New
#11
I had that before I ever had the icon in my notifications area. I posted a screen shot in the other thread about the GWX Icon. It's been there on my system for a while now.
I think that the free upgrade will be available for a whole year. There are numerous ways to get a free license otherwise - e.g. from your employer, university, and so on. Or one can get new Windows with a new machine. Can someone tell me, what's the point of "reserving your copy" now?
The files needed to do the upgrade will be downloaded to your PC in the background before hand. It will be quicker for you to actually do the upgrade when the time comes. Especially when those that didn't reserve, overload the Microsoft servers by trying to do the download all at the same time. You will get priority over those that wait till the last minute on the day RTM goes online.