Upgrading system with the 'free' Windows 10 ?

Scougar · 16 Mar 2017 at 14:47

So I have the 'free' version of windows 10 on my machine (not-pirate I mean the upgrade was free, I didn't need to pay for it). Now that the free upgrade has all expired, I am wanting to upgrade my PC to a Ryzen system.

Will I have to pay out for Windows 10, or can I swap my MB, CPU and RAM and reactivate Windows 10?

moogle · 16 Mar 2017 at 14:53

Not sure it'll work. If you have a genuine W7/W8 retail key and install that on it, then upgrade it will work. But I don't think it will like a system swap.

Scougar · 16 Mar 2017 at 17:06

Awesome. So I gave up my license for Windy's 10 and now I have to buy another for a new system... Ffs

ED209 · 16 Mar 2017 at 17:51

you can try and contact Microsoft using their online chat and they may do it for you but OEM license is tied to the mobo of the first system its installed on.

was your windows 7 retail or OEM?

marc2003 · 16 Mar 2017 at 18:03

Scougar said:
Awesome. So I gave up my license for Windy's 10 and now I have to buy another for a new system... Ffs

No, you're in exactly the same boat as if you were still on windows 7/8. If it was OEM, you couldn't transfer it to a new system. If it's retail, then you can.

Scougar · 16 Mar 2017 at 18:56

I transferred my windows 7 and 8 license a few times before I upgraded to 10.

ubersonic · 17 Mar 2017 at 10:30

You can still upgrade from 7/8 for free if you are disabled, if so simply use the upgrade tool on Microsoft's site: https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/windows10upgrade

It's important you only do it if you're disabled though as there's no check so you don't wanna invoke bad karma or anything.

linktoinsanity · 17 Mar 2017 at 16:25

ubersonic said:
It's important you only do it if you're disabled though as there's no check so you don't wanna invoke bad karma or anything.

It's so easy to do, it is as if Microsoft have left a way to upgrade to Windows 10 for free on purpose or something...

PapaLazaru · 17 Mar 2017 at 17:08

Your Win10 key can be linked to your email login. So just build the new PC, stick the USB in, click past entering the key (it specifically tells you to do this) then just enter your email.

It's what I did less than a month ago with no hassle. Does nobody know this?

Puzzled · 17 Mar 2017 at 21:28

PapaLazaru said:
Your Win10 key can be linked to your email login. So just build the new PC, stick the USB in, click past entering the key (it specifically tells you to do this) then just enter your email.

It's what I did less than a month ago with no hassle. Does nobody know this?

I didn't realise that allowed you to move the license to a completely new system (which a new m/b effectively is), thought it just made re-installing / upgrades easier.

Cool if it does.

PapaLazaru · 17 Mar 2017 at 23:06

MonkeyMan said:
I didn't realise that allowed you to move the license to a completely new system (which a new m/b effectively is), thought it just made re-installing / upgrades easier.

Cool if it does.

I replaced everything and it worked without any trouble.

Scougar · 20 Mar 2017 at 11:50

PapaLazaru said:
Your Win10 key can be linked to your email login. So just build the new PC, stick the USB in, click past entering the key (it specifically tells you to do this) then just enter your email.

It's what I did less than a month ago with no hassle. Does nobody know this?

Awesome. Thank you so much PapaLazaru. I would prefer to do it all legitimately.

Thanks for the other method as well folks ☺

ExoMale · 20 Mar 2017 at 16:17

You will have to purchase windows 10 or download an ISO if you already have a win 10 key, the one issue with upgrading.

I had windows 10 free upgrade multiple times over different machines for myself and to sell as it was more appealing being up to date os, but when I had boot issues with my own computer I had to reset it(I'm on 8.1 so simple reset process within recovery) and as such I didn't have Windows 10 anymore, well I did on a 2nd drive I put my 8.1 on then upgraded to have both os, but not the main drive.. while I don't like win 10 I was lucky and glad to have these issues during the free time zone, won't pay for it unless I get a system already running it.