Windows Insiders To Receive Full Windows 10
by Brett Howse on June 20, 2015 10:20 PM EST- Posted in
- Operating Systems
- Windows
- Microsoft
- Windows 10
Yesterday, Gabe Aul, the head of the Windows Insider program, put up a blog post which answers one of the most asked questions regarding the ongoing Windows 10 preview program. How will Windows Insiders get access to the final release of Windows 10 as part of the free upgrade? The answer is pretty simple: be running the Windows 10 preview and be signed in with the Microsoft Account used to register as a Windows Insider.
Even better, once you have upgraded, you can then do a clean install of the operating system from an ISO and you will still be active. The product activation will be tied to your Microsoft Account.
In preparation for the final release, there will be some changes to the Insider Program and how updates are delivered, and it will prompt you to sign in with a Microsoft Account if you have not done so. However Mr. Aul was very clear to point out that once the final release is available, it will not be necessary to sign in with a Microsoft Account on any computer with Windows 10 pre-installed, or clean-installed from media. There will of course be functionality missing that is tied to the account, such as the ability to download apps from the Windows Store, but that choice will be left to the end user.
Also, and this has been said before, the Windows Insider program will continue even after Windows 10 launches on July 29th, so if you want to always have the latest programs and features, you can keep active and provide feedback as well.
If anyone is running the Windows 10 Enterprise preview edition, make note that this version will not be eligible for the free upgrade, since Enterprise requires a Volume Licensing agreement. If you are running Enterprise on a device that won’t require Enterprise after July 29th, it would likely be a good idea to reinstall the preview with the Pro version instead so that it will be updated to the full release.
I think there are a lot of people who keep wondering what the trick is going to be, with some people thinking that Windows 10 will require future payments, but the trick will be on Microsoft if they can’t get people to update to a common platform, since their entire model seems to be revolving around a common app platform and store. At Build, they stated they wanted Windows 10 to be on 1 billion devices in three years, and it really seems like they are serious about that with such a big reversal in pricing. For those that want to buy Windows 10 after July 29th, it will cost $119 for Home and $199 for Pro. Of course if you have a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8, you will be offered the update for free for the first year.
Source: Windows Blog
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Anonymous1a - Sunday, June 21, 2015 - link
It's still not very clear how this is going to work. The folks over at Neowin say that Microsoft has basically provided you a under-the-table way of getting Windows 10 at no cost. Even if true, do I get a licence? What if I want to move to another PC? Some people are saying that Windows 10 will be linked to your Microsoft account but will it be linked to my machine as well? As long as I use the same account, can I just delete Windows on one machine and install it on another, like I can do with Office 365?taisingera - Sunday, June 21, 2015 - link
I think that the Windows 10 you get in the Insider Program will be Oem, so you won't be able to install it on other machines. Only those with retail 7/8.1 and upgrading to 10 should be able to move it (hopefully).br83taylor - Monday, June 22, 2015 - link
trying to get my head round this, so I currently have windows 8.1 on my laptop (OEM), if i wait and upgrade on 29th July i will end up with windows 10 home. however if i install a fresh copy of windows 10 Pro via windows insiders now, then i will end up with Windows 10 Pro??Zizy - Monday, June 22, 2015 - link
I guess they only wanted to tell people they can upgrade from test versions to the final - no W7/8 reinstall needed. Just upgrade, type the old key and you are done. But then communicated this so badly everyone believed they are saying all insiders get W10 free.Daniel Egger - Monday, June 22, 2015 - link
Okay, final stance is: No free licenses for insiders according to: http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2015/06/1..."It’s important to note that only people running Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 as part of the free upgrade offer.*"
Hrobertgar - Monday, June 22, 2015 - link
I thought part of the reason MS was doing this was to lower its costs - ie cut support for older versions of windows after its lingering experience with XP. Once windows10 is pushed out to everyone, then support staff from Windows 7/8 can be reassigned.Dahak - Monday, June 22, 2015 - link
May want to update this as MS backpedaled a bit. Now you can receive the final version but it may not activate / be genuinehttp://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015...
daerragh - Monday, June 22, 2015 - link
What if I have Win 10 installed in a virtual machine and I am using Microsoft Account which is registered into Insider programme. Am I getting free Win 10 too?ivan256 - Monday, June 22, 2015 - link
"Of course if you have a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8, you will be offered the update for free for the first year."And after the first year they'll probably PAY YOU to update if they haven't achieved critical mass.
aatroxed - Thursday, July 2, 2015 - link
What exactly was clarified by the post?As I understood it, you have windows 7 or 8 -> free upgrade.
If you don't and you're running the preview you get the full upgrade to 10 but are put in the insider program which essentially continuous testing environment.
What's changed? Why are a few here whooping about a "free" license? Am I missing something?