Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?

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  1. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #1

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?


    @Kari, @simrick,

    Ok. So there's this "rumor" floating around that the free upgrade has been "extended" by Microsoft. So I did a little experiment on my custom built computer that has never had Windows 10 Home on it before. Here's the results:

    Clean install of Windows 10 Home build 14393 from an ISO file captured from a computer that did the insider upgrade - no activation:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-unactivated.jpg

    Here's the product key to be tested:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-productkey.jpg

    Here's the change product key screen in progress of checking it:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-change-key.jpg

    And the result? - Exactly the same as would have occurred on July 28th:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-activated2.jpg

    Further proof, slmgr /dlv result:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-dlv.jpg

    So the definitive answer is that the Microsoft activation server is working on 8/1/2016 at 7:30PM 1.5 hours North of Microsoft in Stanwood, WA just exactly the same as it worked on July 28th.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 659
    Windows 10 1709 Pro x64 (Fall Creators Update)
       #2

    Well, I guess the rumor is true! Thanks for sharing! :)
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #3

    NavyLCDR said:
    @Kari, @simrick,

    Ok. So there's this "rumor" floating around that the free upgrade has been "extended" by Microsoft. So I did a little experiment on my custom built computer that has never had Windows 10 Home on it before. Here's the results:

    Clean install of Windows 10 Home build 14393 from an ISO file captured from a computer that did the insider upgrade - no activation:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-unactivated.jpg

    Here's the product key to be tested:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-productkey.jpg

    Here's the change product key screen in progress of checking it:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-change-key.jpg

    And the result? - Exactly the same as would have occurred on July 28th:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-activated2.jpg

    Further proof, slmgr /dlv result:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-dlv.jpg

    So the definitive answer is that the Microsoft activation server is working on 8/1/2016 at 7:30PM 1.5 hours North of Microsoft in Stanwood, WA just exactly the same as it worked on July 28th.
    The key (:)) question is for how long but but we have no way of knowing.

    Probably just a hidden grace period until RS1 is establishexd?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,524
    Windows 10 Pro (32-bit) 16299.15
       #4

    Interesting stuff - thanks for doing that test.
    Now I'm wondering what would happen if someone ran an upgrade install from a computer running Windows 8.x or 7.

    The GWX app reputedly works if you set the computer's date back (although I've not seen proof that it then activates) , but even without doing that, it might be possible that it activates when someone runs setup.exe from the ISO?
    Last edited by DavidY; 02 Aug 2016 at 03:29.
      My Computer

  5.   My Computer


  6. Posts : 4,201
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Latest RP
       #6

    That is what I feared would happen - the people who are eligible for this offer will have to suffer delays and more issues due to greedy people Who decided that they didn't want to pay for windows 10, when they had already had a year to upgrade for free
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 30,524
    Windows 10 (Pro and Insider Pro)
       #7

    Barman58 said:
    That is what I feared would happen - the people who are eligible for this offer will have to suffer delays and more issues due to greedy people Who decided that they didn't want to pay for windows 10, when they had already had a year to upgrade for free
    I'm not sure about greedy.. Should call them careless or something. Bet, there is fair amount of those just checking if it really works.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 4,201
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Latest RP
       #8

    Greedy was the mildest term I was prepared to use for an action is basically theft of the software - and the touted excuse that Microsoft should have done more is as bad as saying that if someone accidentally leaves their car or house unlocked you can simply take what you want
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #9

    I wouldn't call this "definitive answer", especially when MS has done nothing to confirm this. On the contrary, they make it extremely clear in every possible way that the free upgrade has ended:

    Definitive Answer: Is the free upgrade really expired?-image.png
    (Screenshot from https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...10-upgrade-faq)


    It might be as simple as MS getting systems down slowly or giving us a non-announced few days grace period. Anyway, any extensions to free upgrade are totally unannounced and not confirmed by MS.

    That being said, I made three tests this morning using a never used Windows 8 PRO retail product key on a Hyper-V virtual machine:


    1. Installed Windows 8.1 PRO with generic key, did not activate it. Tried upgrade using Windows 10 PRO ISO, the product key was not accepted, upgrade not successful, Windows 10 was not activated
    2. Installed Windows 8.1 PRO with generic key, activated it with the above mentioned key. Tried upgrade using Windows 10 PRO ISO, upgrade asked for a valid key, upgrade not successful, Windows 10 was not activated
    3. Clean installed Windows 10 PRO skipping product key, when on desktop tried activation from Settings app using the Windows 8.1 PRO key, Windows 10 was activated

    Kari
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,524
    Windows 10 Pro (32-bit) 16299.15
       #10

    It's not good if the process is made harder for people using assistive technologies.

    However I have some sympathy for some people who didn't upgrade because they were waiting for their hardware manufacturer to provide Windows 10 drivers. These people didn't have a the full year, and in some cases would have tried to upgrade regardless at the last minute when those Win 10 drivers never appeared.
      My Computer


 

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