Upgrade Windows 7 & Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 via ISO Image or ESD File

Microsoft has signed off Windows 10 Build 10240 as the final RTM build. Though many has doubted that the build 10240 is the RTM build as Microsoft has not confirmed it, but the build should be the one loaded and installed on new PCs, tablets, hybrids and other devices from OEM manufacturers that go on sale on Windows 10 launch day.

As such, it’s pretty ‘safe’ to install and upgrade current Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, using Windows 10 Build 10240. Even though the build version of Windows 10 released via Windows Update to general public on July 29th may be different, especially the minor version, it’s widely believed that Microsoft will publish ZDP (Zero Day Patch) or updates rollup to bring Windows 10 RTM up to date, in view of Windows as a service commitment from Microsoft, which promise free unlimited updates for the lifetime of the device.

Windows 10 is free upgrade for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 systems, except those belongs to businesses. Microsoft allows eligible systems to reserve Windows 10 free upgrade to automatically download the installation files and prompt users when upgrade is ready to install on or after July 29th. But if you cannot wait, you can perform the upgrade now, through the ISO image made from ESD archive that Microsoft is flighting to Windows Insiders.

The tutorial shows the guide on how to install and upgrade to Windows 10 through an ISO image, which could also be burned to DVD or wrote to bootable USB flash drive, or through ESD archive file downloaded from Windows Update.

1. Download the ISO image of Windows 10 RTM (Build 10240), e.g. en_windows_10_pro_10240_x64_dvd.iso or en_windows_10_pro_10240_x86_dvd.iso.

   Alternatively, you can download the ESD of Windows 10 RTM (Build 10240) online (e.g. 10240.16384.150709-1700.th1_clientpro_ret_x64fre_en-us.esd or 10240.16384.150709-1700.th1_clientpro_ret_x86fre_en-us.esd, 10240.16384.150709-1700.th1_clientcore_ret_x64fre_en-us.esd or 10240.16384.150709-1700.th1_clientcore_ret_x86fre_en-us.esd), or by setting up a Windows 10 Insider Preview OS on a virtual machine using builds such as Windows 10 Build 10162 or Windows 10 Build 10166, and allow Windows Update to download the Windows 10 Build 10240 ESD which normally stores in C:\$Windows.~BT hidden folder.

2. If you’re downloading an ESD file, decrypt and convert ESD to ISO image (both 1st option for WIM and 2nd option for ESD is fine).
3. In Windows 8.1, mount the ISO image.

   

   In Windows 7, uses a third party tool to mount the ISO, or burn the ISO image to disc or USB flash drive, or extract the content of the ISO to a folder with file archiver such as 7-Zip, WinRAR, WinZip, PowerArchiver and etc.

4. Execute the setup.exe program in the ISO image.

   

5. Select Download and install updates (recommended) or Not right now on whether to get the latest updates of Windows 10, then hit Next button.

   

   Note: This step may take a while if you choose to download and install updates.

6. Accept the license terms.

   

7. Choose what you want to keep:
   1. Keep personal files, apps and Windows settings – Recommended.
   2. Keep personal files only – Settings and apps will be deleted.
   3. Nothing – Everything will be deleted, including files, apps and settings.

   To ensure that your system’s hardware ID is properly registered for free Windows 10 upgrade license through device license with Microsoft, choose to keep everything. Hit Next button to continue.

   

8. Confirm the start of upgrading process to Windows 10 by hitting Install button.

   

9. Wait for the “Installing Windows 10” process to complete. The PC may restart several times during the update.
10. Once installation and upgrading to Windows 10 is completed, you will be greeted with a “Hi there, welcome back!” screen.

    

    Click or tap Next if you want to continue using the user account shown on the screen. Else, click or tap on I’m not <user name> link.

11. If you’re presented with “here’s the legal stuff” screen with Microsoft Software License Terms, select Accept to continue.

    

12. In “Get going fast” screen, select Use Express settings if you want to use Microsoft’s recommended settings. Else, click or tab Customize settings to manually configure each options.

    

    The options which can be customized and personalized including personalize your speech, typing, and inking input by sending contacts and calendar details, along with other associated input to Microsoft; send typing and inking date to Microsoft to improve the recognition and suggestion platform; let apps use your advertising ID for experience across apps; let Windows and apps request your location, including location history, and send Microsoft and trusted partners some location data to improve location services.

    

    And also use SmartScreen online services to help protect against malicious contents and downloads in sites loaded by Windows browsers and Store apps; use page prediction to improve reading, speed up browsing, and make your overall experience better in Windows browsers; automatically connect to suggested open hotspots; automatically connect to network shared by your contacts; send error and diagnostic information to Microsoft.

    

13. Photos, Music, Microsoft Edge, Movies and TV universal app will be made as the default app for the media or files they supported. If you prefer this arrangement, click or tap on Next button.

    

    If you want to maintain your existing default apps for all or selected file types, click or tap on Let me choose my default apps, and unselect (untick) the apps that you don’t want make default. Then, hit Next.

    

14. Wait for a while, and you should be back up at Windows 10.

You can downgrade from Windows 10 and rollback to original Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 if you wish.