The computer you have today may be great. It turns off and on like it’s supposed to, you’re fully loaded with the latest version of Microsoft Office, but at some point, your operating system will become out of date.
If you’re worried that you’ll need to scrap your two-year-old laptop the next time Microsoft rolls out a new operating system, that doesn’t have to concern you.
You may be surprised that upgrading to a new OS (and wiping your old one from your hard drive) isn’t nearly as complicated as you might think it is.
First thing first
Yes, if you want to bring your computer to our office, we’ll be more than happy to help you accomplish this task, but if you’re up for trying to handle this on your own, this blog can help walk you through it.
If you’re going to upgrade your OS from a system that’s already installed, the first thing you’ll need to do is to get a license from Microsoft. In some cases, you may be able to obtain a free license from their website. In most cases, Microsoft will offer a free upgrade to certain users, or to users who haven’t owned their current computers for an extended period of time.
Suffice to say, if you’re running Windows 98, you’re going to be out of luck.
If you’re unable to obtain a free license, you do have the option of purchasing one.
Using the handy dandy install tool
Microsoft provides an upgrade tool for users who are running newer versions of an OS but prefer to upgrade to the latest one.
The tool will walk you through the process, step by step.
You’ll start by clicking on the icon that reads “upgrade this PC now.” From there, you’ll want to click “Use recommended options for this PC,” which will automatically help download the correct software version.
Most of the prompts from here are self-explanatory and will include things like “select language” and “time and currency format.” During these steps, you’ll (likely) want to choose English, along with your current time zone (Eastern, Mountain or Pacific).
Finally, when the Activate Windows screen appears, this is where you’ll want to input your Windows license key.
Remember, it’s not unusual for an OS install to take a bit if time, and your computer may reboot several times during the process.
Have questions? Call RMCS today
If you have questions about how to upgrade your current operating system or you would like more information about the steps associated with completing this type of task on your own, we can help.
At Rocky Mountain Computer Specialists, we have decades (literally decades) of experience in helping individuals and business owners with all of their IT needs.