How to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to 10

Hi Callahan,

Welcome to Microsoft Community.

I'm Hahn and I'm here to help you with your concern.

At this time, we do not offer free upgrades from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 or Windows 11.

If you would like to purchase a Windows 10 or Windows 11 system, please see the links below or contact your retailer to learn about your options.

PS: Free upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11 are currently available.

System requirements for installing Windows 10:

Download Address: Download Windows 10 (microsoft.com)

**** Download Windows 10 Home | Microsoft

Note: January 31, 2023 will be the last day this Windows 10 download is offered for sale.

For more information, please refer to the following links:

Upgrade to Windows 10: FAQ - Microsoft Support

If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Your Sincerely

Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Gentlemen, is there anyway to continue this pursuit? What needs to be done to figure out why I am unable to upgrade my system from 8.1 to 10 or 11, please?

Thank you, Hanna, but I never inquired as to a free upgrade - I asked about the process and inquired if there was an app that checked my current desktop to determine if it could be upgraded.

At this point, I downloaded Windows 10 on a USB drive and started to install it. It stopped at 26% and returned my system to its previous state, without explanation. When I ran the install app a second time from the USB, an error came up, 'Modern Setup Host has stopped working' and quite. Any advice on this?

Hanna, I ran the installation process once from the MediaCreationTool and separately from a USB. Same exact issue with Setup Host - same exact details.

Hi Callahan,

Just click here Update Now, it will help you check if your current device supports Windows 10 upgrade.

About 'Modern Setup Host has stopped working'.

There are different issues why this problem occurs including wrong system configuration, the problem with upgrade process and others.

You can try the following methods:

1.Check free Hard Drive space

One of the reasons why you cannot upgrade your Windows machine is because you do not have enough free space on your system partition.

Media Creation Toolkit requires 8GB for downloading the update to your machine. 

We are recommending you minimum 15GB + additional storage for your apps and data.

2.Disable services not related to Microsoft, disable startup programs and change regional Windows settings

(1) Hold Windows logo and press R

(2) Type msconfig and press Enter to open System Configuration

(3) Choose Startup tab and then click Open Task Manager

(4) Choose Startup tab, again

(5) Disable all application for this time, by doing right click on application and choose

(6) Close Task Manager

(7) Restart your Windows machine

(8) Run Windows upgrade

(1) Hold Windows logo and press R

(2) Type control panel and press Enter to open Control Panel

(3) ChooseView by Category

(4) ClickClock, Language, and Region

(5) ClickRegion

(6) ChooseLocationtab

(7) Under **Home,**location choose the United States

(8) Click Apply and then OK

(9) UnderClock, Language, and RegionclickLanguageto add another one language

(10) Click Add a language

(11) Choose English and click Open

(12) Choose **English (United States)**and click Add

(13) Under languages select your previous language and choose Remove

(14) Close Control Panel

(15) Restart your Windows machine

(16) Upgrade to Windows 10

(17) Enable services, startup programs and change regional settings

3.Perform DISM and SFC scans

Search for “cmd” inside Windows search bar. Right click on command prompt and click on Run as administrator.

Type the following command and press Enter to run a full system scan to check the integrity of system components:

sfc /scannow

DISMis used when asfc/scannowcommand is unable to repair corrupted or modified system files.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

This command will scan all system files and compare them with the official system files, scanning the computer for inconsistencies.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth

This command must be used after the previous command has been executed and the system file is found to be corrupted.

DISM /Online /Cleanup-image /RestoreHealth

This command is to restore those different system files to the official system source files.

Reboot after completion and type the following command angin:

sfc /scannow

Check if the system files are repaired.

If there is anything not clear, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Your Sincerely

Hahn - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist