Will Microsoft offer us free ISOs for every version of Windows 10? (Core,Home,Pro,Enterprise)

By MikeM97
in The Fast Ring (Insider Previews)

 Share

Recommended Posts

Grand Master

Arachno 1D

Posted
Posted

Im getting the impression from reading through the lines in responses that MS may be going to the path of not issuing a key at all for future editions and forcing registering totally on-line via a registered account basis thus bypassing [mostly] the common forms of Windows hacking.

  • +E.Worm Jimmy
  • Like 1
Mentor

MikeM97

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Im getting the impression from reading through the lines in responses that MS may be going to the path of not issuing a key at all for future editions and forcing registering totally on-line via a registered account basis thus bypassing [mostly] the common forms of Windows hacking.

That won't be a bad idea at all.
Grand Master

shockz

Posted
Posted

Rubbish! This is an upgrade offer and not a gift with a free key.

Rubbish? There will be an ISO download available using the key. If you lose your media or crash it's not like you'll lose your "gift". You claim your upgrade and have it forever....

 

Just as with the 7 and 8.1 media, you can download it from MS providing you have a key.

Grand Master

chrisj1968

Posted
Posted

Hello,

 

If Microsoft follows past practices, they will probably distribute .ISOS via MSDN.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

I think a lot of folks like me, "not in the know" would like to get a iso file to create a usb key or DVD for reinstalls later. sometimes I tend to borq an install and having it tied to my account helps me keep all of my bookmarks in the browser but sure makes life a lot simpler.

Experienced

WAQT

Posted
Posted

Not that most people here will need it, but just for reference:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-faq

 

The FAQs contradict each other :s

 

"You only have until July 29, 2016 to take advantage of this offer. Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device."

 

"Yes, it

Grand Master

adrynalyne

Posted
Posted

The FAQs contradict each other :s

 

"You only have until July 29, 2016 to take advantage of this offer. Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device."

 

"Yes, it

Grand Master

dipsylalapo Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

The FAQs contradict each other :s

 

"You only have until July 29, 2016 to take advantage of this offer. Once you upgrade, you have Windows 10 for free on that device."

 

"Yes, it

Veteran

domboy

Posted
Posted

Most likely its going to be like how they did recently with Windows 8. They allowed anyone to download the media creation tool. The tool lets you select which OS to download. If you start the windows install from that install media or windows update its going to look for the activation tokens of the current install. If they are there it activates. No key needed. Once you have installed and its activated you can blow it away with a format and reinstall if you want.

 

I'm hoping you are right as my wife's Asus T100 32GB does not have enough free space to download the 3-4GB upgrade files (with almost nothing installed other than office), so I don't see how to do an upgrade without an external media source (USB or DVD).

Grand Master

Arachno 1D

Posted
Posted

I'm hoping you are right as my wife's Asus T100 32GB does not have enough free space to download the 3-4GB upgrade files (with almost nothing installed other than office), so I don't see how to do an upgrade without an external media source (USB or DVD).

It was mentioned previously on another thread that on small devices an external memory card could be used for the download and install

Grand Master

xrobwx71

Posted
Posted

Not that most people here will need it, but just for reference:

 

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-10-faq

Was just going to post this meself! Thanks! :)

Veteran

domboy

Posted
Posted

It was mentioned previously on another thread that on small devices an external memory card could be used for the download and install

Well that's very interesting. Are there instructions somewhere on how to make this work? Or do you just pop a memory card in and it does it automatically?

Grand Master

Ryoken

Posted
Posted

Since it was mentioned a little while back, there are in fact keys for Upgrades. If you do an in place upgrade, you get a key, you just don't see it. But it can be recovered, and will be accepted on a clean install as long as your hardware profile remains the same.

 

If you do things the proper way, you can't ever do a true, clean install, but you will be able to use Recovery to nuke everything and start fresh.A minor distinction, I know, but regardless it's there.

Grand Master

Danielx64

Posted
Posted

Since it was mentioned a little while back, there are in fact keys for Upgrades. If you do an in place upgrade, you get a key, you just don't see it. But it can be recovered, and will be accepted on a clean install as long as your hardware profile remains the same.

If you do things the proper way, you can't ever do a true, clean install, but you will be able to use Recovery to nuke everything and start fresh.A minor distinction, I know, but regardless it's there.

So what if you replace your hardware? Have anyone read the EULA?

Grand Master

Brian M. Veteran

Posted
  • Veteran
Posted

Since it was mentioned a little while back, there are in fact keys for Upgrades. If you do an in place upgrade, you get a key, you just don't see it. But it can be recovered, and will be accepted on a clean install as long as your hardware profile remains the same.

 

If you do things the proper way, you can't ever do a true, clean install, but you will be able to use Recovery to nuke everything and start fresh.A minor distinction, I know, but regardless it's there.

Actually Microsoft have said that you can do a clean install no problems after you've upgraded. Do a clean install, skip entering a key, and once you're online activation will check your hardware profile, know you're legit and activate the copy.

The only difference is that it's tied to your hardware, not an alphanumeric key.

As for replacing hardware, Microsoft haven't really said anything. I see no reason why it won't work like it currently does though.

Mentor

MikeM97

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Actually Microsoft have said that you can do a clean install no problems after you've upgraded. Do a clean install, skip entering a key, and once you're online activation will check your hardware profile, know you're legit and activate the copy.

The only difference is that it's tied to your hardware, not an alphanumeric key.

As for replacing hardware, Microsoft haven't really said anything. I see no reason why it won't work like it currently does though.

I've tested with Pro's clean install,Brian's right.
Grand Master

Danielx64

Posted
Posted

Actually Microsoft have said that you can do a clean install no problems after you've upgraded. Do a clean install, skip entering a key, and once you're online activation will check your hardware profile, know you're legit and activate the copy.

The only difference is that it's tied to your hardware, not an alphanumeric key.

As for replacing hardware, Microsoft haven't really said anything. I see no reason why it won't work like it currently does though.

That make sense, only things is that if you change the motherboard, in general you need to do a clean install, and I would be (like others) upgrading from a retail version of windows that allows me to move that license.

Mentor

PaulATMOS

Posted
Posted

I'm hoping you are right as my wife's Asus T100 32GB does not have enough free space to download the 3-4GB upgrade files (with almost nothing installed other than office), so I don't see how to do an upgrade without an external media source (USB or DVD).

Ahh the joys of eMMC storage format that can't be removed or increased in capacity. That T100 should've been 64GB minimum.

Veteran

domboy

Posted
Posted

Ahh the joys of eMMC storage format that can't be removed or increased in capacity. That T100 should've been 64GB minimum.

 

Pretty much. But then again, I can't really complain too much as we only paid like $70 for it. Still, I'm hoping perhaps Windows 10 will do better at managing the small space it does have... 

Grand Master

Arachno 1D

Posted
Posted

So a response  on the MS forum states

 

 

 

Q. What happens to the Windows 10 license once I sell my device?

 

A. This is a great question.

 

Here's the deal: Windows 10 will retain the current system's product key; it'll simply be transferred over, 'renamed' a Windows 10 product key, and saved in the Windows store. Save your product key somewhere now for future reference, as retrieving it later is possible, but now is preferable.

 

Later, if you need to sell the device, you will need to simply de-register the product key from the hardware. Use this brief tutorial on how to do that. The owner will have to re-activate the system using their own product key.

 

Retail copies of Windows 10 will come with their own product keys, so the next owner may purchase their own product key, activate the installation, and you will still have the product key you uninstalled.

 

Refer to this article for more information on this topic.

 

 

 

 

When I upgrade a preinstalled (OEM) or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 license to Windows 10, does that license remain OEM or become a retail license?

If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.

 

If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.

If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM version.

 

Full version (Retail):

 

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.

- Doesn't require a previous qualifying version of Windows.

- Expensive

 

Upgrade version (Retail):

 

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.

- require a previous qualifying version of Windows.

- Expensive, but cheaper than full version

 

OEM :

 

OEM versions of Windows are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

 

What happens if I change my motherboard?

As it pertains to the OEM licenses this will invalidate the Windows 10 upgrade license because it will no longer have a previous base qualifying license which is required for the free upgrade. You will then have to purchase a full retail Windows 10 license. If the base qualifying license (Windows 7 or Windows 8.1) was a full retail version, then yes, you can transfer it.

 

From the Windows 10 end user license agreement:

b. Stand-alone software. If you acquired the software as stand-alone software (and also if you upgraded from software you acquired as stand-alone software), you may transfer the software to another device that belongs to you. You may also transfer the software to a device owned by someone else if (i) you are the first licensed user of the software and (ii) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement. You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between devices.

 

Enthusiast

JakeB

Posted
Posted

What I've read on the subject is.

 

1. If you are upgrading from a retail or OEM version of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 you retain the OEM or retail of what you Win 7 or 8.1 licenses were.

2. Once you do the upgrade with a valid license of WIn 7 or 8.1 Windows 10 will be reactivated with a new Windows 10

3. You can download an ISO for clean installs which will follow the OEM or retail license that you upgraded.

4. You will be able to go back to the OS you upgraded from as the previous key is valid (you paid for it) or do cleans installs as many time as you wants (OEM and retails license dictate on which machines)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.