I still need Windows 7 Pro

bro67 said:

Microsoft did not alter anything. It states in the TOS for Windows 10, that after 30 days of running or having Windows 10 installed on a computer yhat had a prior OS on it. Your prior OS key is no longer valid.

This was stated in July, when 10 went RTM.

No, that's a misunderstanding of the case. 30 days after installation, your can no longer roll back automatically to the previous OS. But, just because you cannot rollback doesn't mean your license is not valid anymore.

You have a license for Windows 7. When you upgrade to Windows 10, the Windows 7 license is "amended" to allow you to run Windows 10 instead of Windows 7, however you are always free to go back to Windows 7 (even more than 30 days) if you delete your copy of Windows 10 (ie, replace Windows 10 with Windows 7). You cannot install both Windows 7 and Windows 10 simultaneously. You may only have one instance of either installed.

whs said:

I am not sure whether that is really true in this situation. Where in the EULA does it cover that case.

2. Installation and Use Rights.
a. License. The software is licensed, not sold. Under this agreement, we grant you the right to install and run one instance of the software on your device (the licensed device), for use by one person at a time, so long as you comply with all the terms of this agreement. Updating or upgrading from non-genuine software with software from Microsoft or authorized sources does not make your original version or the updated/upgraded version genuine, and in that situation, you do not have a license to use the software.
b. Device. In this agreement, “device” means a hardware system (whether physical or virtual) with an internal storage device capable of running the software. A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a device.

Two partitions = 2 devices which requires two separate licenses to run Windows on.

However, there is no "30 day expiration" of the Windows 7 license after upgrading to Windows 10. The Windows 7 license (and associated product key) remains just as valid as it always was. You just can't use it to install and use Windows 7 at the same time as the Windows 10 it was upgraded to. Just like you can move a retail license from computer to computer but you can't use it on more than one computer at the same time.

Two partitions = 2 devices which requires two separate licenses to run Windows on.

That was really my question because the EULA does not refer to that case. I have seen reports from people where they run multiple copies on the same machine with 1 key. But maybe they just don't police that.

whs said:

That was really my question because the EULA does not refer to that case. I have seen reports from people where they run multiple copies on the same machine with 1 key. But maybe they just don't police that.

Currently, Microsoft cannot detect which partition on the same computer Windows is installed to. They can only detect when the key is used on a different system - mostly a different motherboard. After re-using the same key on different systems (motherboards), the key will get blocked from automatic internet activation and you will have to use phone activation and tell Microsoft that it is installed on only one computer.

Whether or not Microsoft can detect multiple installations or enforces multiple activations is irrelevant. It still violates the EULA.

I agree with your point regarding the EULA. I am a law and order person too. I just wanted to point out what happens in reality.

bro67 said:

Mystere there is no misunderstanding. When a person upgrades to Windows 10. Their previous edition key is only calid for 30 days after you upgrade to 10. After the 30 days, the old OS key is no longer valid.

That is completely untrue. Your original key is not invalidated, and your license remains valid. But it is tied to the new Windows 10 installation, meaning you cannot use both at the same time.

bro67 said:

We went through all of this on here, when the RTM and first edition of 10 was rolled out.

Yes, we did. And people kept repeating this misinformation. It's not true.

bro67 said:

It is stated in the TOS and at Microsoft.com regarding this. There is nothing in the world, which will allow you to reinstall Windows 7 or 8.1, without getting the error that it is a invalid key.

I'm sorry, why would the terms of service for a web site say anything about the license of a PC? That makes no sense. Please provide the link to this if you continue to claim its true.

bro67 said:

30 days is 30 days, unless you keep a image on a NAS of the old OS install.

In reality, there is no need to downgrade from 10, since Microsoft has gotten a lot of the bugs fixed in 10586.

The only thing that is limited to 30 days is your automatic rollback. That has nothing to do with your license, nor does your key ever get invalidated. It's simply not true.

bro67 post#17 is nonsense. He can't understand the difference between reverting back to the previous OS from inside the upgraded OS and re-installing the previous OS using install media. There is no 30 day limit on using the previous product key to re-install and activate the previous OS and there is no such limitation contained in the EULA.

From Microsoft themselves:
Recovery options in Windows 10 - Windows Help

Go back to your previous version of Windows

For a month after you upgrade to Windows 10, you’ll be able to go back to your previous version of Windows from Settings > Update & security > Recovery. This will keep your personal files, but it'll remove apps and drivers installed after the upgrade, as well as any changes you made to settings.

If go back isn't available

If you have a product key for your previous version of Windows, use the media creation tool to create installation media for Windows 8.1 or Windows 7, and use it to do a clean install.

Can you explain that, bro67? The 30 day limit applies ONLY to reverting back to the previous OS using the reversion option in Windows 10. After that Microsoft says to use your product key to reinstall the previous OS.

NavyLCDR,

Spot on! Sir