So it’s July 29th and you’re patiently waiting for your install of Windows 10 to begin but there’s nothing but silence! Or you made your reservation and you see this screen:
What? Notify me when ready? What’s the fun in that?
Basically, Microsoft is telling you it will roll your copy of Windows 10 when they are good and ready. Okay, that’s bad enough but what is worse if you registered for your free copy of Windows 10 the odds are the files necessary to install the new OS have already been pushed to your computer on July 28th. Why are they teasing us like this? Well, Microsoft wants this to work so they are making sure this rollout is both controlled and working plus they don’t want to swamp their support centers with calls.
Well, that’s annoying but there is a way to install Windows 10 right now. It requires a few skills but nothing too crazy! This works because Microsoft has been busily pushing Windows 10 to your machine throughout the day beginning on July 28!
Like any install this can screw up your computer but why should you let Microsoft have all the fun with messing up your computer!
Here’s what to do step by step:
1. If you reserved your copy go to Explorer and look for a folder named $Windows. ~BT. Make sure you have Hidden Files visible. Checkout the size of the fold should be between 3 to 6 GB in size. If not reserve your copy and wait a day or two and check again.
2. In a folder called “Sources” look for a large file named Install.ESD. The 64 bit version is 2.7 GB in size with the 32-bit being smaller and is a Electronic Store Download file containing your copy of Windows 10 whether it be 32 or 62 bit. If the file is there you are good to go and burn an image to install!
3. Go to TenForums.com and install a utility call ESDtoISO. Follow the instructions at the site and you should be able to create a bootable Windows 10 ISO file that you now burn to a DVD or install on a USB stick. Keep in mind what license you have installed.
Warning: If you are crazy enough to install on several machines don’t install a 64-bit version on a 32-bit machine, your license won’t support it. Also, I almost made a blunder don’t install Home over Home Premium. That would have been an instant downgrade! (Note: Windows 7 & 8 qualify for the free Windows 10 upgrade by the way. Vista is out and so is XP.)
Warning: Keep a copy of the ESD file because upon using the DVD the Windows 10 install process will erase the contents of $Windows. ~BT!
4. Make sure all is working well on your computer and backup your computer before installing especially your work! You must do this! Do not got commando!
5. Pop in the DVD and either reboot the computer or just run Setup.exe from the DVD or USB stick. Follow the instructions and enjoy being one of the first to install Windows 10 before midnight and hopefully without incident!
Update on my own Windows 10 Lenovo Thinkpad install: It worked taking a little under an hour and strangely the screen went dark for awhile but I could see the drive lights working. Once booted i could login with no problem but then the Start Menu froze big time. I had to reboot but everything appears to be working fine now! It also created a 24 GB backup folder of the old Windows OS which was 7.
If you haven’t reserved your copy go ahead and do so and hopefully the files will be pushed to you within a few days.
If you have questions I’ll try and answer them for you! And if you are an author check out my book marketing services at BookIM.org.
And if the install didn’t work out please don’t be hater!
Which version? From PCMag:
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