--- title: Upgrade Paths to Windows 10 description: Upgrading to a new version of Windows, soon to be Windows 10, usually sounds like a straightforward process; unfortunately it is not without PCmover. image: https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Upgrade%20Paths%20to%20Windows%2010.png --- TRUSTED FOR OVER 40 YEARS - [About Laplink](https://go.laplink.com/about-us) - [About Us](https://go.laplink.com/about-us) - [Management](https://go.laplink.com/management) - [Careers](https://go.laplink.com/careers) - [Laplink Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/) - [Media Center](https://news.laplink.com/) - [Support](https://contact.laplink.com) - [Knowledge Base](https://help.laplink.com) - [Laplink Account Login](https://laplink.com/mysupport/default.asp?FinishURL=/mysupport/mysupport.asp) - [Contact](https://contact.laplink.com/) [![Laplink](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Blog%20%20Main/images/logo-white.png?width=750&height=242&name=logo-white.png "Laplink")](https://www.laplink.com/) - 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Evaluation requests are processed and approved usually within one business day. Please fill out the form below. Please note the Evaluation copy of PCmover Enterprise requires you to be logged into a domain when testing. If you would like to test Enterprise without this requirement, please contact corpsales@laplink.com to receive an alternate copy of the software. Thank you for your interest, and for choosing Laplink Software! ##### Contact Sales × ![Featured Image](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Upgrade%20Paths%20to%20Windows%2010.png) # Upgrade Paths to Windows 10 Published by [Thomas Koll, CEO](https://blog.laplink.com/author/thomas-koll-ceo) on June 26, 2015 at 1:07 AM Upgrading to a new version of Windows, soon to be Windows 10, usually sounds like a straightforward process: - Download the software (or install via a DVD/CD); - Run the installer, upgrade the OS; - *Voila!* Everything should be in place. [![in place upgrades](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/in-place-upgrades-1.png?width=720&height=405&name=in-place-upgrades-1.png)](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/in-place-upgrades.png?hsLang=en)For all scenarios which are not “green” it’s a different story. In particular, any remaining Windows XP users and all Windows Vista users cannot easily upgrade, and users running the 32-bit version of Windows 7/8/8.1 don’t have an easy (in-place) upgrade to the 64-bit Version of Windows 10, either.Unfortunately, it’s different. While there are many ways to migrate or upgrade to a new version of Windows, only a few options actually allow an in-place upgrade. The chart below depicts the different options available with the green boxes indicating upgrades “out of the box”. These scenarios require a “clean” or “custom” install of Windows, which can be done either by reformatting the hard drive or by “over-installing” the new operating system. Both cases result in the applications, data, and settings being moved to different directories, and the existing applications will not work as they are not registered with the new OS. Laplink® has created a solution with PCmover® that allows in-place upgrades. The table below indicates that all upgrade scenarios which are not supported “out of the box” are supported by PCmover. [![upgrade paths](https://blog.laplink.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/upgrade-paths-3.png?width=720&height=600&name=upgrade-paths-3.png)](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/upgrade-paths-2.png?hsLang=en) In the next blog post, we will dive deeper into the two core migration scenarios PCmover supports. Tags: [PC Migration](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/pc-migration), [PC software](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/pc-software), [Windows operating system](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/windows-operating-system), [How To](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/how-to), [PCmover Image & Drive Assistant](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/pcmover-image-drive-assistant), [PCmover](https://blog.laplink.com/tag/pcmover) [Back to Blog](https://blog.laplink.com) #### Add Comment Published by #### Thomas Koll, CEO ![Author Image](https://blog.laplink.com/hubfs/TKauthor.jpg) As Chairman of the Board and CEO of Laplink, Thomas guides the company’s strategic direction. Prior to joining Laplink in 2003, Thomas was Chairman of the Board for Infowave, where he was involved in interfacing with global business and financial communities. Thomas also served as Infowave’s Chief Executive Officer from February 2001 to April 2002. Prior to joining Infowave, Thomas worked at Microsoft for more than 13 years. He was Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Network Solutions Group where he was responsible for Microsoft’s worldwide business with telecommunication companies. Thomas was instrumental in developing Microsoft’s vision for the communications industry and led the development of strategic partnerships in mobility, broadband and hosting. Previously, he was General... [Read more about Thomas Koll, CEO...](https://blog.laplink.com/author/thomas-koll-ceo) ## Related Articles ## [A Solution to Windows upgrade problems](https://blog.laplink.com/2015/08/01/a-solution-to-the-windows-upgrade-dilemma?hsLang=en) [Read More ](https://blog.laplink.com/2015/08/01/a-solution-to-the-windows-upgrade-dilemma?hsLang=en) ## [Solution to the Windows Easy Transfer Problem: PCmover - Laplink's Technology Blog](https://blog.laplink.com/2013/11/21/solution-to-the-windows-easy-transfer-problem-pcmover?hsLang=en) Microsoft users upgrading to Windows 8.1 were in for a big shock when they opened their trusty... 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