upgrade to Windows 10 July 29 for free

edit: July 29

I did a post June 29 for Alienware Club members, now relocated here by a forum employee

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here's a Dell W10 support page:

http://www.dell.com/support/contents/us/en/19/article/Product-Support/Self-support-Knowledgebase/Windows-Operating-Systems/windows-10-support/upgrade-to-windows-10

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--> Download Windows 10 <--

the link can help you upgrade to W10 or download-burn your ISO to usb/dvd & save it / install later, using the Media Kreation Tool:

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Installing Windows 10 using the media creation tool:

• http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install?ocid=ms_wol_win10

W10 FAQ: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/faq

• Note sections on W7 W8/8.1 Product Keys which may be reqwired in a W10 installation

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You may have gotten an update notification in the past 2-3 days - KB2952664 - which may pertain to upgrading to W10 through Windows Update &/or pertain to the W10 icon in your taskbar described in my original June 29 post, below:

• Compatibility update for upgrading Windows 7
• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2952664
• "This update helps Microsoft make improvements to the current operating system in order to ease the upgrade experience to the latest version of Windows"

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- Original June 29 Post -

Win10 details on Microsoft.com:

• http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-upgrade

If you do not see the win10 icon in your tray, see the Win10 Q & A Page here:

• http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-faq
• 'PCs that we determine cannot run Windows 10 will not see the Get Windows 10 app before July 29, 2015. After July 29, 2015, we’ll enable the icon in the system tray. This is to help ensure that you can easily check your PC’s compatibility if you choose'.

On Arena there was talk of a 'batch file' which may (or may not) 'help' the icon appear in your tray:

• Your thoughts on Windows 10?
• http://na.alienwarearena.com/forums/thread/86560/general-1/your-thoughts-on-windows-10/9
• reqwires account with www.dropbox.com
• I have no opinion on running this file, try the Win10 Q & A Page 1st, to help trouble-shoot the upgrade / reserve icon in your tray

this Arena thread discusses ways to 'help' the icon materialize, on page 9

note: there is a discussion on page 9 of obtaining windows 10 ... for free... for life ... 1year to reserve it

*** no, I will not be fielding qwestions on how-to get the win10 app icon in your tray ***

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~ W10 App comes as an update (kb3035583) ~

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/search?query=kb3035583

'KB3035583 installed but not icon on taskbar'

• http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/kb3035583-installed-but-not-icon-on-taskbar/469b02ee-fdec-4cdb-836c-c69664e74d3e?auth=1

KB3035583 won't show up in Windows Update

• http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/kb3035583-wont-show-up-in-windows-update/d4527a0e-bb42-4232-b526-2c883de9e3b5?auth=1

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B4 upgrading to Win10, I recommend buying a new hard disk for it &/or imaging / backing up your current version of Windows 7 / 8 using Acronis or your favorite disk-cloning software, backing up your system on Dvd or other media (external hard drive etc) using Windows Backup & Restore > Create a system image (or similar method), as it may not be wise to wipe your current install off your hard disk:

• it's probable that if u install win10 over your current 7/8, you'll have erased it for good, leading back to a time-consuming reinstall of 7/8 & other related software, big-time hassle

If that means buying a separate hard disk or other products, now is the time to consider your options, as you may 'upgrade' to Win10 (& keep your files) or possibly install it fresh / clean, hopefully on its own drive. A viable option is to image your install onto another drive, then 'upgrade' to win10 with it, using your image & 'saving' your old install on its own drive for safe-keeping. There are several options at hand, so do what's best for you. I won't have time to handle people's qwestions & concerns, I'm simply putting basic information together here as we do the win10 countdown to help others prep for it.

For now, if your upgrade icon is absent, work on getting it in your tray soon ...

If you own Area-51 R1 or Aurora, note that it may be necessary to disconnect your master i/o board's usb connector prior to any new windows install, then reconnect it after the install, while noting that it is too soon to know the exact / best procedure to install this newest version of windows. If you have a success story, & 'keep' your AlienFx, do chime in here or elsewhere, tell us what you did to have a successful win10 install or other related bits of advice when it launches next month:

1. How to: Clean install Windows 7 (64 bit) on Alienware Desktop:

• http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19376654

Area-51 R1 Windows 10 Technical Preview Success Command Center & AlienFx 2.8.11.0 / 2.8.09.0 & Top Vents Issue / Fix:

• http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19625158

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Trying the Free Preview of Win10

Since we can't know yet how the newest windows will behave in our aliens, you still have a month to try the free preview & get used to what it might look & perform like. Now might be a good time to try it out, see what happens, see what has to happen, so that when win10 goes live next month the experience of installing it & all of your related software (Command Center of course) will be a little less mysterious. Again, best to try the preview out on its own drive, as it will wipe-out your current install as soon as it begins to install itself.

Here's where & here's how: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-iso

A newer (July 2nd) 'build' was released today with added tweaks:

• Microsoft has released multiple Windows 10 builds this week to users enrolled in the Windows Insiders program, mainly those in the fast ring, with the latest one being the Windows 10 build 10162 yesterday. Earlier today, Microsoft's head of Windows Insider Program, Gabriel Aul announced that the latest build is now also available as an ISO for users who wish to install it through other media devices such as a DVD or a USB drive

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to prep my Aliens for W10, I've purchased a heap of WD Sata-drives to help get the ball rolling; four will be used for the main images, four will house the cloned images (for safe-keeping / backups, using Acronis disk-clone software), two held back as working spares. Ssd's &/or larger drives can be purchased later, after W10's auditioned. Sata drives can be picked up cheap on eBay in order to help your upgrade happen, hopefully making your W10 initial test-drive experience a painless one.

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July 5, I've installed W10 Preview on my Aurora R4:

• Aurora R4 Windows 10 Insider Preview Success Command Center 3.5.10 & AlienFx Using Latest Build 10162
• http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19639868

7/12: my Area-51's on a newer W10 build 10166 w/out issue, CmndCntr / AlienFx so far so good