Windows 7 RETAIL upgrade to Windows 10

[kalniel]

Well a bit off topic but easy to clear up in one post..so if I had win10 on three hard drives on one computer it would be illegal to take one hard drive out and put it in another identical computer....

If you didn't also remove it from the original computer, yes. Technically installing it three times on the same computer might be a breach of contract too, depending on which version you have.

so there must be something on the hardrive that checks the motherboard bios (or whatever) that informs MS it's illegal...

That doesn't necessarily follow. In this society we're generally expected to follow contract agreements despite having the capability of breaking them.

[shaithis]

Well a bit off topic but easy to clear up in one post..so if I had win10 on three hard drives on one computer it would be illegal to take one hard drive out and put it in another identical computer....so there must be something on the hardrive that checks the motherboard bios (or whatever) that informs MS it's illegal...ATM have put win10 insider (on one hardrive) into three different computers and it didn't mind but I'm sure that would all change for the final version.

It performs a hardware hash. Windows has been doing this for years to determine how much hardware has changed between boots and whether the change is enough to force a deactivation. This entire piece of code is solely for deactivating OEM versions when moving to another PC. Each component change has a weight, with the motherboard having the highest weight and always deactivating if it has changed.

[excalibur2]

On hotukdeals his branch of Tesco were selling win 8\win8.1 pro for £23.80 probably clearing out for win10.....doesn't seem to be nationwide but if only having an OEM installed OS it might be worth checking shops\stores from now to see if they are getting rid of their old stock.

[excalibur2]

It performs a hardware hash. Windows has been doing this for years to determine how much hardware has changed between boots and whether the change is enough to force a deactivation. This entire piece of code is solely for deactivating OEM versions when moving to another PC. Each component change has a weight, with the motherboard having the highest weight and always deactivating if it has changed.

Well if this is MS last OS I'm sure they will try to make it non-crackable, but I'm sure if you can load it on two partitions (one for the kids games and one for your personal stuff) that will keep quite a few people happy.

[GuidoLS]

Well if this is MS last OS I'm sure they will try to make it non-crackable, but I'm sure if you can load it on two partitions (one for the kids games and one for your personal stuff) that will keep quite a few people happy.

Why would you need two installs for that? One install, 2 accounts, one heavily locked down, is a lot cheaper and a lot more efficient.

Dumb question - are you concerned that you can only have one HD in a system with Windows 10? Otherwise, I'm not sure why you'd want multiple installs of the same OS in the same computer (for every day use, at any rate.)

[excalibur2]

Why would you need two installs for that? One install, 2 accounts, one heavily locked down, is a lot cheaper and a lot more efficient.

Dumb question - are you concerned that you can only have one HD in a system with Windows 10? Otherwise, I'm not sure why you'd want multiple installs of the same OS in the same computer (for every day use, at any rate.)

Well one partition 64bits (more secure?) and for kids games (old ones as well) 32bits. Anyway I've built another computer for win 10 and as posted before "if it has the best security would just have that for my personal stuff".

[GuidoLS]

I'd suggest just doing one install of 64bit - it runs 90% plus of all 32bit programs natively, and for the really old games, DosBox/GOG has that covered. Also, many games developers are starting to go exclusively with 64bit releases.

On Windows7, 8/8.1 and 10, all 32bit programs (run on a 64bit OS) are running through a layer called WoW64 - call it a compatibility layer, if you will. It prevents a lot of malware written specifically for 32bit Windows - stuff that goes after non-signed drivers, etc. So not only can you run the older stuff, you can run it more safely than you would on just a straight install. You'll still want a good A/V - you'll get a lot of suggestions and opinions on that, so I'll leave that be.

Certainly not going to 'tell you what to do', but for what you're suggesting that you want to do, you really don't need to go that route - I'm not sure I'd call it overkill. Just unnecessary.

[excalibur2]

I'd suggest just doing one install of 64bit - it runs 90% plus of all 32bit programs natively, and for the really old games, DosBox/GOG has that covered. Also, many games developers are starting to go exclusively with 64bit releases.

On Windows7, 8/8.1 and 10, all 32bit programs (run on a 64bit OS) are running through a layer called WoW64 - call it a compatibility layer, if you will. It prevents a lot of malware written specifically for 32bit Windows - stuff that goes after non-signed drivers, etc. So not only can you run the older stuff, you can run it more safely than you would on just a straight install. You'll still want a good A/V - you'll get a lot of suggestions and opinions on that, so I'll leave that be.

Certainly not going to 'tell you what to do', but for what you're suggesting that you want to do, you really don't need to go that route - I'm not sure I'd call it overkill. Just unnecessary.

Well when my grandchildren use the computer and I can't trust where they are going on the net and recently even having Kaspersky Internet security nasties can slip through if you accept a download...I'm not sure if nasties can pass to another partition, so think the best solution is to have a separate computer...I have the space and like building computers and also have the time as I'm retired.

[GuidoLS]

Well when my grandchildren use the computer and I can't trust where they are going on the net and recently even having Kaspersky Internet security nasties can slip through if you accept a download...I'm not sure if nasties can pass to another partition, so think the best solution is to have a separate computer...I have the space and like building computers and also have the time as I'm retired.

In theory, once you have an infected computer, you have an infected computer, and until you clean it, everything on the computer is susceptible, even if it's a separate *Windows* partition (I am not aware of any viruses that jump from OS to OS, although it wouldn't surprise me if there were certain types of malware that were capable - Flash related stuff, etc). A separate computer is probably the best answer, especially with small grandchildren (although I think the reality is, kids these days already know as much or more about the net and tech than we do as adults.)

[floppybootstomp]

I am currently using Win 7 Home Premium and have the task bar icon letting me know I can 'upgrade' to Win 10.

I've read a lot about this, including all the speculation, the views on various scenarios but have gleaned scant factual details from Microsoft. Having noted MS's business practices in the past I'm understandably wary.


The question I have, and it has been touched upon a little in this thread, is this:

a) I back up my current small (about 130Gb) installation of Win 7 on hard disk using Acronis True Image.

b) I install Win 10 on the same hard disk/computer I was using Win 7 on, either by 'upgrade' or a clean install from MS's offer.

c) I decide I don't like Win 10 and decide to revert back to Win 7 by formatting my hard disk and reinstalling my old Win 7 using the Acronis software.

Question: Has my 'upgrade' to Win 10 made the activation code for my version of Win 7 null and void?

In other words, have I, by changing from 7 to 10, made my version of Win 7 redundant and made it be seen as invalid (or a pirate version) by Microsoft?

If that is the case - and MS don't seem to have touched upon this - then the 'upgrade' would be a one way ticket.

Anybody have any concrete facts about this issue?

[GuidoLS]

I am currently using Win 7 Home Premium and have the task bar icon letting me know I can 'upgrade' to Win 10.

I've read a lot about this, including all the speculation, the views on various scenarios but have gleaned scant factual details from Microsoft. Having noted MS's business practices in the past I'm understandably wary.


The question I have, and it has been touched upon a little in this thread, is this:

a) I back up my current small (about 130Gb) installation of Win 7 on hard disk using Acronis True Image.

b) I install Win 10 on the same hard disk/computer I was using Win 7 on, either by 'upgrade' or a clean install from MS's offer.

c) I decide I don't like Win 10 and decide to revert back to Win 7 by formatting my hard disk and reinstalling my old Win 7 using the Acronis software.

Question: Has my 'upgrade' to Win 10 made the activation code for my version of Win 7 null and void?

In other words, have I, by changing from 7 to 10, made my version of Win 7 redundant and made it be seen as invalid (or a pirate version) by Microsoft?
If that is the case - and MS don't seem to have touched upon this - then the 'upgrade' would be a one way ticket.


Anybody have any concrete facts about this issue?

Sorry - just saw this. I can't give you an official answer, but I can tell you that in the control panel, there is an option to revert back to Windows 7 (in my case) and I'd guess the same option will exist for 8.1 users.

This doesn't answer your question, nor does it apply to your situation - however, if it allows you to revert from an upgrade, it *should* allow you to downgrade/revert the license back to the older version of Windows. And in your case, it's not even really a revert - it's just restoring an image. There's no real way to test now, because the Windows 10 Preview doesn't require a license or key, and is already activated upon install, regardless of how it's installed (fresh, upgrade, etc).