Forcing the upgrade to Windows 10

Since its start of distribution last summer Windows 10 has been deployed on a lot of former Windows 7 oder 8 computers. At the beginning you could wait for a while to get your upgrade - by now it usually doesn't take too long for an invitation to upgrade. And if not, you can force it with a tool...

In the case of a newly-installed Windows 7 with missing updates you usually have to wait for a while to get the direct opportunity to upgrade to the latest Microsoft operating system.

The folder on drive C:\

Following this link you'll find a Microsoft tool (GetWindows10-Web_Default_Attr.exe) with which you can start the upgrade. It goes through a few steps: Of course first the download itself. While the process on the C:\ drive three new folders are created (as seen on the right).

It's important to keep this download running - what also means having a proper internet connection. Once this download is aborted for some reason you can't continue it with this tool.  

You get the message, that you need another restart to make this tool work again, which will appear every time you try. You need to delete these new folders on the C:\ which is in the easiest way only possible by starting your computer with a Live OS on a CD/DVD. 

Else, the biggest file within this folders can't be deleted because it's in use. Maybe Safe Mode is another way, you just have to get rid of these folders. Once that's done, you can continue by starting the tool again.

After the download follow some checking routines and you have to accept the license agreement before a search for updates starts.

Following that the usual Windows 10 installation procedure continues.

And that's it.