DJ-1701 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 The Windows 10 free upgrade runs out on the 29th (Free Windows 10 upgrade: Time is running out ? should you do it? ? The Register) yet I personally have a Windows 8 Pro upgrade disc and possibly a Windows 7 Pro installation disc that won't be able to be upgraded for free after that date.
Steve21 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 The Windows 10 free upgrade runs out on the 29th (Free Windows 10 upgrade: Time is running out ? should you do it? ? The Register) yet I personally have a Windows 8 Pro upgrade disc and possibly a Windows 7 Pro installation disc that won't be able to be upgraded for free after that date. Install them on a random machine and get Win10 Pro upgrade free to register the key That's what I ended up doing for futureness. Steve
LeMarchand Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 a Windows 7 Pro installation disc that won't be able to be upgraded for free after that date. I've got one of those too - but nothing to put it on .
Boredguy Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 (edited) Install them on a random machine and get Win10 Pro upgrade free to register the key That's what I ended up doing for futureness. Steve Bit pointless as then the hardware fingerprint is for that station Edited July 26, 2016 by Boredguy
DJ-1701 Posted July 26, 2016 Author Posted July 26, 2016 (edited) Install them on a random machine and get Win10 Pro upgrade free to register the key That's what I ended up doing for futureness. Steve The key appears to be the same though for all Win10 Pro upgrades? I assumed it would tie it in based on hardware after activation so it couldn't be reactivated. Update: Ah, yeah, and @Boredguy beats me to the post. Edited July 26, 2016 by DJ-1701
Steve21 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Bit pointless as then the hardware fingerprint it for that station The key appears to be the same though for Win10 Pro? I assumed it would match it based on hardware after activation. In terms of the automatic install yes, but MS said before it should register the old Win7 one "upgradeable" so if you need to do it on new hardware etc support should let you. (Obviously can't really test this until the case happens, but that's what we were told before when queried) Steve
Boredguy Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Well other information is once you upgrade and it activates, it takes a fingerprint of the hardware for it's record, which is why when you do a fresh install from the upgrade at a later point you don't get prompted for a key (done fresh installs on both of my home PC's) One of my US mates found out the hard way that replacing his Mobo due to a RMA required a call to MS to reactive as the fingerprint was different. The upgrade licence gets ties to the Mobo the same as a OEM licence.
LeMarchand Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 In terms of the automatic install yes, but MS said before it should register the old Win7 one "upgradeable" so if you need to do it on new hardware etc support should let you. (Obviously can't really test this until the case happens, but that's what we were told before when queried) Steve So can I ring them up and say that I have an unused W7 disc?
Steve21 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Well other information is once you upgrade and it activates, it takes a fingerprint of the hardware for it's record, which is why when you do a fresh install from the upgrade at a later point you don't get prompted for a key (done fresh installs on both of my home PC's) One of my US mates found out the hard way that replacing his Mobo due to a RMA required a call to MS to reactive as the fingerprint was different. The upgrade licence gets ties to the Mobo the same as a OEM licence. Yep, that's for a current install via OEM etc as it looks at hardware as you mentioned. But from what I was told it's also a record of your current key, else how would they know that his "broken motherboard" isn't really a new machine? So can I ring them up and say that I have an unused W7 disc? From my understanding it needs to have been registered previously for the upgrade (e.g. stick it on a rubbish machine and link upgrade), but after that it should be via support yes. (But again, this was a convo with MS guys a while back so who knows what changes when the upgrades aren't free ) Steve
Steve21 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 (edited) http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-win_upgrade/can-i-reinstall-windows-10-once-i-upgrade/c50ad32d-08a5-4273-a941-c353e43a5056?page=4 Seems like it's still the case: When I upgrade a preinstalled (OEM) or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license to Windows 10, does that license remain OEM or become a retail license? If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too. If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version. If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM version. Full version (Retail): - Includes transfer rights to another computer. - Doesn't require a previous qualifying version of Windows. - Expensive Upgrade version (Retail): - Includes transfer rights to another computer. - require a previous qualifying version of Windows. - Expensive, but cheaper than full version OEM : OEM versions of Windows are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following: - OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel - OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on - OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard - OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system What happens if I change my motherboard? As it pertains the OEM licenses this will invalidate the Windows 10 upgrade license because it will no longer have a previous based qualifying license which is required for the free upgrade. You will then have to purchase a full retail Windows 10 license. If the base qualifying license (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) was a full retail version, then yes, you can transfer it. 15. UPGRADES. To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. Upon upgrade, this agreement takes the place of the agreement for the software you upgraded from. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from But as always, good to check again if you need before doing it Edit- (As a disclaimer, note the difference between OEM and Retail above, so as yours is disk based it'd be different to someone who upgrades an OEM one ) Steve Edited July 26, 2016 by Steve21
Boredguy Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Annoyingly I tried using an existing upgraded Win 7 key on my 2nd PC, but as I had already upgraded and activated my first PC it said the key was invalid, so I had to start from scratch with my fresh windows 7 version. Everything I've read online says to treat the upgrade licence in the same manner as a OEM licence as it's non transferable. Obviously if you have a hardware failure and replace the component like for like MS will reactivate. I now have a headache as we've got the fire alarms being tested.
Steve21 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Everything I've read online says to treat the upgrade licence in the same manner as a OEM licence as it's non transferable. Obviously if you have a hardware failure and replace the component like for like MS will reactivate. If it's an OEM one from a computer MB that is the case. Not if it's a retail disk etc, or not from what I've told and read Steve
Steve21 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Looks like I am lucked out then. Why? You said you had a disc/upgrade etc? Steve
DJ-1701 Posted July 26, 2016 Author Posted July 26, 2016 The Windows 7 Pro I believe was an OEM. The Windows 8 Pro was an upgrade, correct, but that would need an OS to upgrade, which most PCs I could activate this one would be OEM.
Steve21 Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Yep, but the upgrade 8 Pro, would upgrade the OEM to Retail, so you'd be able to activate the 10 Upgrade on the 8 Pro if that makes sense :s Or at least in theory, end of the day no harm in trying it. Worse that happens is you lose 30 mins of your time, best is you get a free license for future Steve
Arthur Posted July 26, 2016 Posted July 26, 2016 Looks like I am lucked out then. Not necessarily. Microsoft tweaks activation rules for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update As with all things that are related to licensing, the details are confusing and it's easy for even longtime Windows watchers to draw the wrong conclusions or to dream up conspiracy theories. Here's the short version: Beginning with the Anniversary Update, version 1607, you'll be able to link a Windows 10 digital license with a Microsoft account. This linkage occurs automatically if you're signed in with a Microsoft account when you upgrade to version 1607. For anyone else, including those with local or domain accounts, this step is optional. In any case, it applies only to those who have a Windows 10 digital license. That group consists primarily of those who took advantage of the year-long free upgrade offer that ends on July 29, 2016. This new feature doesn't change the fundamental way that Microsoft's activation servers work. The process of activating Windows relies on a unique installation ID, which is based on a hash of information taken from the hardware on which Windows is installed. That hash is reportedly not reversible and is not tied to any other Microsoft services. It identifies a specific device, not a person. When you use a product key to activate Windows for the first time, that installation ID is recorded in the activation database alongside the product key you entered with the installation. Later, if you need to reinstall the same edition of Windows on the same hardware, with the same product key, activation happens automatically. (Conversely, if you try to use that product key on a different machine with a different hardware ID, you'll probably be denied activation.) But those free Windows 10 upgrades don't use a product key, so they require a different way to store the details of each upgrade license on the activation servers. During an upgrade, the Windows 10 setup program confirms that the underlying copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is properly activated. During the free upgrade period, the Windows activation servers used that confirmation to generate a Windows 10 digital license (during the upgrade period, Microsoft referred to this as a "digital entitlement"). That digital license is stored in the activation database with your hardware-based installation ID and details about the version you just activated (Home or Pro). If you wipe that hard disk completely, boot from Windows 10 installation media, and install a clean copy, Windows tries to activate automatically, using an installation ID that it sends to the Windows activation servers. Because the underlying hardware hasn't changed, the installation ID is identical to one stored in the activation database, and the digital license is activated automatically. For most PCs, most of the time, that process just works. But there are two situations in which reactivation can stumble. First, if you make major hardware changes. The algorithm that generates the installation ID is a closely guarded secret, but I can confirm from years of testing that it is extremely tolerant of minor changes. If you add a hard drive, upgrade a video card, or increase memory, you almost certainly won't trigger a change in the installation ID. Changing the motherboard, however, generates a new installation ID. Under Microsoft's sometimes Byzantine licensing rules, your license is valid if you replace a motherboard because of hardware failure. You need a new license if you chose to upgrade the motherboard, because you're essentially building a new PC. Under the existing rules, there's no way to prove that you have a digital license for that PC. You have to call the telephone activation line and plead your case with a support representative. That's where linking the digital license to a Microsoft account comes in. After a motherboard replacement, you can use the new Activation Troubleshooter to view digital licenses associated with your Microsoft account and identify the device that has the replacement motherboard. That action transfers the digital license to the new installation ID. The second situation where the link to a Microsoft account might help is on a PC that has more than one license attached to it. That situation might apply if you purchased a PC with Windows 10 Home installed by the OEM and then upgraded to Windows 10 Pro during the free upgrade period using a product key from a retail copy of Windows 7 Professional, for example. In that situation, a clean reinstall of Windows 10 from the manufacturer's recovery media might result in the Home version being installed and activated. The procedure for upgrading to Windows 10 Pro is far from obvious, involving generic product keys that aren't officially published. Here, too, being able to link that Windows 10 Pro license to a Microsoft account makes it possible to identify the correct digital license. Microsoft says the new feature to link a digital license to a Microsoft account is in Windows 10 build 14371 or later. I have one PC that performed this connection automatically. I have not yet been able to test the manual linking process. 1
DJ-1701 Posted July 28, 2016 Author Posted July 28, 2016 Well, still no machine(s) to put the license(s) on, so I guess at least one of them I will install on a Virtual PC and activate. 1
LeMarchand Posted July 28, 2016 Posted July 28, 2016 (edited) Well, still no machine(s) to put the license(s) on, so I guess at least one of them I will install on a Virtual PC and activate. That sounds like an idea - might be useful for older games in future. Clarification: it sounds like a good plan for me to use the W7 license (without upgrading). Edited July 28, 2016 by LeMarchand 1
6Foot2 Posted November 4, 2017 Posted November 4, 2017 Link: Microsoft quietly announces end of last free Windows 10 upgrade offer | ZDNet ...Under the terms of that announcement, individuals who use "assistive technologies" received an automatic extension of the free upgrade offer. And as a Microsoft spokesperson explained at the time: We are not restricting the free upgrade offer to specific assistive technologies. If you use assistive technology on Windows, you are eligible for the free upgrade offer. That said, it is not intended to be a workaround for people who don't use assistive technology and who missed the deadline for the free offer. Sometime in the past week, Microsoft quietly edited that page. Under the FAQ heading, the original version said, "We will make a public announcement prior to ending the offer." That text has been replaced and now reads: "The accessibility upgrade offer expires on December 31, 2017... 1
mavhc Posted November 4, 2017 Posted November 4, 2017 So next year you can only upgrade by running setup.exe from the windows 10 iso, or install windows 10 and use a windows 7 product key?
Arthur Posted January 5, 2018 Posted January 5, 2018 Microsoft Extends Free Windows 10 Upgrade “Loophole” to 16 January 2018 Previously, the company planned to end the free upgrades on 31 December 2017, but earlier this week it was discovered that this method of installing the latest OS at no cost still worked. Microsoft has quietly modified the official page of the promo to state that "the accessibility upgrade offer expires on 16 January 2018". The site previously stated the campaign comes to an end on 31 December. Oddly enough, Microsoft has only updated the expiring date of the offer on the site, leaving the rest of the text untouched. The page still points to Windows 10 Anniversary Update as the OS version coming with accessibility improvements, despite the fact that the company has already shipped two newer updates called Creators Update and Fall Creators Update.
mavhc Posted January 6, 2018 Posted January 6, 2018 But will other methods of upgrading still work? If I run win10 setup.exe on a win7, will it upgrade? If I install Win10 from boot, and use a win7 product code, will it activate?
ricki Posted January 6, 2018 Posted January 6, 2018 https://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/news/671477/Windows-10-FREE-update-Download-Microsoft-Upgrade-2018-Assistive-technologies/amp
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