If I opt to drop out of the test program for Windows 10 and get the free ISO by giving up a Windows 7 or 8.1 license will a new key come with it and is it specific to the hardware or can I install 10 on another computer and be able to activate it? Is 10 going to be like OEM keys that are stuck to one computer or can it be moved around?
Andre Da Costa replied on June 22, 2015See post history
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Community Moderator ,
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 to the OEM licenses this will invalidate the Windows 10 upgrade license because it will no longer have a previous base 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.
From the end user license agreement:
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.
17. TRANSFER TO ANOTHER COMPUTER. a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. You may transfer the software and install it on another computer for your use. That computer becomes the licensed computer. You may not do so to share this license between computers.
I don't have any Win10 version loaded at the mo, tho' I did trial a couple of the previews..
due to some hardware inconsistencies, I rolled back to Win7
- in the meantime I've been messing about with AMD gfx BETA drivers in 64-bit Win7..
..looks like there's some interesting new gfx hardware arriving from AMD, btw..
I kept my Insider Membership, so I assume that the transfer to Win10 will go smoothly on the day
I'd like to help out with the Insider Program as well, as long as the initial update goes as intended..
- guess it's fingers crossed..
I don't blame Gabe at all. I think he wanted everyone to have a free windows 10. I really think Microsoft is not treating the insiders correctly. I really think the insiders should of gotten a free version of windows 10 even if they left the program on July 29th. I already removed 10 and quit the insider program totally. Deleted everything from one drive. Deleted my image backup. If I had an extra or spare windows 7 or 8.1 I would upgrade to 10 but unlike most people I don't.
I wonder if there will be enough insiders left to test windows 10 for the pro and home users.
bromanbro
I think once the news gets around, I think that could happen. They already lost me. I am not the only one they lost. This one person is putting Vista back on his/her machine.
Some of the press is not to happy either. I read some of the press comments not individual comment, wow is all I can say. Basically, they lost trust in Microsoft because of this. There is more to the story according to one commenter I read on another site but no link to confirm that story or I would link to it.
Geez people. This is not a matter of Microsoft changing its mind, or Gabe wanting this or that....
It's simply a matter of miscommunication, and a thousand people second guessing what was said, and articles being written based on misunderstandings, and others assuming those articles were official statements.
Simply put, it's clear when you look back at the history of tweets that Gabe has been saying the same thing all along. But, given the 144 character limit of tweets, and the assumption that everyone understood certain things (which was a bad assumption to make). Someone would ask him a question, and he would answer in a very limited way. And people would run with the misunderstandings.
The problem is *context*. When someone would ask him if you need a new key, hey would say no because the *context* he was responding to was in the context of the insider program. He has never spoken much about the upgrade for non-insiders. So when people got the wrong idea its because they were applying his comments about insiders to the general public that was upgrading.
Gabe is not the spokesman for the general Free Windows 10 offer, he's only the spokesman for the Insider program, and all of his statements have to be viewed in that context.
Mystere,
Did you miss the first blog post of Gabes?
I will repeat the story I read but it has no proof so I will leave both parties names out. This person is a computer tech according to his comment. He said someone from Microsoft told reporter in an interview that insider would get a valid & activated rtm on July 29 even if you leave the program it would remain activated and valid operating system.
Remember, I am not saying this, just what I read.
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