Windows 10 has developed a lot since its market launch in autumn 2015. However, Microsoft has not yet been able to convince all users to switch to the current system. In case you are still skeptical whether Windows 10 is an improvement or not, we have good news: You can try the current Microsoft operating system for free and completely legally! You even have more than one option to choose from. Compared to Windows 7 times, Microsoft is now much more flexible when it comes to testing new software. So you can officially try Windows 10 as a complete virtual machine, as an extended enterprise edition or even as a “real” installation without a product key. We show you how it works.
Install Windows 10 as a virtual machine for free
One of the easiest ways to try out a new operating system is to use a virtual machine. The system runs, so to speak, in a program window on another computer that acts as a "host". What sounds complicated is quite easy to implement in practice - especially when the associated files are available free of charge. This is exactly what Microsoft is making possible with Windows 10: The Windows makers make the current system available for download as a finished virtual machine free of charge. The corresponding images are available for various virtualization solutions, for example VMWare, Parallels and VirtualBox, which is completely free for private users. This way, you can even try Windows 10 on a different operating system like Linux.Simply visit the following website: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/ . Here you select “ MSEdge on Win10 ” under “ Virtual Machine ” and then your virtualization solution under “ Select platform ”. Then click on “ Download ZIP ” to start the 4.3 gigabyte download. Incidentally, the virtual machines always contain the latest version of Windows 10, so you don't have to manually install the major updates.
Microsoft offers Windows 10 as a virtual machine for free download. After the download, unzip the ZIP file . Then you have to import the finished virtual machine into the program of your choice. With VirtualBox , for example, click on “ File - Import Appliance ” in the start menu . Now navigate to the folder (in this case with an “OVA” file) and select it. As soon as the import is complete, you can start the free Windows 10 VM. This can be used for 90 days without any restrictions. After that, you can simply download a new VM from the linked page and repeat the import. You can change the Windows system language from English to German via “ Settings - Language & Input ”.
Thanks to Microsoft's free VMs, you can also test Windows 10 on other operating systems such as macOS. Try Windows 10 Enterprise for free
Testing Windows 10 in a virtual environment gives a good impression of the system. However, even on fast hardware, virtual machines generally work more slowly than “real” installations. Microsoft provides an alternative with the evaluation edition of Windows 10 Enterprise . This is aimed at companies, but can also be downloaded and tried out as a private person. To do this, visit this link https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-10-enterprise and fill out the form under “ Start the evaluation ”. You can then download an ISO file from Windows 10 Enterprise and burn it to a bootable USB stick or DVD, for example. This allows you to install the Enterprise Edition of Windows 10 on a desktop PC or laptop and test it in a real environment for 90 days without restrictions. Despite the company-centric nature of the Enterprise Edition, Windows 10 works practically the same as the Home or Pro Edition. So you get a good impression of the performance of Windows 10 and can decide in peace whether you want to switch to the new system or not..
Microsoft is offering the Enterprise Edition of Windows 10 for a free 90-day trial for download A major disadvantage of this method: After the 90-day test period, you can no longer use the Windows installation . Windows 10 Enterprise will then automatically shut down after one hour. In other words: If you decide to switch to Windows 10, you will have to start from scratch with a Home or Pro installation. This method is particularly suitable if you can install Windows 10 via dual boot or if you have a test PC available. If this is not the case, the VM use described above is recommended.
Install Windows 10 without a product key
You can also temporarily install Windows 10 without entering a product key, thereby avoiding activation for a maximum of 30 days. However, this is only legal if you already have a suitable license. To do this, simply click on the “ I do not have a product key ” link when asked for the activation key during installation . You can then continue setting up Windows 10 as normal and use the system on your computer..
Unlike its predecessors, Windows 10 allows installation without entering a product key.
A Windows installation carried out in this way on real hardware is fully functional and - unlike the enterprise solution above - can be used permanently. After a period of 30 days , Windows 10 requires you to enter a valid product key in order to activate the system at Microsoft. Various functions are deactivated beforehand, such as the adaptation of the taskbar or the Windows design. Otherwise Windows behaves normally and also receives the important security updates. To catch up on entering the installation key, open the Windows 10 settings and navigate to the “ Update and Security - Activation ” area. Here click on “ Change Product Key ”And enter the key that activates your edition of Windows 10.
In order to use Windows 10 legally on a permanent basis, there is no avoiding activation with a product key.
