Since May 18, 2022, Microsoft has made available to users a new major update: the May Update "Windows 10 May 2022 Update". It is also propagated through Windows Update (via a manual trigger). This update can upgrade a Windows 10 system from a previous version to version 21H1. It contains some timid new features which we will come back to in more detail.
In practice: how to know my Windows 10 version
Eventually, everyone has an interest in switching to a new update. But should we jump on it? Generally, no, as early adopters generally clean up the plasters despite a very open testing phase thanks to the Insider program. Microsoft is also aware of this, as it initially distributes the update only to those who express the desire. The risks are very low given the new test protocol implemented, which does not prevent you from preparing a little.
In practice: preparing your PC for an upgrade
If you properly prepared your computer for this upgrade and performed the usual backups, what could be so bad? And if you really want to get started, why wait? Here's how.
Go through Windows Update
It is this method that will be offered to you by default in the more or less long term if you do not activate the installation yourself. Microsoft will warn you of its arrival but you can already launch a manual check from May 18, 2022 to see if it offers to launch it. And if you do it manually, it should (some configurations can be temporarily excluded in case incompatibilities are detected, in which case a specific message will appear in the interface).
Go to the settings in the "Update and security" section and then click on "Check for updates": how to check for Windows 10 update with Windows update.
Perform the proposed update, reboot, check again. If you are still not on the correct version, go to the next method.
2. Use the update wizard
If Windows Update does not decide to give you the update, Microsoft offers a tool to force the step. Download the Windows Upgrade Assistant tool and run it. It first detects the version of Windows 10 installed on the PC and offers the upgrade to the latest version 21H2 (build number 19043.985).
The Windows 10 Upgrade Assistant is Microsoft's official free tool to help you update features and services in your Windows 10 operating system.
- Release date: 11/17/2022
- Auteur: Microsoft Corporation
- License: Free license
- Categories: Operating System
- Operating system : Windows 10 / 11
It then verifies the compatibility of the PC and then downloads the updates. No need to burn the installation media, the tool takes care of managing the update installation. Remember to backup your data first.
Depending on the configuration, the installation may take a long time. In the case of a notebook PC, make sure you have connected the computer to a power source other than the battery.
3. Install from scratch with the media creation tool.
What if this upgrade was an opportunity to start with a new system? Sometimes, this solution can avoid errors generated by the upgrade process and offers the advantage of giving a breath of fresh air to PCs overloaded with obsolete applications and system files. Of course, you will have to save your personal files first as we are starting from scratch.
Download the media authoring tool and create a bootable installation DVD or installation USB. Insert it into your system and follow the guide choosing to do a fresh install.
With this tool, you can download Windows 10 to perform a new clean install on a computer or to upgrade your existing Windows platform.
- Release date: 11/17/2022
- Auteur: Microsoft
- License: Free license
- Categories: Utilities - Operating System
- Operating System : Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 10 / 11
Windows generally offers to save the previous installation in a Windows.old file (in the root of drive C:), even if it is wiser to protect your files.
- In practice: how to download the ISO installation of Windows 10
- or how to create a Windows 10 installation USB key
Once installed, Windows 10 will reactivate itself, you do not need to enter a key during the installation process if you have made sure that Windows 10 was activated before starting the procedure. In fact, a fingerprint of your PC is saved on Microsoft's servers which will recognize it as soon as you connect.
Did it go wrong?
It happens that upgrade procedures do not always go as desired: missing driver, black screen, inability to boot or difficulties in finding an old functionality. The tools integrated in Windows 10 allow you to go back to the previous version. It is also possible to repair an installation.
In practice: which solutions to repair Windows 10
In all cases, and unless there is a hardware problem, there are solutions. If you do not find your happiness in the windows 10 tutorials You can contact our community. Quite active on Windows questions, you will have a good chance to find potential customers by making your request on the Windows 10 forum.
