Can I get Win10 for free after July 29th this year?

keedouobe · 29 May 2016

I already know about the trick where you update then revert, and the computer you updated on will be able to upgrade again for free after July 29th, but what if I won't have the computer I want to upgrade until after this date?

I'm getting a MacBook Air in August. I like how any programs made for Macs will work (for the most part) because each Mac has set specs, but I'm not a huge fan of the Mac OS. But then I learned about dual booting on Mac, and so I thought that if I dual booted Mac and Windows I'd get the best of both worlds. But then I learned that Windows 10 will only be free until July 29th, so is there a way I can 'reserve' the copy until then? Or will I just have to pay the $119 if I really want to do it?

BunnyJ · 29 May 2016

Someone else might think of a way but the answer is no. You can't get a free upgrade after 7/29.

NavyLCDR · 29 May 2016

If you read the terms of the free upgrade offer, Microsoft never even offered to upgrade copies of Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 for free. They offered to upgrade DEVICES running Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 for free. The free offer expires 29 July 2016. So in order to obtain the free upgrade, you must upgrade the DEVICE that is running Windows 7/8/8.1 to Windows 10 before 29 July 2016. The price of the upgrade is determined by the day that you actually upgrade the device.

alphanumeric · 30 May 2016

A MacBook running the Mac OS (only) doesn't qualify for the free upgrade now, let alone after the 29th? You can't reserve the upgrade on a device you don't own? And even if you reserve the free upgrade on a device that qualifies, you still have to take advantage of (do) the upgrade before the 29th. If you don't activate and get your Digital Entitlement before the end date, activating (getting a license) will cost you.

strollin · 30 May 2016

First of all, Windows 10 is not free now and never will be (legally). MS has allowed users running Windows 7 and 8.x to UPGRADE their existing OS to Win 10 for free, provided the upgrade is done before July 29, 2016.

That means, you would need to first setup your Mac for dual boot with either Win 7 or win 8.x prior to 7/29 and then perform the upgrade to Win 10. After that date, you will need to outright purchase Win 10.

I haven't heard if MS plans to have both upgrade and full retail versions of Win 10 where the upgrade is sold at a lower price. Prior Windows versions were offered that way but since MS gave the upgrade away for free for a year, they may not provide the lower price upgrade path going forward.

Vince Massi · 30 May 2016

Welcome aboard, Kee.

The free upgrade only applies to machines running 7 or 8.1. You can't upgrade Mac OS X to Windows 10.

But I have a better idea. Since you don't like OS X and do like Windows 10, why not buy a Windows machine? It will probably have Win 10 pre-installed, will cost less than a Mac, and will have more programs available to download.

One of the deep dark secrets of technology is that Macs have less problems because they run less high-end games. I've had budget Windows laptops run fine because I won't install high-end games on them. A few years ago, a local orphanage was using ten year old XP laptops with no problems because they kept high-end games off them.

And MacBook Air prices start at around $900 US. Unless you are planning on using a high-end program, you would do better with a budget laptop that you can replace every two years or so.

Confirm a store's return policy before you buy, and you should do fine with a Windows machine.

Berton · 30 May 2016

keedouobe said:

But then I learned about dual booting on Mac, and so I thought that if I dual booted Mac and Windows I'd get the best of both worlds. But then I learned that Windows 10 will only be free until July 29th, so is there a way I can 'reserve' the copy until then? Or will I just have to pay the $119 if I really want to do it?

Rather than dual-booting the Mac aren't you referring to running Windows as a Virtual Machine using a program such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion, maybe bootcamp? With such a program you can install a version of Windows but to get the free Upgrade to Win10 you'd still have to obtain a copy of Win7 w/SP1 or Win8.1 and install, leastways that is the process for me to put Windows on my 2010 MacBook Pro.

NavyLCDR · 30 May 2016

Berton said:

Rather than dual-booting the Mac aren't you referring to running Windows as a Virtual Machine using a program such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion, maybe bootcamp? With such a program you can install a version of Windows but to get the free Upgrade to Win10 you'd still have to obtain a copy of Win7 w/SP1 or Win8.1 and install, leastways that is the process for me to put Windows on my 2010 MacBook Pro.

You have to be careful with a virtual machine because if you have to reinstall the software and create a new virtual machine, Windows will likely calculate a new Hardware ID for it and you will end up with a completely new install and lose your digital entitlement to activate Windows 10 with.

cereberus · 30 May 2016

Actually the real answer is MAYBE if original windows licence is retail.

According to EULA, windows 10 is transferable if licence is standalone (retail) or original licence you upgraded from is standalone. There is no mention of any time limits.

However MS have stubbornly refused to say HOW or IF this will work after free period ends. If they do not permit it, they are clearly violating their own EULA.

So I recommend using a VM and insta!ling windows 10 and activating using windows 7/8 retail key.

Then if MS do honour their own EULA, you have reserved it. If on the other hand, they do not, worst case to you is a bit of time wasted.

keedouobe · 31 May 2016

Alright thanks guys. I might consider getting a high-end windows machine sometime, but I'm getting the Mac as a gift and I don't want to let it just rot away on my desk.