The Free Windows 10 Will Support Unlimited Clean Installs

I'm wondering if they can make any money with windows 10?

michielmulders said:

I'm wondering if they can make any money with windows 10?

Why? OEM's still pay for Windows 10. Enterprises still pay for Windows 10. Windows 10 will cost money after 1 year. MS makes money (30%) on all app sales. MS makes money from Server and Cloud services. Why wouldn't MS make money with Windows 10?

Just reserved mine on my desktop running 7 Ultimate x64 (retail edition), going to reinstall 8.1 Core (OEM) on my laptop so I can reserve 10 there + keep my retail 8.1 Pro Student edition. Really hoping 7 retail upgrades to 10 retail and if I change components in my PC or build a whole new PC the retail license transfers.

heyyahblah said:

Yes, that is called changing a device, the pros here answered that for you and I did some digging myself to find out the information.

What is the difference between RETAIL and OEM Windows license:
- OEM versions of Windows 7 are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:
- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel
- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on
- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard
- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

With a retail version, you can transfer it to another computer, change your motherboard.
http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/lice...hobbyists.aspx

- OEM is one time install. if you try to install it on another computer you cant register it because they see its a different motherboard. Retail you can call them up and change the key over to another motherboard 5 times.
- OEM if your motherboard dies and you cant find the same one to replace it you need to rebuy windows. upgrading anything else is fine though.

Software-wise, OEM Windows 7 are identical to Retail versions. The only differences are of legal nature:

- OEM is locked to one computer, although the only component checked is the motherboard - you can change other components at will. I'm not completely sure, but after replacing the motherboard (e.g. when it fails and you get RMA for the exact same model) you might need to reactivate the system by phone.
- OEM does not come with free Microsoft direct support
- OEM is locked to the computer it is bought with (technically you can activate it on any other computer but that's against the purchase agreement, so from legal standpoint it is no different from installing a pirated version)
- OEM cannot be directly upgraded from an older version of Windows OS (if you are using Windows XP it is not an issue, because it is technically impossible to upgrade from XP to 7, you have to make a new, clean installation. Same applies to process of switching from 32-bit to 64-bit OS).

So there are your answer's there. If you upgrade from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 and its OEM you cannot change the motherboard. If you buy Windows 10 from newegg OEM for $109, again you cannot change the motherboard.

No, this is NOT the answer. Today I have a retail Windows 8.1 Pro, but if I upgrade to windows 10, the "retail" part seems to blow away, and because of that, I want to know "what is a device in Windows 10"?
All your written data about OEM versus Retail are correct AFAIK, but that was not what I was asking about. In fact I don't have an OEM licence at all!!

I also know about phone activating, and that works fine as long as you are doing what Microsoft think is legal, and again. In my example with changed mobo because of a defect ... will Microsoft see that as the same device (remember comming from a Windows 8.1 Pro RETAIL to Windows 10 Pro)??

If you have a RETAIL license for Windows 8.1 and not OEM there should be no problem for you. If you have RETAIL Windows 8.1 PRO your key should upgrade to RETAIL Windows 10 PRO Key. Which I assume Microsoft would change your RETAIL KEY into a RETAIL Windows 10 PRO License Key. It would be very stupid of them to make your key OEM if it is not OEM.

With a retail key you can change the motherboard and yes the hardware ID will change, you will have to call Microsoft and tell them your motherboard is dead, please activate my key on my new computer. They will see a new hardware ID change and activate you. That should not be a problem.

From what I understand if you upgrade Windows 8.1 PRO Retail it becomes Windows 10 PRO Key. Then your computer will be upgraded. Then if you change hardware after you will probably have to call and re-activate your key, but you will have to install Windows 10 instead of 8.1 if you do the license upgrade.

If I'm upgrading my Windows 8.1 Pro on my device and then decide I want to go back, will I be able to install 8.1 any time or am I stuck on Win 10? If that's the case, I will use the back up tool my windows 8.1 System. When I am not satisfied with windows 10 at least I still can come back to windows 8.1