Can I obtain my free copy of Windows 10?

IT Troll said:
The offer clearly states; "Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device". Your device is identified through the hardware-based Digital Entitlement, the offer makes no mention of transferring the free upgrade to other devices. If they let you install Windows 10 using a Windows 7/8 licence on new hardware indefinitely then the offer hasn't ended. You can't contact Microsoft for a new key because you don't get a new full retail key with this offer. You just get a free upgrade through Digital Entitlement.

If you need someone else to tell you the same thing then here you go:
http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/what-happens-my-free-windows-10-upgrade-after-29-july-2016-if-i-need-change-hardware
Click to expand...

I have spoken to Microsoft yesterday on this very subject and following that discussion I have now installed my retail copy of W7 on a VM then upgraded to W10. I was assured that if the customer has purchased a retail copy of Windows then the rights that came with that copy transfer over to Windows 10 even though the new T&C don't explicitly say this. This isn't the case for an OEM version.

Their exact words - If you upgraded from a retail copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or 8.1, the Windows 10 license carries the retail rights from which it was derived

I was advised to delete the product key before I deleted the VM (via CMD) then install it again through the command prompt on my new PC and following that use the phone method to complete the process.
 
Hmm.

So what exactly is happening after the 1 year of free upgrades then, if retail licence status applies to your upgrade?
They just stop upgrading after that point?

It doesn't make sense.

-edit BB, what is this windows 10 licence you speak of btw? They don't issue a new key at any point, is it simply the old key will always allow a direct install of 10 going forward?
 
ive just done a clean win 10 pro install, onto a new machine with a SSD. I also have an old hardrive installed from a previous machine with the old win7 pro partition deleted/reformatted. The win 10 install was completed from usb created by the Microsoft tool.

I used the key from the win7 pro (upgrade) cd. all ok. I didn't think clean install were possible - but it is.
 
Hikari Kisugi said:
Hmm.

So what exactly is happening after the 1 year of free upgrades then, if retail licence status applies to your upgrade?
They just stop upgrading after that point?

It doesn't make sense.

-edit BB, what is this windows 10 licence you speak of btw? They don't issue a new key at any point, is it simply the old key will always allow a direct install of 10 going forward?
Click to expand...

I don't speak of any Windows 10 licence. If you read what I wrote you will note I quote from a MS employee - verbatim.
 
Billies Bangers said:
I was advised to delete the product key before I deleted the VM (via CMD) then install it again through the command prompt on my new PC and following that use the phone method to complete the process.
Click to expand...
Well I guess we will find out when you try the install in future. In my experience first line MS support don't really know and just make stuff up.
mymorph said:
I used the key from the win7 pro (upgrade) cd. all ok. I didn't think clean install were possible - but it is.
Click to expand...
Yes that has been possible since the TH2 release.
 
I am currently in the process of having just installed win 8.1 on my new SSD drive, and downloading the win10 update. I hope it accepts my win 8.1 key. I have got a win10 iso on a usb drive ready to install a fresh copy if it works ok.

If it goes **** up I can just put my old SSD back in :)
 
fobose said:
I am currently in the process of having just installed win 8.1 on my new SSD drive, and downloading the win10 update. I hope it accepts my win 8.1 key. I have got a win10 iso on a usb drive ready to install a fresh copy if it works ok.

If it goes **** up I can just put my old SSD back in :)
Click to expand...

Before you start the w10 install make sure w8.1 has activated and you shouldn't have a problem. You won't type the key in if you're going the upgrade route where 8.1 has activated. This requires you choose the option to keep stuff rather than choosing the advanced option which is the clean install option. Just skip the question if it asks for the key, it ought to reactivate once the w10 install is finished and you're connected to the web.

Once you've upgraded and w10 has activated you can choose to reinstall as a clean install if you wish or use the drive clean up tool to wipe the old install or the reset option in the recovery options.

If you prefer a clean install make the install media first and then activate it either during install or at the end using your w7 or w8.1 key. Eg there's no longer a need to put w7 or w8.1 on first if you're using up to date w10 install media.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the heads up. I have just checked and it has activated itself thankfully :)

*edit*

When I installed win8.1 last year on my new PC, I didn't know about UEFI (I came from a very old core 2 duo system). I have now set my system up as UEFI enabled only and the new win8.1 install shows as a UEFI install.

I used my legacy win 8.1 install to download the win10 iso using the upgrade feature, I think it said 'download iso for another computer' or something like that. Will this have the correct format for a UEFI enabled bios do you know?
 
Last edited:
As long as your bios is set to uefi when you install / upgrade then the install media will detect that appropriately.

If you have a gop enabled gfx firmware and the drive is using gpt partioning then you can enable secure boot and fast boot too.
 
Last edited:
Ah ok excellent thanks :) This upgrade is a real PITA, its taking ages. I guess I should have used my win 10 usb drive earlier rather than downloading the win10 upgrade through windows update. It was stuck on "preparing for upgrade' for about an hour.

I did a shutdown + 1 update, then did another shutdown + 103 updates. Then opened up winupdate again and it looks like it wants me to download the 2.8gb win10 file again. Sod that, I have an 8mbit connection.

I tried to upgrade windows via booting from the win 10 usb drive, but it came up with a message saying I couldn't do for some reason (something about I am not supposed to click 'custom install' - I didn't, I clicked 'upgrade'). Anyway, I have run the setup.exe from the win 10 usb drive from within windows and it's now 'checking for updates'.

Roll on installing a fresh copy of win 10!! Half my day gone already :(
 
Win10 upgrade worked via upgrade from the usb drive. I have now formatted the drive and installed a fresh copy of win10 and that has activated ok too :)
 
Now I have the same process to follow on another desktop and one laptop :( Although this time I am going to try a fresh install from the win10 USB drive to see if that works and to save lots of faffing :)
 
IT Troll said:
The Windows 10 upgrade licence is hardware locked even with a retail 7/8 licence. You can still move it now by talking with MS Support, but that may not be the case when the offer ends as the upgrade licence is valid for "the lifetime of the device". They may argue that it is not the same device.

However if you installed and activated Windows 10 onto a spare disk now then put this in your new machine you might still be able to talk them around. Just say your motherboard developed a fault and was replaced under warranty.

Having said all that I am building now to avoid the risk.
Click to expand...

this is from the win10 license terms

4. Transfer. The provisions of this section do not apply if you acquired the software as a consumer in Germany or in any of the countries listed on this site (aka.ms/transfer), in which case any transfer of the software to a third party, and the right to use it, must comply with applicable law.

a. Software preinstalled on device. If you acquired the software preinstalled on a device (and also if you upgraded from software preinstalled on a device), you may transfer the license to use the software directly to another user, only with the licensed device. The transfer must include the software and, if provided with the device, an authentic Windows label including the product key. Before any permitted transfer, the other party must agree that this agreement applies to the transfer and use of the software.

b. Stand-alone software. If you acquired the software as stand-alone software (and also if you upgraded from software you acquired as stand-alone software), you may transfer the software to another device that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software to a device owned by someone else if (i) you are the first licensed user of the software and (ii) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between devices.
Click to expand...

Stand-alone = retail
preinstalled = oem
 
Last edited:
Well that does seem pretty clear that transfer is allowed. This does however contradict the terms of the free upgrade offer and the further clarifications made by Microsoft on the offer. Pot luck which Microsoft will apply?
 
Guys, I have an unused W7 Pro retail key. If retail keys will inherit the same rights under W10, I would like to convert my key before the end of the free upgrade period.

Would the best way to do this be to perform a clean install of W10 on a spare drive or VM (using the latest image from the media creation tool), activate it using the W7 key and then use a tool to find the new key? Then keep the new key for a future activation on a different computer?

Also, my current rig was upgraded to W10 from W8 retail - can I just find my current W10 key and use it in the future on my next build for example?

I know OEM keys that were upgraded like the one on my laptop are non transferable.

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
That plan is generally fine except that there is no new key to find (just a common generic one which doesn't gain you anything). Activation is by Digital Entitlement which is based on a hardware fingerprint. The process of moving this to other hardware in future is exactly what this thread is about.
 
IT Troll said:
That plan is generally fine except that there is no new key to find (just a common generic one which doesn't gain you anything). Activation is by Digital Entitlement which is based on a hardware fingerprint. The process of moving this to other hardware in future is exactly what this thread is about.
Click to expand...

if you buy Windows 10 from the Windows Store which is retail and successfully activate it. it still comes under Digital entitlement.

so Digital entitlement doesn't mean u can't move it.

How you got Windows 10



Activation method
You upgraded to Windows 10 for free from an eligible device running a genuine copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. - Digital entitlement



You bought genuine Windows 10 from the Windows Store and successfully activated Windows 10. - Digital entitlement



You bought a Windows 10 Pro upgrade from the Windows Store and successfully activated Windows 10. - Digital entitlement



You’re a Windows Insider and upgraded to the newest Windows 10 Insider Preview build on an eligible device that was running an activated previous version of Windows and Windows 10 Preview. - Digital entitlement



You upgraded to Windows 10 (Version 1511 or higher) and activated it using a Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 product key. - Digital entitlement

(A digital entitlement will be given to your device for Windows 10 based on the valid product key that you entered)



You bought a copy of Windows 10 from an authorised retailer. - Product key

(On a label inside the Windows 10 box)



You bought a digital copy of Windows 10 from an authorised retailer. - Product key

(In the confirmation email that you received after buying Windows 10, or in a digital locker accessible via the retailer’s website)



You have a Volume Licensing agreement for Windows 10 or MSDN subscription - Product key

(Available via the web portal for your programme)



You bought a new device running Windows 10. - Product key

(Pre-installed on your device, included with the device packaging, or included as a card or on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the device)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-10/activation-in-windows-10
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom