How about you read the thread first?
I HAVE PROOF THAT WITH WINDOWS 10 FREE UPGRADE IS CRAP
- Thread starter Ace Modder
- Start date
i just contacted MS and they said they do generate you a proper retail key for windows 10 but only for users that can't get windows 10 activated for the first time after upgraded. so i said i upgraded from a retail license so if i wanted to upgrade my hardware i should able to and still have win10 and he said yes but i'd have to reinstall win8.1 then upgrade to win10, i said that's ok to that within the first year but after the year it can't be done. then he said we won't generate a proper retail key for windows 10 without very good reason, so i said this is a very good reason, that i from a retail license and wanting to upgrade my hardware anytime without needing to reinstall win8.1, and i said you should read the EULA, it clearly states if you've upgraded a stand-alone OS = retail u are able to transfer, and he said where does it say that, so i then showed him it, then guess what! he cut me off
I'm struggling to understand how you can't see that there's dozens of reasons why they can't do what you want.
If the windows 8 key has been used to upgrade at any point in the first year it can always be used to upgrade after that.
after the first year you won't be able upgrade if you've upgraded your hardware. even if you reinstall win8.1 then upgrade via iso, it won't activate because it'll see itas a new device
it's not about win7/8/8.1 keys, the upgrade process doesn't do anything with your previous product key, it doesn't get assigned to win10...
when u do the upgrade process it check if your previous OS activated and genuine then it takes the hardware id and activation id from your previous OS and flags them for win10.... note only for that hardware...
anyway he said even if i upgrade my hardware now and if windows 10 doesn't activate they won't give me a proper windows 10 key and he said they will only generate you a proper retail key for windows 10 to users that can't get windows 10 activated for the first time after upgraded
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Thanks that is the first time I have seen this in print on an official Microsoft page. This is just what we need for when a 1st line support muppet tries to fob us off.
Armed with this link and the knowledge that others have obtained a replacement key means that motherboard upgrades are feasible.
your welcome mate. I'm just shocked how I get **** off some people here just for posting things like that to help.
Soldato
I'm still confused I think. If I had a retail license for XP Pro and upgraded to W8 with the £25 offer and then updated to W8.1 I should still have a retail version at this point. If I then upgrade to W10 on this PC under the free offer in the first year am I exchanging my retail version for an OEM version? Once the W10 12 month free offer ends will I no longer be able to install W10 on this PC if I upgrade the mobo or possibly update the bios?
Yes you will as the 8 key has previously been flagged as upgraded, you lose the ability
toupgrade if you don't upgrade the key at all in the first year.
i don't think your understanding what I'm getting at.
when u do the first time upgrade process it check if your previous OS activated and genuine then it takes the hardware id and activation id from your previous OS and flags them for win10.... note only for that hardware...
it doesn't flag the windows 7/8/8.1 product keys
So you want it free forever for all your hardware changes?...Keep dreaming.
My laptop having free upgrade to Win10 is great, obviously can't change the motherboard on my lappy so that will last me until I buy another laptop.
As to my desktop PC I've no plan to upgrade that until next year at the earliest but don't mind buying another Win10, end of the day Win10 OS is not expensive compared to hardware or other stuff I buy.
So I ask you again why is something free crap?..Try and make a valid statement this time.
Soldato
Well, your're ok then. that's great.
I'm already on an old i5 setup that i want to upgrade.... im out of luck. But you're ok so that's fine.
because we had the option to buy retail versions of previous OSs at well discounted prices on launch, versions we could install over and over. We dont have that now, so instead of the £35 a copy i spent on windows 8 pro, i have to spend what, £180 a copy on 10 pro instead?
How is that a great deal?
It's free, yey. But that means it comes with caveats, pretty large ones for system builders. But yes, great if your on fixed hardware i guess.
As I stated most system builders including you spend more on hardware then OS or software which is a lot cheaper ie Win10 from around 80 quid upwards.
Microsoft did not have to offer it for free with restrictions, they could have just charged us all up front.
End of the day some people will always find something to moan about.
And yes I consider myself a system builder because the last six PCs I have built myself.
Again the crap statement is not valid.
Some people ask for too much when some things are free.
Side note: You can always go Linux now that is free!.
Or you know, you can change hardware and still activate, like has been said for several pages. All it means is a phone call to ms.
Soldato
im assuming this means nobody has had issues when changing motherboards or updating their bios then?
dont get me wrong, if MS were to clarify the situation and say 'yes its true, what's written on our website is correct, and what some of our 'advisors' have said is wrong; you can change your hardware and reactivate with just a call' then great - there's no issue. But that's not the case, not when people most certainly are having issues, being denied reactivation and being given different stories on the phone.
Elevon said:
how much i do or dont spend on hardware should have no bearing on how much i should be spending on software. To suggest otherwise is making an excuse to increase the price of the software and 10 pro, which would be like for like since i ran 8.1 pro on everything, is not £80 a pop.
crap statement, then.
No different to Windows 7/8. Though, I have always had to use the phone for 7 for years now changing boards.
At least there is no speaky no freakin engrish.
Lets look at history ie every Microsoft OS you had to pay for,only two exceptions ie cheap offer on Win8 on its initial release and Win10, again I think you are really overreacting to the situation.
Having said all that I do agree Microsoft could clarify the free offer better.
Soldato
well, preorder price for win 7 home premium / pro was £50/£99 before they went up.
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They have clarified it, it's in the FAQ. People will get issue, it all depends who you speak to. Half the monkeys don't have a clue about MS policy. Just read the last few pages. You can get a serial Key of MS if it doesn't activated.
This isn't an issue at all. It was a thread made before w10 release and people aren't reading the latest. I've asked for thread title to be changed or thread to be locked. To stop this nonsense.