Official Download Links for Windows 10 Technical Preview and More
There are those in the know who say that if you download and install Windows 10 Technical Preview that you’ll get all new versions as they come along (the so-called upgrade path) including the final (released to the public) version, thus avoiding the wait, the rush, the upgrade and all of that. And it appears that this information is correct and verified by Microsoft (see this article and this one).
Only users who have connected their Windows 10 preview to their Microsoft accounts will be able to upgrade. A Microsoft account is any Microsoft email address (@hotmail.com, @outlook.com. @live.com, @msn.com); you can get an @outlook.com account free in the unlikely event you don’t have one yet.
All from Microsoft Official site:
Windows 10 Build 9926, English version, Product key: NKJFK-GPHP7-G8C3J-P6JXR-HQRJR
| Windows 10 Technical Preview (x64) Download ISO (3.92 GB) | SHA-1 hash: 6A95316728299D95249A29FBEB9676DED23B8BEB |
| Windows 10 Technical Preview (x86) Download ISO (3.01 GB) | SHA-1 hash: 1AE10947CC297AE299E1C81F95812EFBB5C84121 |
You can use the ISO file to create an installation USB or DVD (we suggest you make and installation DVD as some older computer’s are not set up to install from USB, whereas most all computers are set to boot from DVD/CD ). You can then install Windows 10 Technical Preview from the USB or DVD that you created. If you do this don’t forget to sign up using a Microsoft account.
As far as using the Windows 10 Technical Preview goes, it’s at the point where it’s very stable and you should not have any problems any problem at all with it. However, if you install it on your computer and if Microsoft changes their mind about giving preview version users the RTM version (final version), there may not be a way to go back to your previous versions. We recommend that you wait until 29 July 2015 to get Windows 10 just to be on the safe side – that’s our opinion. But we know that you’re reading this story in other places and may be thinking that it’s carved in stone that preview users will get the RTM upgrade – and while it sure looks like they will, there is no guarantee.
So, isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?
Thanks for the tip folks. I was wondering what I (as a computer challenged old buzzard) should do. Now I know. WAIT TILL JULY 29.
Arnie Brown in Nova Scotia
Yes if you’re not really computer savvy then you should wait until July 29.
I’ve seen the articles on how to do this. For those that are excited about MS Windows 10, and plan to use it, I can certainly see the advantage. I’ve supported Microsoft and their operating systems beginning in the MS-DOS days and progressing through each OS that they released. Some were better than others. None were ever what I would term non-problematic. For those that know the release history of OS’s by MS, you know that there have been a lot of them. I’ve encountered each one and I’m at the point that I can no longer get excited about a new MS Windows version release. For me its like, ho hum, another one to have to turn inside out simply to make it run and keep it running for the sake of security and productivity. I will admit that I haven’t installed it and probably won’t except for one unit in case I get questions about it. I’ve been focusing far more on Linux as of late. Overall, I’ve simply grown weary of Microsoft for enough reasons that I do not have room to expound upon here. They have made high levels of contribution to the computer industry over the years. However, for me, they have outlasted their usefulness. Thanks for indulging me. Just my 2 cents worth. Have a good day and happy computing to all!
Microsoft is going in a different direction – this (according to them) is the last named version of Windows. Everything that follows will be simply updates -no Windows 11, Windows 12 etc. So no, this is not like Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows ME. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 8x. You say there have been a lot of Windows releases, but there have been only 8 in 22 years; Windows 10 will be the ninth and final named / numbered version of Windows. I’m not a Microsoft fan anymore, I just want to make sure people know that “a lot” of Windows versions, is really only 8 in 22 years.
So I have to disagree; this is not just another ordinary Windows release to make more money for Microsoft. They’re giving it away free for users of Windows 7 and Windows 8.