How to upgrade from Windows 7 to Windows 8

[Planet_Icarus]

I have a boot drive + a mass storage drive. I heard that Windows 7 is no longer getting mainstream support. So I do I upgrade from Windows 7 to 8 without destroying my files?

 

[CDdude55]

Even with mainstream support gone, you don't necessarily need to upgrade. If you still want to, you can just back up your important files and do a clean install of Windows 8.

 

[4745454b]

You should be able to back up your files (just in case) and do an in place upgrade. Mainstream support is ending for Win7 but I'm not upgrading. Security patches will come out till 2020 (?) and I don't see 8.1 doing anything for me that 7 already does. I'm waiting to see what 10 or higher gets me.