Windows 10 after free offer ends

Hi
my friend is unsure if he wants Windows 10 or not...he currently has XP. It has passed the Windows 8 compatability test, so will accept Windows 10. If I install Windows 7 pro as a clean install, then upgrade to Windows 10....but after the 30 days, decide to reinstall Windows 7, will Ithen be able to reinstall Windows 10 at some time in the future, without cost. I hope that once windows 10 is installed, that a key is generated for his PC which will allow him to reinstall Windows 10 to the same PC at any time in the future....

Am I correct in these assumptions ???

thank you in advance...

Haven't we answered this same question for you many times in the past? Nothing has changed. But here it is again for I don't know how many thousands of times now because it's easier for people to just ask the same question over and over and over again instead of looking it up.

Before July 29th, when a computer is upgraded from Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 to Windows 10 a digital entitlement is created for the computer for that version of Windows 10. The digital entitlement gets saved on Microsoft activation servers. Later installs of Windows 10 will activate by retrieving the digital entitlement from Microsoft activation servers - even after the July 29th deadline, as long as the motherboard is the same and the same version of Windows 10 is installed. Going back to Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 in between Windows 10 installs does not affect the digital entitlement for Windows 10 stored on Microsoft activation servers. Upgrading to Windows 10 does not change anything with the product key for the Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 that it came from either.

It's nice of you to donate an unused retail Windows 7 product key to your friend, because that's the only way to do it legally.

thanks for explaining that completely...

I had to ask for a definitive answer, as things change and I wouldn't be loved very much, if at some time in the future reverting to Windows 10 was rejected.....I do lots of upgrades fREE for local residents and friends.....so can't take any risks......thanks again

One further question.
scenario 1- I install Windows 7 on a spare hard drive, then upgrade to Windows 10, I then roll back to Windows 7...Do I still own the COA for Windows 7 and can it be installed on the same computer onto a different Hard drive, using the original Windows 7 COA key
scwnario-2 I clean install Windows 10 on a spare Hard drive, using the unused Windows 7 COA key. Later I decide to reinstall Windows 7 onto a different hard drive, same PC, can I still use the Windows 7 COA key or is that now lost

many thanks

I really hope I havnt asked this before, don't want to upset anyone.....

thank you, a very detailed explanation.....sorry to flog a dead horse, but had to be sure.....if I mess up my own installation that's one thing, but messing up someone else's is another.
this info isn't easy to find, especially on MS sites, so thanks again...

NavyLCDR said:

Nothing happens to the Windows 7 product key when you use it to upgrade to Windows 10. One product key means 1 installation of Windows is allowed.

You are free to switch back and forth between Windows 7 and Windows 10 as much as you like as long as only one is installed at any time.

Think of the Windows 10 upgrade as just another copy of the Windows 7 that it came from. You can't have it on two computer's at once, you can't have it twice on the same computer, and if you give it away or sell it, you can't keep a copy of it yourself. But you can reinstall it as the only installed copy as many times as you want.

Good info there NavyLCDR.
However the one thing that has always confused me is this. Say I've upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 Retail. In the past I've upgraded my motherboard three times with that copy of win 7 without a problem. What happens now if I change my motherboard when I'm running Windows 10. Does my Windows 10 have a Retail License or has it been converted to an OEM license which is tied to the mobo?

NavyLCDR said:

The digital entitlement for the FREE Windows 10 upgrade is for that device (motherboard) only. If you read the free upgrade terms on the webpages where Microsoft advertises the free upgrade you will see that they only offered to upgrade devices already running Windows 7/8/8.1. They did not offer to upgrade the license for Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 for free, only the device that it was installed on.
New motherboard = new device. You can install your retail license Windows 7/8/8.1 on it. You can also call Microsoft and hope they give you Windows 10 for it - but they never promised to for free after July 29th.

Thanks for the reply.

I'll be buying a Windows 10 retail license then :)