Technically, Windows 10 is free for anyone and a little bit annoying!

[Zoom7000]

Just read Gabe Aul's updated post on Windows 10 being "Free" for Geniune Windows 7 and 8.1 user. However, my understanding of this part...

 

Do you want to continue as a Windows Insider and keep getting preview builds after 7/29?

Or do you want to upgrade your Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 system that has been getting Windows 10 Insider Preview builds to the 7/29 release and stop being an Insider?

 

“I want to continue as a Windows Insider!” If you want to continue as a Windows Insider past 7/29 there is nothing you need to do. You’re already opted in and receiving builds in the Fast or Slow ring depending upon your selection. This is prerelease software and is activated with a prerelease key. Each individual build will expire after a time, but you’ll continue to receive new builds so by the time an older prerelease build expires you’ll have received a new one. Since we’re continuing the Windows Insider Program you’ll be able to continue receiving builds and those builds will continue to be activated under the terms of the Windows Insider Program. We provide ISOs for these builds for recovery from any significant problems, but they are still pre-release software. As part of the program we’ll upgrade Insiders to what is for all intents and purposes the same build as what other customers will get on 7/29, but that will be just another build for Insiders, and those who stay in the program will simply get the next build after as well.

 

“I want to opt out of the Windows Insider Program on 7/29.” If you decide to opt-out of the program and upgrade to the 7/29 build you will be subject to exactly the same terms and conditions that govern the offer* that was extended to all Genuine Windows 7 and 8.1 customers. This is not a path to attain a license for Windows XP or Windows Vista systems. If your system upgraded from a Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 license it will remain activated, but if not, you will be required to roll back to your previous OS version or acquire a new Windows 10 license. If you do not roll back or acquire a new license the build will eventually expire.

... Seems to suggest that if you stay on or sign up for the Windows Insider Program, you can install the latest post RTM release of Windows 10 and keep getting activated under the terms of the Windows Insider Program for free. I know that it's potentially unstable releases and not for primary PC/Laptop/Tablet use, but I can't see those who wouldn't pay for a genuine license being too bothered! Essentially, all you are doing is installing more frequent Windows Updates!

 

Also, the 2nd part about if you chose to leave the Insider program seems to suggest that if anyone has installed Windows 10 on a PC that did have a Genuine 7 or 8.1 license, but installed from an ISO on to a formatted hard disk, you will need to reinstall Windows 7 or 8.1 and then upgrade to Windows 10 in order to be activated. As such, it seems that if you want to install a clean copy of Windows 10, from an insider build without a previous Windows 7 or 8.1 installation, you'll have to do the following:

 

1. Install Windows 7 or 8.1

2. Activate Windows 7 or 8.1

3. Run Windows Updates so that you can get the required update to get Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store

4. Update to Windows 10

5. Activate Windows 10

6. Reinstall either using fresh start option or from ISO if provided by Microsoft

 

Just feel that they are making the whole process rather difficult or long winded. Either simply charge for Windows 10 or make it free for all. The free for a year if you meet this criteria and that criteria and loopholes to get round all of it just doesn't seem to make life easier for anyone! :|

[Michael]

I wouldn't worry too much about this for a school or business - it isn't really appropriate. Buying a Microsoft EES agreement, there will be Enterprise and Education versions of Windows 10.

 

This sort of arrangement is ideal for home users who wish to upgrade to Windows 10 from 7 or 8.1 via Microsoft Update. It's an incredibly long winded process I agree, but as I say, it's ideal for home users and no one else.

 

If it's the Home edition of Windows 10 they're releasing via Microsoft Update (most likely), this'll be useless to schools/businesses, as with previous Home versions, they can't be joined to a network domain.

[Zoom7000]

I wouldn't worry too much about this for a school or business - it isn't really appropriate. Buying a Microsoft EES agreement, there will be Enterprise and Education versions of Windows 10.

 

This sort of arrangement is ideal for home users who wish to upgrade to Windows 10 from 7 or 8.1 via Microsoft Update. It's an incredibly long winded process I agree, but as I say, it's ideal for home users and no one else.

 

If it's the Home edition of Windows 10 they're releasing via Microsoft Update (most likely), this'll be useless to schools/businesses, as with previous Home versions, they can't be joined to a network domain.

I should have clarified, the post wasn't targeted at school/business users who will have a volume license agreement. This is primarily focused on home users.

[Michael]

I think the reality is most people do not like/want to re-install an OS from scratch, so upgrading is the way forward... it's messy though in my view and something I'd never recommend. Applications break and sometimes there can be driver issues and stability issues.

 

Be interesting to see how Microsoft get round the 'activating Windows 7 or 8.1' if you're installing as new from a disc.

[JRowley]

I thought most of this was a given, moving from a beta build to a fully licensed RTM build was always going to involve reinstalling a legitimate version. All along they've been saying don't use it in production or as your main OS for home users.

[Michael]

I agree, continuing with what was/is a beta build when the OS goes gold is a bit strange. You'd thought anyone in their right mind would start again regardless.

 

I think moving forward, upgrading to Windows 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 will be a lot easier and straight forward; more so like OSX which is relatively painless.

[LincolnE]

I don't know, I've been running it as my home OS for some time now, (Was looking to go above windows 7, wasn't a fan of 8 or 8.1).

 

I think I'll be most likely continuing on as someone on the fast ring, I've not encountered any major issues and I have the skillset to fix anything should it arise.

[NviGate_Systems]

There will be PC's in schools that may have shipped with Windows 7 / 8 and for those small numbers, it will be worthwhile to upgrade to 10 even if it does take a few goes around the merry go round. Examples will be Tablets and other one off purchases.

 

For most though who have VL/SA they can simply re-image with VL/SA media and move on. If you have roaming profiles stored on servers your job is actually easier because you can deploy 10 and when a user logs in, everything is there. True there will be some network rumblings for large profiles, but once the initial cache is complete, no biggie.

 

The only drawback from what I can see consumer wise is that let's say a computer isn't working all that well. The amount of effort to either try the upgrade (and fail) or backup, reset, updates and update to 10, create media so you can fresh install later. That's allot of hours of work. Microsoft should just send everyone a USB key, they are like $2 from China and like $1 stamp. Microsoft could do worse.