Upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 10

[photolady]

I have my eldest brother's computer here, one I rebuilt for him. In attempting just now to install Windows 10, I came up with information I couldn't answer, i.e., his email. He doesn't have an email address yet, he's also never used a computer but wants to learn. He's 74 years old. So, I'm trying to make this as easy as I can for him. I'm installing Windows 7 on it right now but what I need to know is if I do an upgrade to Windows 10, will I still have to provide an email address?

[Midknyte]

will I still have to provide an email address?

No. You can install Win10 with a local account. It's not much different from Win8/8.1
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/instal...-local-account

[jdc2000]

More links that you might find useful:

http://www.zdnet.com/article/heres-h...ws-10-upgrade/

http://www.zdnet.com/article/hands-o...he-real-world/

http://www.zdnet.com/article/top-win...t-it-for-free/

[photolady]

Thanks guys. Since his Windows 7 is 32 bit, would I need the same for Windows 10?

[Midknyte]

Since his Windows 7 is 32 bit, would I need the same for Windows 10?

Yep. You can't upgrade from a 32-bit to 64-bit. It would have to be a clean install.

[jdc2000]

You should be able to do that, however, a clean install is required, which means re-installing all application programs and settings.

How much memory does his system have? If it only has 4 GB or less, then a 32 bit Windows 10 would be OK.

Links:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com...10itprogeneral

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...f-aeab312caf74

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-u...ion-windows-10

https://www.infopackets.com/news/964...dows-10-64-bit

https://www.easeus.com/todo-backup-r...sing-data.html

[photolady]

The only thing installed at this point is the motherboard drivers and Nvidia driver for the stand alone Geforce 210 500GB card. I don't really have any programs to give him. I was going to setup Libreoffice for him to use as a word processor. But other than that, there isn't anything I know that he wants.

Now that I know for sure how to get past the Microsoft account thing, I'll do a clean install like I started to do. But I have to check to see if motherboard has drivers for Windows 10.

[jdc2000]

What motherboard does that system have?

[ttodd]

was going to mention too,, perhaps he could create a Microsoft __@outlook.com account This way if his PC every gets a revamp and use the outlook account it has in its cloud base the settings you are just now setting up for him.. also can be use as an email account .. or just create a new gmail account too..

[photolady]

I appreciate you trying to help Todd but my brother has never had an email address, he has never used a computer before and I want to make this easiest as I can for him.

I'll install as Midknyte and jdc suggests without using an email.

[photolady]

Success. Window 10 64 bit installed. Installing Firefox now. Will install drivers next.

[photolady]

It was until I went to activate it. Now it says it can't activate it without a key. So, what's the sense in being able to install without a key, if after installing you need a key to activate it?

[jdc2000]

Did you try the Windows 7 key?

[photolady]

Yes, I did and it said it couldn't activate under that key.

[photolady]

I'm going to go back and just put his Windows 7 on it. Though it's only 32bit I think what he does on his computer that 3.25gbs of ram will be enough.

I talked to him this morning and he said he didn't want Windows 10 on there. So that fixes that problem.