Buying Windows 8.1 just for W10 - anything I should be aware of?

[TheBigCheese]

Hi guys

I'm having some severe driver issues with my W7 Pro 64bit install and I'm thinking the easiest way to fix them will be to do a complete reinstall. If I'm going to have to do that I was thinking about moving up to Windows 10 when it's released.

I saw the announcement the other day for owners of Windows 7/8/8.1 getting a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it's released, which sounds good to me.

I've had a look on the Windows site, and reading it has a caused a couple of raised eyebrows...I wondered if anyone knew more about it and could clarify the situation (any Microsoft reps on here?):

"We will offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified new or existing Windows 7, Windows 8..."
Does qualified, just mean genuine, not pirated software? Or does it have to be bundled with a new PC or similar?

"once a qualified Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it up to date for the supported lifetime of the device"
Again, that says to me, for software that comes bundled with a computer, not bought OEM for us system builders...is there any clarification on that?


Finally...does it matter which version of 8.1 I buy to be able to upgrade to 10? I read the fluff that said about versions being a thing of the past...does that mean there is just one standard W10 and not home/pro/ultimate etc., of the W7/8 era?


Thanks.

 

[nshire]

Hi guys

I'm having some severe driver issues with my W7 Pro 64bit install and I'm thinking the easiest way to fix them will be to do a complete reinstall. If I'm going to have to do that I was thinking about moving up to Windows 10 when it's released.

I saw the announcement the other day for owners of Windows 7/8/8.1 getting a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it's released, which sounds good to me.

I've had a look on the Windows site, and reading it has a caused a couple of raised eyebrows...I wondered if anyone knew more about it and could clarify the situation (any Microsoft reps on here?):

"We will offer a free upgrade to Windows 10 for qualified new or existing Windows 7, Windows 8..."
Does qualified, just mean genuine, not pirated software? Or does it have to be bundled with a new PC or similar?

"once a qualified Windows device is upgraded to Windows 10, we will continue to keep it up to date for the supported lifetime of the device"
Again, that says to me, for software that comes bundled with a computer, not bought OEM for us system builders...is there any clarification on that?


Finally...does it matter which version of 8.1 I buy to be able to upgrade to 10? I read the fluff that said about versions being a thing of the past...does that mean there is just one standard W10 and not home/pro/ultimate etc., of the W7/8 era?


Thanks.

Qualified = Non enterprise users and ofcourse genuine.

 

[Scougar]

I now have a second PC, and I really wish I could get another license cheaply as I don't want to uninstall 8.1 from the other system Sucks as it is so expensive compared to when I bought it for 25 pounds.