New
#10
Retail copies do NOT become OEM after Jul 2016.
Please read the Transfer section in the EULA/the License Agreement. Specifically Section 4 b that applies to Retail copies of W10. I quote:
4. Transfer. The provisions of this section do not apply if you acquired the software as a consumer in Germany or in any of the countries listed on this site (aka.ms/transfer), in which case any transfer of the software to a third party, and the right to use it, must comply with applicable law.
a. Software preinstalled on device. If you acquired the software preinstalled on a device (and also if you upgraded from software preinstalled on a device), you may transfer the license to use the software directly to another user, only with the licensed device. The transfer must include the software and, if provided with the device, an authentic Windows label including the product key. Before any permitted transfer, the other party must agree that this agreement applies to the transfer and use of the software.
b. Stand-alone software. If you acquired the software as stand-alone software (and also if you upgraded from software you acquired as stand-alone software), you may transfer the software to another device that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software to a device owned by someone else if (i) you are the first licensed user of the software and (ii) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between devices.
MS is no stranger to shooting self in the foot but not letting retail copies be installed (using proper procedure of course) would be another place it hits.
My factory OEM Windows 7 install became a Windows 10 Pro Retail install. If anything its going the other way. OEM becomes Retail. Which makes sense, Microsoft becomes your tech support after the upgrade, not the OEM. The OEM is only going to give you support for what was installed at the factory. If you switch to a new OS, your on your own as far as their concerned.
I don't get it.
I have Full/Retail Windows 7 Home Premium. The one that comes in the nice pretty fancy box:
I upgraded my current installation to W10 Home.
If I ever decided to build a new computer, can I just use a W10 disc created via Media Creation Tool, then my W7 product key to activate?
Again, it's Full/Retail Windows, not the OEM version. Technically this should be possible, since Full/Retail licenses are transferable to a new computer.
But upgrading to W10 from W7 will still be possible, even after July 2016?
Last time I checked online, when you "upgrade" to W10, your current W7 or W8.1 key will simply be "granted the right" to activate W10. They're not giving you a new key, obviously, but your current one should activate W10.
This is way more complicated than it should be...
All I'm saying is, if you clean install, and try to enter a Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key it will be rejected. Do a clean install on a PC that was never upgraded to 10 or activated with Windows 10, and it will fail activation if you do the skip key. Upgrade installs will be doable after July 2016, they just won't be free upgrades. I'm not sure what happens if you do another upgrade with an OS you used for the free upgrade after that date. On that same original hardware Windows 10 should activate like it did the first time. Activation for that hardware is already stored on the activation server. Install on new hardware, then upgrade to 10, I'm not so sure?