Retail license W10 upgrade permanent?

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  1. Posts : 162
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #1

    Retail license W10 upgrade permanent?


    So the MS position on upgraded Win 7 / 8 machines is straight-forward: for the life of the device. But what does this mean for non-OEM people, who are using a retail Windows license, which they upgrade to Windows 10?

    If they get a new PC, and install Windows using their retail key, what will happen? Will it lose its upgraded status on a new PC, and will they then only be able to install Windows 7 or 8 with it - whichever it originally was for? Will it not be accepted as a Windows 7 / 8 key any longer? Will it work to register the new PC for Windows 10 (de-registering its association with the previous hardware)?

    The only restriction for retail licenses is that they can be used on one PC at a time - but there is no limit to the number of times it can be transferred to a new PC. This doesn't harmonize with the MS statement of "for the lifetime of the device" - but MS can't take away a person's owned Win 7 / 8 retail license - which should supposedly be upgraded to Win10 status.

    I'm guessing the same license will transfer as usual, and allow Windows 10 to be installed on new PC hardware, just as it works for doing that with Windows 7 / 8. But MS haven't addressed this in particular. Their statements seem to only acknowledge OEM license considerations.
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  2. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #2

    There should be more info on or before July 29th to answer people questions

    This site adds more confusion but it does say an answer should come.


    Microsoft CFO Amy Hood has promised to provide more details on lifecycles later this year. Keizer expects Microsoft to disclose these details on or before July 29, when Windows 10 is officially launched.
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  3. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #3

    Any key, once used to upgrade to Windows 10, is no longer valid to use on another Windows installation.
    If you get rid of Windows 10 then you can use the key again to install one instance of the Windows version the key applies to.
    OEM key would need to be used on the same computer it came from.
    Retail key could be used on any computer.

    Really nothing new there, same as it's always been.
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  4. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
       #4

    groze said:
    There should be more info on or before July 29th to answer people questions

    This site adds more confusion but it does say an answer should come.
    That article couldn't be more wrong. The lifecycle mentioned has nothing to do with how long the free upgrade will be free. It's how long Microsoft thinks the device will last. If your device lasts longer than 4 years Windows is still free on that device. It's not going to magically become inactivated etc. Microsoft is just projecting new revenue from Windows sales on new devices purchased as replacements for those devices that died.
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  5. Posts : 1,191
    Windows 11 Pro x64
       #5

    Well, no matter what they mean by device lifetime, they way I read it is if I convert my retail version of Windows 7, which I can move from pc to pc forever, after July 2016 passes, if I build a new computer, which is likely, I will have to purchase a retail version of Windows 10. So the "free" offer is not much of a deal for me.
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  6. Posts : 46
    64-bit 10240 10 Pro
       #6

    groze said:
    There should be more info on or before July 29th to answer people questions

    This site adds more confusion but it does say an answer should come.
    It certainly does and I have never heard of that site before. When MS releases the details read them very closely.
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  7. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
       #7

    Geneo said:
    Well, no matter what they mean by device lifetime, they way I read it is if I convert my retail version of Windows 7, which I can move from pc to pc forever, after July 2016 passes, if I build a new computer, which is likely, I will have to purchase a retail version of Windows 10. So the "free" offer is not much of a deal for me.
    It's a free upgrade for that device, no more no less. Take it or leave it.
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  8. Posts : 162
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    The upgrade applies to something - in this case, a valid license. If the license is transferable, then that must mean that the same upgraded status will remain with that upgraded license. I'm expecting Windows 10 retail keys to operate along those logical lines.
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  9. Posts : 1,191
    Windows 11 Pro x64
       #9

    alphanumeric said:
    It's a free upgrade for that device, no more no less. Take it or leave it.
    I may leave it. It is not a free upgrade to Windows, as the version I have is transferable.

    Will purchased retail versions of Windows 10 be transferrable? If not this is horrible IMO.
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  10. Posts : 1,191
    Windows 11 Pro x64
       #10

    Delicieuxz said:
    The upgrade applies to something - in this case, a valid license. If the license is transferable, then that must mean that the same upgraded status will remain with that upgraded license. I'm expecting Windows 10 retail keys to operate along those logical lines.
    That is not what Microsoft is saying I think. Anyhow hopefully we will soon know.
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