Got a laptop for free. The previous owner has of course deleted everything.
Is there anywhere I can get an operating system for free?
Sure… Just look for ubuntu download.
Have fun
Sure, various Linux distributions are free. You can put it on a USB stick and test it out a bit before installing one.
Sure, of course. For example
here: https://www.debian.org/
or here: https://ubuntu.com/
or here: https://linuxmint.com/...xmint.com/
or here: https://manjaro.org/
As an alternative to the other answers here, you can also create a Windows 10 boot stick.
Windows 10 does not have to be activated. You just have to be able to live with seeing something like "Activate Windows" in the lower right corner.
I heard that Windows shut down after 7 days (#test phase) … Or was it a month?
7 days is right
Did it come with Windows 10? If so, the product key is permanently integrated in the BIOS and is automatically adopted during installation. Then you can simply create a Windows 10 stick with the Media Creation Tool https://www.microsoft.com/...ndows10%20 and then boot it. Then Windows 10 will be installed. Activation takes place automatically.
If Windows 7 came with the laptop, there's a sticker with the Windows 7 product key on the underside of the laptop. With the Windows 7 Product Key you can still activate Windows 10 for free.
To do this, you first install Windows 10 with the stick. Finally, the wizard offers you to create a Microsoft account. One should do that. If you already have one, simply use it to log in to Windows 10 as a user.
Then go to activation and enter the Windows 7 product key there. After that, the activation will also be permanently saved in your Microsoft account. If you have to reinstall, simply log in to Windows 10 as a user with your Microsoft account. Then it activates itself again. You no longer have to enter the key.
The last step is to go to the manufacturer's website for the laptop. Download and install the drivers there.
That should no longer be the case by now. I'm referring to an acquaintance who has had it for ages.
Thank you. No, Windows 8 was probably preinstalled
You can then install Windows 8.1 and then use the Media Creation Tool to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.
Here is the download of the Windows 8.1 ISO: https://www.microsoft.com/...indows8ISO Then flash it with Rufus https://rufus.ie/de/ on an empty formatted stick. Then boot the stick and install Windows 8.1. This is then activated automatically with the Windows 8 key integrated in the BIOS.
When all of this is done, you can download the Media Creation Tool https://www.microsoft.com/...dows10%20: You can then upgrade to Windows 10 for free. You should also create a Microsoft account afterwards and then use it to log in to Windows 10 as a user. Then the Windows 10 activation is permanently linked to your Microsoft account.
If you have to reinstall Windows 10, simply log in again as a user with your Microsoft account. Then it activates itself again automatically.
The last step is to download and install the drivers from the laptop manufacturer's website.
Could that have changed too… At least I hope there are already enough owl throats!
