Are we?

Well, we should be.

Why?

Windows 10 is currently available as a free upgrade, and has been since the system launched nearly a year ago. That is now coming to an end. If you have a Windows 7 or 8 machine that you might want to upgrade in the future, you will have to do it before July 29th or face paying for it in the future.

What about Windows XP or Vista?

Those machines can’t upgrade to Windows 10.

So why should I bother?

If you were using Windows 8, the upgrade to Windows 10 is a no-brainer. It takes all the stuff that you hated about Windows 8 (the desktop as an app, the Start screen instead of the Start menu) and presents you instead with a more streamlined system.

There are universal apps, so if you buy something on desktop, it will work on your Windows 10 tablet or phone, if you have one. The Start menu makes a return of sorts, but it’s more of a melding of the Windows 7 and Windows 8 models, with live tiles and customisable bits.

The system will automatically detect what you are using – laptop or tablet – and adjust its interface. Windows 10 is also more secure than its predecessors.

One thing to remember, as well, is that whiile Windows 7 is still a great operating system, it is coming up to seven years old. At some point, like XP before it, Microsoft will stop rolling out updates for the system. Which means that any vulnerabilities discovered after that date may remain unpatched.

Windows 10, on the other hand, is shiny and new, and will be supported for far longer.

Can’t I just download it and decide later?

Nope. you have to activate it before the free upgrade period ends on July 29th, or else you will have to pay when you finally install it. Activation is the key thing here.

But what if I change my mind?

That’s fine. You can always roll back to the previous version of your operating system within 31 days of the install if you are using Windows 7. If you have your original install discs, you can resintall Windows 7 after that date, and in theory, go back to Windows 10 at a later date, since your system was already activated.

If you’re on Windows 8.1, we’d have to ask why you would want to go back – and, well, possibly question your sanity.

Okay, okay. So what should I do?

First, back up your entire system. Don’t be tempted to skip this step, because if something goes wrong, that back up will be the only way of restoring the system to its former glory.

The update itself should run smoothly, leaving all your files and software intact, but someone has to be the statistic, and if it turns out to be you, you’re going to want to have that safety net. Consider yourself warned.

To get your system ready, do a bit of cleaning up. Get rid of any software you don’t use any more, and remember that Windows 10 will automatically remove any programs that are incompatible. Some advocate removing third-party antivirus software and unplugging printers and other peripherals to avoid any issues with drivers.

When you are ready, go here and click Upgrade for Free to get started, and the Windows Upgrade Assistant will talk you through the steps, checking your system compatibility and so on.

Anything else I should know?

Yes. The Anniversary update is coming and bringing all sorts of interesting things with it, such as Windows Hello for apps and Microsoft Edge, Windows Ink and an expanded Cortana, where Microsoft’s digital assistant is available. That update will be free as well, by the way.