Chapter 4: Upgrades and Clean Installs
In This Chapter
Finding out whether you can upgrade that old bucket
Upgrading online to Windows 8
Installing Windows 8 from a DVD
Cleaning the gunk off a new PC
What to do if Windows dies
If your current PC runs Windows 7, you can install Windows 8 over the top of the old system by using Microsoft’s online upgrade. Indeed, if you bought a new Windows 7 PC after June 1, 2012, you probably already have a $14.99 upgrade certificate in hand.
As long as your copy of Windows 7 bears a “genuine” product key the whole process takes less than 30 minutes — much less if you have a fast Internet connection. (“Genuine” being a Microsoft term that means your copy of Windows has passed an online test and doesn’t appear to be fake.)
I’ve been upgrading Windows machines since I moved from Windows 286 (a souped-up version of Windows 2.0) to Windows 3.0 on my trusty ...
