Microsoft confirms that Windows 10 upgrade will not be free after one

Cliff S · 20 May 2015

alphanumeric said:

Yeah. I know. My point was, if you have an OEM version, you can't call Microsoft if you have issues with Windows. They will just tell you to contact the manufacturer. They will only give support to Retail installs. So who does Joe average computer user call if they do the free upgrade on an OEM PC and things go south?

Hmmmm, I see what you mean, specially if it's the only PC they have access to, that would be a nightmare.

Mystere · 20 May 2015

While they're at it, they need to define what words like "is" and "are" mean.

Come on, this is standard verbiage used throughout the industry. We all know what a "device" is. We all know what "life of the device" means (or at least anyone that knows anything about MS licensing).

Nothing is changing in terms of how licensing is handled. If it's an OEM license, it's locked to the motherboard. If it's a retail license it's transferrable to another device if you follow the rules (delete it from the old one, etc..).

The only question on the table is whether or not the upgrade of a retail retains its retail status, and that is yet to be defined by MS. But why gnash teeth about it now? You can't do anything about it, one way or another?

besb · 20 May 2015

I have 7 pro on 1 desktop and another running 7 to 8 to 8.1
Not sure of the status of 8.1 system following the paid upgrade to 8 then the auto to 8.1

I trust it still retains its retail status hence I agree with Mystere
The others laptops/netbooks are OEM and also an XP desktop which I will not attempt to upgrade

Mindsnake2 · 20 May 2015

just to add my own 2 cents about this, I have a legacy HP desktop in which Win 7 Pro x64 was pre-installed when purchased. I knew it would be a challenge for me to do any type of upgrade, so I have just been buying retail DVD's and doing clean installs for Win 8.1 x64. My question is this : Will retail DVD's be made at the same time this goes RTM? Or is MS in a bind and only releasing upgrades? Sorry for the newb question, but I'm pretty excited about Win 10 and always like new geeky stuff to work with. Thanks for listening. You guys rock!

Mystere · 20 May 2015

Mindsnake2 said:

just to add my own 2 cents about this, I have a legacy HP desktop in which Win 7 Pro x64 was pre-installed when purchased. I knew it would be a challenge for me to do any type of upgrade, so I have just been buying retail DVD's and doing clean installs for Win 8.1 x64. My question is this : Will retail DVD's be made at the same time this goes RTM? Or is MS in a bind and only releasing upgrades? Sorry for the newb question, but I'm pretty excited about Win 10 and always like new geeky stuff to work with. Thanks for listening. You guys rock!

Why would this be "a challenge" to upgrade? I believe Win 7 can be ugraded from physical ISO media for free.

Mindsnake2 · 20 May 2015

sorry, forgot to add that its only a challenge to me in getting the funds for the DVD itself (lol). I'm fairly competent and have no problems burning an ISO to disk. I just like the look and feel of an original retail DVD. Thanks for the reply.

alphanumeric · 20 May 2015

Mystere said:

The only question on the table is whether or not the upgrade of a retail retains its retail status, and that is yet to be defined by MS. But why gnash teeth about it now? You can't do anything about it, one way or another?

and

Lee · 20 May 2015

alphanumeric said:

Yeah, and everybody has their own interpretation on what the little bits of info that does come out mean. Some seem to think, if I say something often enough it will become fact.

groze · 21 May 2015

Mystere said:

The only question on the table is whether or not the upgrade of a retail retains its retail status, and that is yet to be defined by MS. But why gnash teeth about it now? You can't do anything about it, one way or another?

Actually you can do something about it, don't upgrade to windows 10 using a retail version. :)