone is having a smooth upgrade experience.

Since launch day, many users have been reporting some errors and different problems while trying to upgrade, some of these issues involve not being able to install Windows 10. Others simply are not seeing the upgrade and many users are also reporting issues activating the operating system after a clean install, and a variety of other issues.

Microsoft has been proactively working to ensure Windows 10 is bug-free. For example, on day one the company rolled a huge update to resolve many problems around the new operating system. Only a week later the company released another servicing update focus on fixing various issues in the operating system, an update that many people have referred as Service Release 1 (SR1), but it's simply a non-security cumulative update.

However, we're in the early days of Windows 10, as such with all the work Microsoft is doing, we're expecting to run into a few issues, even more when Microsoft is offering Windows as a Service meaning that Windows is technically never done.

Today we'll go through some of the Windows 10 upgrade and installation errors and how you can try to fix them. Also, we'll go through a few of the best practices to minimize the number of issues for a successful upgrade to Windows 10 no matter from what version of the operating system you're upgrading from.

Fixing message 80240020

While the new operating system is now publicly available, Microsoft is not rolling Windows 10 at once to everyone, instead the company is upgrading computers gradually. However, many users have found a way around to force the free upgrade on their machines. Nonetheless, after Windows Update completes downloading the necessary files, many users found themselves with the error 80240020.

According a Microsoft, the error message 80240020 is expected when the installation requires user interaction. But it's worth to note that the error message isn't a problem. In fact, there is not an issue with your reservation or upgrade download. Furthermore, the upgrade download is not corrupt as many have noted. When it is your turn to upgrade to Windows 10, you'll be notified.

While Microsoft recommends to sit tight and wait until Windows 10 is ready to install, if you can't wait, you can modify a registry key to install Windows 10 immediately.

Warning: Make sure you understand that modifying the registry in Windows can be dangerous. It's assumed that you know what you're doing, and you have created a full backup of your computer prior using the following instructions.

  • Locate the registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade]
  • The key should exist, but if it doesn't, you'll need to create it
  • Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value with Name = "AllowOSUpgrade" (without the quotes), and set the Value = 0x00000001

After modifying the registry, close and go back to the Control Panel, go to Windows Update and check for new updates. Now, you should be able to see and click the Get Started button to upgrade to Windows 10.

This method documented by Microsoft should work Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. However, it's important to mention that Windows 8.1 users must also use Control Panel, and not the modern PC settings to complete the process.

Fixing message 0x80200056

Now, when you see the error code 0x80200056, it means that the upgrade process was interrupted because the computer accidentally rebooted or the user account was signed out. To fix this issue, simply try to upgrade again, but make sure the computer is plugged in securely to stay on throughout the process.

Fixing message 0x800F0922

According to Microsoft, error 0x800F0922 happens when there is not enough free space on the System Reserved partition. To resolve the issue, you'll have to use a third-party software to increase the size of the System Reserved partition.

The same error code may also appear if your computer cannot connect to the Windows Update servers. You can try to make sure that Windows Update is enabled and make sure you're not connected to a network using a VPN connection.

Fixing message 0x800F0923

If you get the error 0x800F0923, it's likely that a specific driver or software is not compatible to upgrade to Windows 10. In this case, you want to open the "Get Windows 10" app, click the hamburger menu button, click on Check your PC, and identify which driver or software isn't compatible.

When you have successfully identified the problem, check the manufacturer's support website for the latest drivers or software update. In the case there aren't any new updates, try to uninstall the software and driver in question. Then try to upgrade to Windows 10, and then try to reinstall the driver and software -- chances are this time it will work.

Fixing failure to upgrade to Windows 10

Users trying to upgrade may also run into situations where they see error messages such as: "Error: We couldn't complete the updates. Undoing changes. Don't turn off your computer." Or "Error: Failure configuring Windows Updates. Reverting changes."

When you see these type of messages, it can be a somewhat hard to figure out what went wrong because these are generic errors that may appear at any time during the installation of an update. However, you can find the specific error by going to Control Panel > All Control Panel Items\Windows Update\View update history. Then double-click the update with the Failed status, to view the error details.

Now with the information in hand, follow the Microsoft instructions if any, or you can stop by our forums to ask for help.

Fixing compatibility issues

If your computer doesn't meet the minimum requirements to download and install Windows 10, you'll see these error codes: 0xC1900200 – 0x20008 and 0xC1900202 – 0x20008.

In this scenario, you should get more details about Windows 10 compatibility for a particular hardware or software by visiting the Windows Compatibility Center. However, keep in mind that the database is currently small, as such results might be limited.

The error code 0xC1900208 – 0x4000C means that an incompatible app is installed on your computer blocking the upgrade process. The easiest way around this problem is by uninstalling the application in question and any other software that may cause problems.

Making room for the upgrade

Error 0x80070070 – 0x50011, 0x80070070 – 0x50012, and 0x80070070 – 0x60000 indicates that the computer doesn't have enough space available to upgrade to Windows 10. In this case, free up storage space by using the Disk Cleanup tool available in Windows by opening the Run command, type cleanmgr, and hit Enter.

When you're in the Disk Cleanup tool, click on Clean up system files, and make sure to check all the content you can delete. This task is especially important for "Temporary Internet Files", "Recycle Bin", and error report files.

Remember not to delete "Windows Setup temporary files" as you need those files to install Windows 10 on your computer.

Alternatively, if you have a USB flash drive with at least 8GB of storage, you can connected to your computer and the Windows setup tool will able to use as temporary storage to perform the upgrade.

Updating Windows to avoid errors during upgrade

The message error: The update isn't applicable to your computer, means that your computer does not have the required updates. In the case, make sure you're running the latest version of the operating system. To upgrade to Windows 10, Windows 7 should have Service Pack 1 installed and Windows 8 must be running Windows 8.1 Update.

If you don't know which version of Windows you're running, open the Run command, and type Winver, and hit Enter.

Fixing Windows 10 activation problems

Another common issue is the problem with activation, many users are reporting the message Windows not activated after they have performed the clean install of Windows 10.

Microsoft allows users to upgrade or perform a clean installation of Windows 10 by manually downloading the installation files. Despite this, the company recommends users reserve their free copy using the "Get Windows 10" app and upgrade through Windows Update. The reason for this method is to minimize the possibility of errors and other situations, such as problems trying to activate Windows 10.

However, we all know that many technical minded prefer to do a clean install of the operating system, just to have a fresh machine. If you're trying to go this route, you must know that to activate your copy correctly, you first need to upgrade your current version using Windows Update.

This process is necessary to convert your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 product key to a product key that will activate Windows 10.

Quick Tip: During the upgrade process using the manually downloaded files or via Windows Update make sure you're connected online. This step is to ensure that after the upgrade, you can perform a clean install and remain activated. Microsoft UK states:

"If a customer has already taken the upgrade, they will be able to clean install back to Windows 10 because their device will have been provisioned with the new store-based license. No product key interaction required. Just 'Skip Key' and it'll activate once installed."

After you have upgraded to Windows 10, you can do a clean installation by using the files you have downloaded from Microsoft.

Alternatively, you can try to activate Windows 10 by phone. Open the Settings app, navigate to Update & security, and select Activation. If your computer can't activate, you'll see the Activate by phone option.

Note: It's very important that you also know your product key before trying to move to Windows 10. You'll be surprised when it will be useful to have it. There are various ways to recover a Windows product key, but I find very convenient to use the Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder tool. As I have previously mentioned, this is a free tool that you can easily download and use to get your product key.

Once you use the tool, export the information to a USB drive and write the information on a piece of paper.

Keep in mind that if while you're trying to activate Windows 10, you get the error 0xC004C003 this could mean that there is a problem with your computer connecting to the Microsoft activation servers. If this is the case, wait some time and try to activate again, after a while chances are that Windows 10 will activate automatically.

Finally, if you see error 0xC004F061 when trying to activate, it means that you're trying to activate Windows 10, but you didn't have a qualified version of Windows pre-installed on your system.

If you upgrade by formatting or replacing the hard drive, you will not be able to activate. In this case, you need to reinstall your previous version of Windows and then try to upgrade to Windows 10.

Recommendations before upgrading

Although, Windows 10 should be an easy upgrade, the operating system runs on millions of computers with many hardware configurations, which makes it very difficult for anyone to create an operating system without any issues.

Today we've seen many things that can go wrong during the upgrade process, as such here are a few additional tips that should help to minimize the chances of running into problems.

First and foremost, before doing anything and before even thinking of upgrading, make sure to make a full backup of your computer. It's a very simple process that it shouldn't take a lot of time. You can refer to my previous guide to learn how do a system image backup of your computer (keep in mind that the instructions will also work with Windows 7).

Make sure to have your Windows product key written on a piece of paper. The five minutes that it takes to get the product key could save you from having to purchase a new license for Windows 10. (Refer to the instructions above.)

Once you have made a full backup, and you know your product key, when possible uninstall any program you don't need, or you think it could cause problems while upgrading to Windows 10. Also pay attention to older software as these could block and prevent a successful upgrade.

Also, disable and/or uninstall any security software, such as antivirus and firewalls.

Disconnect all the peripherals connected to your computer, you only need a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and a connection to the internet.

It's also a good idea to download all the drivers for your hardware before upgrading. You don't want to upgrade and then find out that your network adapter isn't working, or you're having issues with the graphics driver.

Wrapping things up

Microsoft may have released Windows 10 worldwide, but the operating system is far from complete. In the early days, we can expect problems like the ones we looked today, and more. However, the company is working around the clock to resolve all the issues.

If you want to avoid problems during the upgrade, you'll be safer to delay the upgrade until many of the problems are worked out. However, if you're eager to upgrade just remember to follow our recommendations. You should also Microsoft's advice and just reserve your copy using the "Get Windows 10" app and wait until the upgrade is ready for you.

Have you already upgraded? Did you run into any problems? Let us know your experience in the comments below!

If you think this guide is helpful, we have many more posts like this in our Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks page. Or try our massive Windows 10 Forums at Windows Central for more help!

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