Page 1 of 5 1234 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 77

Thread: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

  1. #1
    HEXUS.admin
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    31,709
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    2,073 times in 719 posts

    Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    No free upgrades for pirates but attractively priced upgrade packages.
    Read more.

  2. #2
    Going Retro!!! Ferral's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    North East
    Posts
    7,860
    Thanks
    562
    Thanked
    1,439 times in 877 posts
    • Ferral's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASUS Z97-P
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7 4790K Haswell
      • Memory:
      • 12Gb Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600 Mhz
      • Storage:
      • 120Gb Kingston SSD & 2 Tb Toshiba
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire Radeon R9 380 Nitro 4Gb
      • PSU:
      • Antec Truepower 750 Watt Modular
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Focus G Mid Tower
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 64 bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • 28" iiyama Prolite 4K
      • Internet:
      • 80Mb BT Fiber

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    There's a few things with this free upgrade I have been looking for answers but nothing as of yet.

    I have genuine Windows 7 retail (32 & 64 bit discs in large case), if I decide to do the upgrade to 10 will it render my Windows 7 key useless so I cannot use it on another machine?

    Secondly, also if I upgrade to 10, something goes wrong say 18 months after the upgrade and I need to replace installation hard drive or have to flatten system and do a fresh install, with it being after the initial 12 months will I still have access to 10 or will I then have to pay for an upgrade. Maybe if you are lucky you may be able to find your key within the registry like you can now.

  3. #3
    Registered+
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    51
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    0 times in 0 posts

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    What would be the fair price for non-genuine users to become genuine, your opinion ladies and gents?
    Probably the same amount of money which we - genuine users will pay next year and the year after the next and each year ...
    I think it should be around 1/10 of full priced OS... IMHO -around 20-25Eur....

  4. #4
    Admin (Ret'd)
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    18,481
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    3,208 times in 2,281 posts

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Hmmm.

    Reading the MS blog post carefully suggests it's not quite what this article suggests. As I read it, MS appear to be referring to customers of OEM partners, which appears to draw a distinction from those with outright pirate copies. They refer to "unwitting victims".

    They also say
    Quote Originally Posted by MS blog post
    Microsoft and our OEM partners know that many consumers are unwitting victims of piracy, and with Windows 10, we would like all of our customers to move forward with us together. While our free offer to upgrade to Windows 10 will not apply to Non-Genuine Windows devices, and as we’ve always done, we will continue to offer Windows 10 to customers running devices in a Non-Genuine state. In addition, in partnership with some of our valued OEM partners, we are planning very attractive Windows 10 upgrade offers for their customers running one of their older devices in a Non-Genuine state. Please stay tuned to learn more from our partners on the specifics of their offers.
    That seems to suggest that those with devices from OEM partners may be able to access "offers" from those OEM partners, but implies nothing direct from MS themselves. The same post refers to users where there's difficulty verifying that the OS is genuine, which is a deligntfully vague way of putting it.

    In other words, this doesn't, if we take that blog post at face value, quite seem to be an amnesty for pirate users, but sort-of sop to "unwitting victims" .... albeit at an as yet unspecified price.

    Of course, it IS a blog post, so may not have quite the same degree of carefully-crafted language, as an official company statement or press release.

    I'm not sure it actually takes us forward very much, if at all, in knowing what's going to happen.

  5. #5
    Admin (Ret'd)
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    18,481
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    3,208 times in 2,281 posts

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Quote Originally Posted by Ferral View Post
    There's a few things with this free upgrade I have been looking for answers but nothing as of yet.

    I have genuine Windows 7 retail (32 & 64 bit discs in large case), if I decide to do the upgrade to 10 will it render my Windows 7 key useless so I cannot use it on another machine?

    Secondly, also if I upgrade to 10, something goes wrong say 18 months after the upgrade and I need to replace installation hard drive or have to flatten system and do a fresh install, with it being after the initial 12 months will I still have access to 10 or will I then have to pay for an upgrade. Maybe if you are lucky you may be able to find your key within the registry like you can now.
    Obviously, I know no more than you do. But history suggests that an 'upgrade' licence has to upgrade from something. The 'free' upgrade applies to genuine users, therefore comes from a genuine licence. It's never yet been the case that you could legitimately buy an upgrade package, use it to upgrade from a legit licence, then use that original legit licence on a second machine. You could, of course, install the original licence on a second machine IF it was retail not OEM, and use the upgrade version to upgrade that second machine BUT ONLY legitimately if deleting both from the original machine.

    That is, retail licences can be transferred, but have to come off the first machine, and aren't legitimate on two systems at the same time. The upgrade is valid on either, provided it's upgrading a still legit licence, but the first machine no longer has a legit licence once it's been transferred to the second machine.

    I doubt that's changed.

    I'm equally interested in knowing whether, for example, you upgrade a legit Win 7 or Win8 licence using the 'free' Win 10 upgrade, can you then change you mind and downgrade by re-installing the Win7/8 system, and not have activation/validation troubles?

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    London
    Posts
    1,013
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    20 times in 18 posts
    • excalibur2's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Z77-d3h
      • CPU:
      • Intel 2500k @4.4ghz
      • Memory:
      • 2X4gb Corsair Vengeance
      • Storage:
      • WD 2tb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R290
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 750
      • Case:
      • Haf-x tower
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell u2410
      • Internet:
      • broadband with Plusnet

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    H'mm are there innocent people around who don't know that they don't have a genuine copy of win7 or win8. And I can't see hardened Pirates being reformed if they have to pay for Win 10.
    2nd computer gigabyte P965ds3p, 7770 E2140@2.9ghz, corsair HX520 6 years stable, replaced now with E8400@3.9ghz and will overclock more when I'm bored.

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    342
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    While our free offer to upgrade to Windows 10 will not apply to Non-Genuine Windows devices, and as we’ve always done, we will continue to offer Windows 10 to customers running devices in a Non-Genuine state.
    This certainly sounds like you can take a non-genuine (nag prompt popups and watermark) Win 7 or 8 install, update it to Win 10, and have an upgraded but still non-genuine (nag prompt popups and watermark) install. That is, you can update to Window s10 and then pay for a genuine license, rather than having to pay for a license before upgrading.

  8. #8
    Admin (Ret'd)
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    18,481
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    3,208 times in 2,281 posts

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Quote Originally Posted by excalibur2 View Post
    H'mm are there innocent people around who don't know that they don't have a genuine copy of win7 or win8. And I can't see hardened Pirates being reformed if they have to pay for Win 10.
    I think what they're getting at is people that bought a machine from a less than reputable source, believing they were getting a legit version, only to find corners had been cut and a pirate version put on. Of course, done right, it might be quite some time before MS verification catches up with that and flags it as non-genuine, especially if the less-than-reputable supplier turned of auto-updates, etc. Then, when buyer goes back and moans, months later, they're told the system installed was legit, and someone must have worked on the machine, and put a dodgy version on. I've had people come to me with this, wanting the OS rebuilt with a legit licence. These people are, definitely, "victims" and didn't get what they paid for. But, months, or a year + later, it's probably a losing bet to try to prove it.

  9. #9
    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    /dev/urandom
    Posts
    17,074
    Thanks
    228
    Thanked
    1,027 times in 678 posts
    • directhex's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus ROG Strix B550-I Gaming
      • CPU:
      • Ryzen 5900x
      • Memory:
      • 64GB G.Skill Trident Z RGB
      • Storage:
      • 2TB Seagate Firecuda 520
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 XC3 Ultra
      • PSU:
      • EVGA SuperNOVA 850W G3
      • Case:
      • NZXT H210i
      • Operating System:
      • Ubuntu 20.04, Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • LG 34GN850
      • Internet:
      • FIOS

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Quote Originally Posted by edzieba View Post
    This certainly sounds like you can take a non-genuine (nag prompt popups and watermark) Win 7 or 8 install, update it to Win 10, and have an upgraded but still non-genuine (nag prompt popups and watermark) install. That is, you can update to Window s10 and then pay for a genuine license, rather than having to pay for a license before upgrading.
    That's my understanding of the plan

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    1,495
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked
    143 times in 119 posts
    • BobF64's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P8Z77-V Pro
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i7-3770K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Corsair XMS3 PC3-12800
      • Storage:
      • Multiple HDD and SSD drives
      • Graphics card(s):
      • ASUS DUAL-GTX1060-06G
      • PSU:
      • 750W Silverstone Strider Gold Evolution
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Fortress FT02
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 x64 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • HP ZR24w

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Quote Originally Posted by Ferral View Post
    I have genuine Windows 7 retail (32 & 64 bit discs in large case), if I decide to do the upgrade to 10 will it render my Windows 7 key useless so I cannot use it on another machine?
    Depends if they enforce anything. Currently, if you buy an upgrade copy of Windows, its an upgrade that replaces the previous version and all its prior upgrades back to the original Retail or OEM copy.

    If you want to run the current version along side the upgrade, you buy a full retail copy.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ferral View Post
    Secondly, also if I upgrade to 10, something goes wrong say 18 months after the upgrade and I need to replace installation hard drive or have to flatten system and do a fresh install, with it being after the initial 12 months will I still have access to 10 or will I then have to pay for an upgrade. Maybe if you are lucky you may be able to find your key within the registry like you can now.
    This is the one that might prove interesting, especially as Microsoft have said that the free upgrade is "free for the life of the device".

    This could mean any changes in hardware suddenly pop up a "Buy me now!" prompt, it could just mean you can only do an in place upgrade, which might fail if its outside the free period or it could mean nothing as long as you have the original Windows key.

  11. #11
    Banhammer in peace PeterB kalniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Posts
    31,023
    Thanks
    1,870
    Thanked
    3,381 times in 2,718 posts
    • kalniel's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Ultra
      • CPU:
      • Intel i9 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 32GB DDR4 3200 CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1TB Samsung 970Evo+ NVMe
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia GTX 1060 6GB
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic 600W
      • Case:
      • Cooler Master HAF 912
      • Operating System:
      • Win 10 Pro x64
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell S2721DGF
      • Internet:
      • rubbish

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Similar situation as ferral's second point here - current machine is a windows 7 retail - I'm going to upgrade in Autumn/Winter and being retail license I'd expect to move my windows 7 to the new machine.

    But now win 10 is coming, if I upgrade my current machine to it, is it going to inherit the win 7 license conditions (ie I can apply it to a new machine)?

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Redditch, United Kingdom
    Posts
    434
    Thanks
    9
    Thanked
    17 times in 13 posts

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Quote Originally Posted by Goodman2576 View Post
    What would be the fair price for non-genuine users to become genuine, your opinion ladies and gents?
    I think it should be around 1/10 of full priced OS... IMHO -around 20-25Eur....
    Buy either win7 pro or 8.1 pro key, they are already around 25-30 euro mark... upgrade when win10 comes out for free = genuine win10 for 25-30 euros

  13. #13
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    1,669
    Thanks
    52
    Thanked
    123 times in 100 posts
    • Percy1983's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte x570 Aorus Pro
      • CPU:
      • AMD 5900x + Cooler Master Nepton 140XL
      • Memory:
      • 64GB (4x16GB ) Corsair Vengence 3200mhz @ 3600mhz CL16
      • Storage:
      • 1tb SP US75 Boot + Fast 4tb SP XS70 + Slow Raid 0 4tb (2tbx2) with 100gb NVME cache
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Vega 56 8GB
      • PSU:
      • 875w Thermaltake Toughpower XT
      • Case:
      • Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 11 Pro 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • 24" Acer UHD x2
      • Internet:
      • Vodafone

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    I will guess at £14.99 for the pricing.

    To be honest with the prices I have got my previous 7 and 8 licenses I really don't understand why people pirate, at the 8 pre order deal I bought 3 more licenses than needed which has come in much use.

    The main thing which might block one machine is my HTPC as everything is working with MCE, so I will probably leave be as its working and who knows whats going on with media center in 10.

  14. #14
    Seriously casual gamer KeyboardDemon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    London
    Posts
    3,013
    Thanks
    774
    Thanked
    280 times in 242 posts
    • KeyboardDemon's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabretooth Z77
      • CPU:
      • i7 3770k + Corsair H80 (Refurbed)
      • Memory:
      • 16gb (4x4gb) Corsair Vengence Red (1866mhz) - (Because it looks good in a black mobo)
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M550 SSD 1TB + 2x 500GB Seagate HDDs
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 980 SC ACX 2.0 (Warranty replacement for 780Ti SC ACX)
      • PSU:
      • EVGA 750 watt SuperNova G2
      • Case:
      • Silverstone RV03
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus Swift PG278Q
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity (40mbs dl/10mbs ul)

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    I think Windows 10 prices should be level with or cheaper than OS X licences.

  15. #15
    Admin (Ret'd)
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Posts
    18,481
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    3,208 times in 2,281 posts

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Quote Originally Posted by BobF64 View Post
    ....

    This is the one that might prove interesting, especially as Microsoft have said that the free upgrade is "free for the life of the device".

    ...
    Bear in mind that quite a lot then deoends on how "life' of the device is defined, and that'll almost certainly be in the licence T&Cs. And very possibly not what we might assume.

    A hint was in that blog post, where it referred to "supported life of the device". So, as soon as it goes unsupported, the "life" is over, whether hardware still works perfectly or not.

  16. #16
    Token 'murican GuidoLS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    806
    Thanks
    54
    Thanked
    110 times in 78 posts
    • GuidoLS's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P5Q Pro
      • CPU:
      • C2Q 9550 stock
      • Memory:
      • 8gb Corsair
      • Storage:
      • 2x1tb Hitachi 7200's, WD Velociraptor 320gb primary
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nVidia 9800GT
      • PSU:
      • Corsair 750w
      • Case:
      • Antec 900
      • Operating System:
      • Win10/Slackware Linux dual box
      • Monitor(s):
      • Viewsonic 24" 1920x1080
      • Internet:
      • AT&T U-Verse 12mb

    Re: Microsoft explains Windows 10 upgrade for non-genuine users

    Anyone else having issues with the article not coming up? Comments via the forums, no problem. Article via the front page or the forums? Not happening. That's with FF on Win7 and Edge on 10.

    Edited to add that this is the only article suffering from this issue. All the others come up just fine.

Page 1 of 5 1234 ... LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •