I HAVE PROOF THAT WITH WINDOWS 10 FREE UPGRADE IS CRAP

Ace Modder · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:21

Hi guys, as enthusiasts we are buggered with the Windows 10 FREE upgrade.

I've been talking to MS live chat tonight for about an hour.

And they have confirmed if we swap our motherboards you cannot transfer your windows 10 free upgrade license to a new PC as its tied to your unique BIOS ID.

See here for proof, so anybody who upgrades will need to buy a new license.

snips86x · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:23

Well assuming you don't change the board, you're not going to loose out right?

cactusweasel · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:26

Ace Modder · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:27

snips86x said:
Well assuming you don't change the board, you're not going to loose out right?

yes, but how many of us do upgrade on a regular basis? I do....

Lakeland · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:29

That's a bit shoddy if you have a retail version of Win7

Ace Modder · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:30

Lakeland said:
That's a bit shoddy if you have a retail version of Win7

indeed, and that was my concern that I was posting about in the big Windows 10 thread, so essentially all Windows 7/8 to Window "FREE UPGRADES" become OEM licenses that you cannot just bypass the activation - as you don't have a key at all.

D3K · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:44

This guy thinks otherwise

If the base qualifying license (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) was a full retail version, then yes, you can transfer it.

New mobo inc tomorrow... I'll keep you posted

thebennyboy · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:47

Well when i change my mobo, my insider key invalidated itself. So i'm pretty sure it DOES invalidate your key if you change your mobo.

Wonder if updating your BIOS invalidates it too?

Benihana · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:47

What if you are part of the insider program? (NVM, just saw bennyboys post)

Still sucks that you cant upgrade and re-use the key

thebennyboy · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:52

So glad i get my key off Dreamspark so this isn't so much of an issue for myself. Feel for those that change their motherboard.

Twirlywoos · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:53

MS support can't tell their ass from their face. Why would they change how things work? Hardware can go faulty so buying a new licence because of that is shoddy, unless they want people to buy retail

thebennyboy · 31 Jul 2015 at 22:58

I guess that's the catch with the 'free' upgrade. Mobo go boom and you have to fork out for a new mobo AND a retail Win10 key.

Teuton · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:02

So when you upgrade your mobo can you still install Windows 7/8 (whichever you had) with your old key on the new system?

Bluntwrapped · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:02

Can't you just run a key finder in Win 10, take note of the key used for activation then use the phone activation next time you install? The same thing applies to Windows 8, if you swap out your motherboard you need to reactivate using the phone system.

thebennyboy · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:05

Bluntwrapped said:
Can't you just run a key finder in Win 10, take note of the key used for activation then use the phone activation next time you install? The same thing applies to Windows 8, if you swap out your motherboard you need to reactivate using the phone system.

Is telephone activation even available for Windows 10?

Macro · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:05

It's an upgrade so you retain the same licensing rights you had on the underlying OS. If you had retail before you keep that level of license portability for example

Gerard · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:07

Wasn't it always tied to the motherboard before? That's what ms considered the heart of the pc iirc.

Bluntwrapped · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:17

It's tied to the board but if you go through the phone activation the final part of the call asks you how many computers you have used the product key for. When you answer 0 it bypasses any previous link to your motherboard. You can then activate using the number it gives you to enter. (I'm assuming this applies to Windows 10, it does with 8)

ShakenNstirred · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:23

thebennyboy said:
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluntwrapped

Can't you just run a key finder in Win 10, take note of the key used for activation then use the phone activation next time you install? The same thing applies to Windows 8, if you swap out your motherboard you need to reactivate using the phone system.

Is telephone activation even available for Windows 10?

Yes you can activate via the phone with win 10

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Ace Modder · 31 Jul 2015 at 23:23

Bluntwrapped said:
It's tied to the board but if you go through the phone activation the final part of the call asks you how many computers you have used the product key for. When you answer 0 it bypasses any previous link to your motherboard. You can then activate using the number it gives you to enter. (I'm assuming this applies to Windows 10, it does with 8)

Windows Key upgrade doesn't have a unique key like Windows 8 and 7 etc. (New Windows 10 OEM does, is there even a retail windows 10?)
But for the upgrade I believe all keys are the same, and that your valid license is stored remotely on MS servers using a unique BIOS key after you upgraded from 7 or 8 - which is why you cannot do a clean install and had to upgrade (lets just say for the sake of understanding its your BIOS serial number which is stored in the BIOS coding)

You swap your board and MS servers wont see a valid motherboard serial number on your system and as such you need to buy a new license (or maybe roll back to Windows 7 or 8 IF THEY KEEP YOU OLD KEYS VALID)