The best Wi-Fi router for your home office If you’ve lost it or can’t find it anymore, one of the easiest ways to get your Windows 8/8.3G shutdown is underway: Check your devices now Look for it at the base of your Windows 8 laptop or any other spot where the manufacturer has pasted a sticker. If your PC or laptop came preinstalled with Windows 8/8.1, the product key is visible on a sticker on the device. If you bought a physical copy of Windows 8/8.1, it should be on a label or card inside the box where Windows 8.1 was shipped. You can find your 25-character code Windows product key depending on how you acquired your Windows copy. How can I find the product key for Windows 8 or Windows 8.1? Furthermore, If you are installing Windows 8.1 for the first time, you need access to the Internet during the installation, a blank USB flash drive with at least 4 GB space, and your Windows 8 product key.Īlso read: How to Install Windows 11 on Unsupported PCs (And Why You Shouldn’t) Frequently Asked Questions 1. Back up your files, plug in your laptop and turn off any antivirus program to finish the update. The steps for Windows 10 and Windows 11 clean installation work the same on Windows 8.1. Once the ISO file is downloaded, you will have to proceed with a clean installation of Windows 8.1, which has been properly discussed above. It is well known that Microsoft’s free online upgrade offer from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 ended back in 2016, but there are still ways for you to migrate from Windows 8.1 to the latest version of Windows 10. However, for those looking to upgrade to Windows 10, a few options are still available. If you want to continue to use Windows 8 or 8.1, you can – it’s still very much a safe operating system to use. Should You Upgrade to Windows 10 Before 2023?

In fact, these are all points we covered in our guide to securing Windows 7 past its support deadline.

In fact, quite a few users are still sticking to Windows 7, and that operating system lost all support back in January 2020.Īs it turns out, losing support does not immediately mean the operating system is a sitting duck in the cybersecurity world.īy deploying a solid antivirus, maintaining a good firewall, and staying safe while online, you can continue using an old operating system. However, that’s not to say that Windows 8.1 will suddenly fall apart once the deadline comes around. Since Microsoft will no longer patch them, it’s a persistent hole in your system’s defenses.Īlso read: What Computer Worms Are and Why They’re Still Dangerous The biggest problem you’ll find is the development and discovery of security flaws in the operating system.

Can macs run windows 8