Microsoft has started to notify eligible Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 systems about the free upgrade offer to Windows 10, and accept reservation of the free upgrade for automatic download once Windows 10 is available. Thanks to a recommended update KB3035583 which was released on early April, upon starting or rebooting your PC on May 31st, 2015, a new icon appears in the system tray (notification area) which when hovered the mouse over, is showing “Get Windows 10”.
In addition, a “Get Windows 10” notification window is also popping up, explaining how the free upgrade works, checking for system and apps compatibility with Windows 10, allowing users to reserve the free upgrade to Windows 10 and showing off the features of Windows 10, as well as verifying the genuine status of current Windows OS.
If you click or right click on the “Get Windows 10” icon in notification area, you’re presented with several options, including “Get Windows 10” which opens the above window, “Check your upgrade status”, “Go to Windows Update”, and “Get to know Windows 10”.
The registration to reserve the free upgrade in the “Get Windows 10” app asks for an optional email address. In fact, the “reservation” should be just an consent for the download of Windows 10 to be done automatically. Through KB3035583 update, a file named GWXUXWorker.EXE will download Windows 10. Once you registered and reserved, you will be notified after Windows 10 was successfully downloaded to your device, and you only have to click to install.
Once reserved, Windows Update will display prominently that the system is pending upgrade to Windows 10.
In addition, the reservation of free Windows 10 upgrade is also offered during the initial setup process when upgrading to Windows 8.1, when when clean installing Windows 8.1 with November Update roll-up and are connected to the Internet.
Not receiving the offer to upgrade? Here’s some possible issues that block or prevent Get Windows 10 app from offering you the option to make the free Windows 10 upgrade reservation now:
Your device isn’t up-to-date with at least Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update.
Windows Update is turned off or is not set to receive updates automatically (specifically KB3035583).
You’ve blocked or uninstalled the necessary Windows Update functionality (specifically KB3035583).
Your device is not running genuine Windows.
Your device does not meet the base system requirements of Windows 10.
Your computer is joined to a domain (workaround is to temporarily unjoin from the domain).
Clean install and activate Windows 10 is allowed (No Windows 10 product key is issued for Windows 10 upgrade license acquired under the free upgrade program. However, Microsoft records the device’s hardware ID or HWID on its activation server when the device is first upgraded to Windows 10 and activated. On future reinstallation of Windows 10, the device will automatically be granted permanent activation status when the activation server detects its matching hardware ID).
LK is a technology writer for Tech Journey with background of system and network administrator. He has be documenting his experiences in digital and technology world for over 15 years.Connect with LK through Tech Journey on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
