I HAVE PROOF THAT WITH WINDOWS 10 FREE UPGRADE IS CRAP

I bought windows 7 ultimate on release and the upgrade has gone well to Win 10 pro. I do not plan to upgrade just yet as Win 10 seems to have given my PC a new lease of life (FX9590). I will see how it goes for a few months then consider the options in 2016.

My advice for an 'enthusiast' is to go pro.
 
OK Microsoft are taking the ****ing **** now! Had motherboard failure so had to buy a new board...

  • Tried ringing them and I get somebody babling about Technical Support then they hang up the phone.
  • Tried live chat and they point me to Tech Answers who tell me I need to install the full version of W10 because the Tech Preview no longer works, this is despite me telling them I am on a Windows Insider build along with the build number.
  • They then tell me to go and install a previous OS and upgrade that way since I can do that for free.
Would some kind soul please tell me what the **** I am supposed to ****ing do to activate this ****ing thing before I launch it down the ****ing stairs!!!!!!!!!

Stoner81.

PS - Yes I am mad beyond reason, I have been messing with this for 2 days and nothing has helped me to fix this! Yet Microsoft wonder why people pirate so much if it's this freaking hard to be legal!
 
Can't you just go to settings , update and change it to preview build?
Or does it not allow you or not activate?

Sees you do require to install an old os.
As far as I know they've deactivated the generic insider keys we used to have and on the official page it says.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
•If you are installing the operating system for the first time, you will need your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx). For more information about product keys and when they are required, visit the FAQ page.
Click to expand...

And
They have changed requirements, must have upgraded from a qualifying product this is their rhetoric.
Getting started with new Windows 10 Insider Preview builds:
If you’re already a Windows Insider and have been running Windows 10 Insider Preview builds – there is nothing you need to do. You will automatically be upgraded or you can upgrade your build via Windows Update. If you want to get a Windows 10 Insider Preview build installed on a PC running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you should first upgrade to Windows 10 using the free upgrade offer* available to qualified, genuine Windows 7 and 8.1 devices. From there, you can opt in to the Windows Insider Program via Settings app > Update & Security > Advanced options under “Get Insider builds”.

Windows 10 Insider Preview is intended to be installed on genuine Windows 10 devices – before upgrading to Windows 10 Insider Preview Builds or reinstalling Windows 10 please ensure your device is activated. To confirm go to Settings > Update & security > Activation. With the launch of Windows 10 we introduced device based activation. If you’ve previously activated a genuine copy of Windows 10 on your device, you’ll be able to activate Windows 10 Insider Preview builds of the same edition without the need to enter a product key. This will also enable you to re-install the latest public release of Windows 10 without entering a product key if you no longer want Windows Insider Preview on your device.
Click to expand...

So yeah you need to install old OS if you have one
 
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That is what I currently see, it started on the Tech Preview and updated to Insider Preview but now it won't activate due to motherboard change. For Preview Builds it says there is an issue with a Fix button so I click that and a new windows opens saying there was a problem signing me in.

Stoner81.
 
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It wont that's an old generic insider preview key that will no longer work.

What version did you install?
Maybe it's worth going back to a version that, that key worked on. Which I believe was 10240. This may not work either.
 
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Insider program is now only for legit licenses, or people who have carried on.
You could try installing build 10240 where that key worked, but it might not anymore. I assume you installed the latest version.

Or you could try tweeting GabeeAul and see what he says. But as you aren't running a legit license I'm not sure how far you can get.

Other option is phone MS and see if you get a nicer person. Theory "staff" very massively. It's like there contracted out to someone else and they've hired medically tested monkeys.
 
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I am on build 10352 at the moment, I just carried on being an Insider after launch day but due to hardware failure I had to buy a new motherboard hence the utter mess I am in now.

I don't have a Twitter account and I have tried ringing them about 5 times and I get the same response.

Stoner81.
 
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Just read through this whole thread and can't believe that, after all this time, we *STILL* don't have a clear answer on retail upgrades from MS.

The closest we seem to have is their statement that we'll be able to "transfer" a Win10 free upgrade from 7/8 retail but no information on exactly how this is done. D3K's experience seems to suggest it doesn't work - did you ever get it sorted?
 
Just upgraded my Motherboard. Had upgraded from 8.1 Pro to 10 pro few months back and now on booting up with new mobo says not activated. On phone to the worst customer service in the world at the moment so will see how it goes. I am not hopeful as they have been useless in the past.
 
It's in the EULA and it's in the FAQ, how much more clear but do you want.
It even tells you how to do it, phone MS up.
Even several people in this very thread who have done it and got a new serial key off MS by phoning them. The only real issue is MS employs monkeys and so it can be pot luck getting someone who actually knows what they're talking to. Usual way round this is to ask for a manager. And be forearmed with the EULA.

You didn't read the thread did you.
 
Awesome service so far 20 seconds on the phone to someone who can barely speak english and now 18 minutes of the worst hold music in history to get to what I can only assume is tech support.
 
That's the biggest problem with MS
And their web forum help is the same, bunch of monkeys posting obvious solutions that you've already tried and then never reply again.
 
Glaucus said:
You didn't read the thread did you.
Click to expand...

That aimed at me? I did read the thread thank you. Whilst some people may have managed to get retail keys from MS, it's far from certain that this is standard policy and I don't think D3K managed to do so, did he?

Where exactly in the EULA/FAQ are the details of how to transfer the licence? Not only did the quotes I saw say nothing about how to go about it but several people have commented on there being no contact numbers for MS for activation/key issues.
 
Section 4b of the eula
And off course there's a phone number for activation. It just isn't always displayed, but I'm sure you can google.
And in the FAQ it tells you to phone activation helpline.
 
Absolute farce. I have to call tomorrow during Indian morning as thats when the head trained monkey supervisor is in to activate my windows 10. What an absolute joke.

At least I got his made up full name and a case reference. SIGH
 
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In the interests of fairness, I will say that after upgrading my BIOS firmware, Windows 10 (upgrade) stayed activated.

Then followed up with a clean install, and was asked for a license key twice during installation. Skipped both times. Windows is showing as activated, however.
 
Shock horror got told utter nonsense. No supervisor and again someone who can barely speak two words of English and was generally utter incompetent. So now reinstalling windows 8 to try upgrade that way again. This is a total joke and enraged me so much I had to go for a walk to calm down.
 
Decided to give it another try. Got a lovely women on the phone who got a manager and 20 minutes later I have a fully activated windows 10 pro retail key pasted in a text document and activated. Clearly is luck of the draw with agents ;)
 
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