Can I still install a fresh copy of Win 10 Insider Preview?

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  1. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #11

    tengeezer said:
    Alright peeps, I've found some info regarding this. Apparently, it is NOT allowed to install a fresh copy without a valid license:

    No more Windows 10 keys for Insiders; post-RTM installs must be on previously activated PCs

    According to this article, Gabe Aul says, "New Insiders can't activate a clean install unless they've upgraded from 7/8 first, or own a 10 key."
    You original question was:
    Just checking, on my second computer (which is currently Win 7), I'm also looking to install Windows 10 Insider for free - is this still possible, just as I did last year?

    Many thanks.


    The answer to the question that you asked is still YES. You have to use your Windows 7 license, in the form of a COA product key or a genuineticket.xml file in order to active the Windows 10 insider preview - and doing that before July 29th is still free.
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  2. Posts : 74
    7/10
    Thread Starter
       #12

    Yes, but as I clarified in the thread, I'm looking into doing a dual boot.
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  3. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #13

    tengeezer said:
    Yes, but as I clarified in the thread, I'm looking into doing a dual boot.
    It's still legal so long as the second installation of Windows is not activated. You will have reduced functionality (no personalization) and nag screen pop-ups to activate Windows 10.

    Once you gain a digital entitlement for that computer, though, by activating Windows 10, it will be hard to run Windows 10 non-activated. So, if it were my computer what I would do is install Windows 10, activate it with the Windows 7 product key or genuineticket.xml file so that you gain the digital entitlement before July 29th. Then move that Windows 10 to a virtual machine under Windows 7, which should be seen as a "different" computer and lose activation. That way you could legally run Windows 7 and "preview" Windows 10.
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  4. Posts : 74
    7/10
    Thread Starter
       #14

    I think I understand. To confirm - you're saying that it's totally legal to install a fresh instance of a non licensed Windows 10 insider preview? (Whilst accepting the lack of features / nag screen).
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  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #15

    tengeezer said:
    I think I understand. To confirm - you're saying that it's totally legal to install a fresh instance of a non licensed Windows 10 insider preview? (Whilst accepting the lack of features / nag screen).
    Yep. That's why Microsoft built it to operate without activation the way that it does.
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  6. Posts : 74
    7/10
    Thread Starter
       #16

    NavyLCDR said:
    Yep. That's why Microsoft built it to operate without activation the way that it does.
    Great, thanks.

    Let's go one step further. Could one, in theory, legally clone one's activated Win10 Insider preview hard drive, to multiple hard drives?
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  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #17

    As long as they were not activated - or were activated on different computers that had a Windows license available for use.
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  8. Posts : 74
    7/10
    Thread Starter
       #18

    Thanks for your help.
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  9. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #19

    NavyLCDR said:
    It's still legal so long as the second installation of Windows is not activated. You will have reduced functionality (no personalization) and nag screen pop-ups to activate Windows 10.

    Once you gain a digital entitlement for that computer, though, by activating Windows 10, it will be hard to run Windows 10 non-activated. So, if it were my computer what I would do is install Windows 10, activate it with the Windows 7 product key or genuineticket.xml file so that you gain the digital entitlement before July 29th. Then move that Windows 10 to a virtual machine under Windows 7, which should be seen as a "different" computer and lose activation. That way you could legally run Windows 7 and "preview" Windows 10.
    I accept this is true for the release versions - however the EULAs for Insider versions are different. Do we have enough knowledge to categorically say this applies to Insider versions?

    In fact, I have seen responses on other forums from MS that actually recommend doing it as dual boot (or vm) as OP would like (cannot prove this though with a link).
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  10. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #20

    cereberus said:
    I accept this is true for the release versions - however the EULAs for Insider versions are different. Do we have enough knowledge to categorically say this applies to Insider versions?

    In fact, I have seen responses on other forums from MS that actually recommend doing it as dual boot (or vm) as OP would like (cannot prove this though with a link).
    True, you might be right.
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