Here’s what happens after the July 29th free Windows 10 offer ends

Apologies to Wynona and others. Old problem. I know what I meant but failed to communicate it! With the thread being a clarification AFTER the free upgrade I assumed too much, perhaps.

I am fine as I have been using my MS account since Oct 2014 but I was wondering about ramifications for others I have upgraded without creating an MS account when 29 Jul passes. Guess it doesn't matter as they already have a digital entitlement so can get the licence added to an MS account at any time after Jul 29 if they choose.

There, I think I have answered my own question

True, Wyn!!

swarfega said:

So my advice would be to upgrade to Windows 10 now even if you dont think you'l keep it. Because sometime in the future Windows 7/8* will expire or some games will require Windows 10 or some software and you'll kick yourself for not taking the free offer back in 2016.

Unfortunately, there are not enough people like you in the world that have the logic and foresight such as this.... :/

Wynona said:

I've read the responses to the above, NeedHelp, and you may be in luck if the following holds true:

1. You joined the Insider Program early on and chose to stay on it.
2. You have a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8.1. If so, you can reinstall and use the product key of one of those.

If you do have said licensed copy, remember to install like for like; i.e. Home version for Home version, etc. Also, remember that when upgrading Windows, you can no longer use the older version of Windows.

I joined the Insider Program almost as soon as it was started and chose to stay on it. My copy of Windows 10 is activated and I have digital entitlement. That said, though, I knew I'd "fallen through the cracks" so in order to stay ethically legal, I now Dual Boot my machine and upgraded from Windows 8.1. Of course, as long as I'm an Insider, my Insider version is legal.

1. You joined the Insider Program early on and chose to stay on it.
Nope I did not joined any program at least I do not think so :)

2. You have a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8.1. If so, you can reinstall and use the product key of one of those.
I don't have a key just a Dell laptop with Windows 7 factory installed and it's not applicable to upgrade to Win10 at least I did not get any indications.

I just built a new gaming PC for me on October of 2015 and the only thing missing was the OS! I tried to buy Windows 10 from Microsoft website but they do not accepted the usual payment method I use here and I did not want to make a new bank card just for that The internet stores that I know and can be trusted are not selling Win10 only this shady ones I don't want that!

Anyway on a google search I found out that in this free upgrade time you could install Win10 even without a key and use it without problems only getting a watermark stuff telling you to register and not be able to customize how it looks so I'm using it since then :)

Strange thing is that in some of this Windows updates Win10 got REALLY messed up so I just deleted everything and did another clean install but with a newer ISO from Microsoft and now I don't even get the watermark asking to register and I can change wallpapers without it being blocked go figure!

In the end the simple answer for me is find some place safe to get Windows 10 cause the clock is ticking and Microsoft will mess this PC real good if I do not register a key :) I need to buy a key but I'm having trouble to find it and even finding it this things are expensive in my country but that's something no one here can help

me? how do I do that?

OK since mine is in Portuguese I found a screen in English on the internet with exactly what I see here but instead of PRO I have HOME version here:



I'm pretty sure there is nothing I can do but to buy a key because I can't expect to magically get a free digital entitlement with the key space in blank and I did not made anything good to Microsoft to get a free copy :)