Windows 10 Preview Users Will Get RTM for Free

[Karamjit]

A Microsoft account is all you need to get the OS for free

Windows 10 will be free for Windows 7 and 8.1 users who upgrade during the first 12 months after launch, but it now turns out that Microsoft has prepared another special promo that makes the operating system available to more people at no cost.

In a blog post, Microsoft reveals that anyone participating to the Windows Insider program, which was specifically designed to allow users test early builds of Windows 10, will have the option to update to the final version of Windows 10 without paying a single cent.

That copy of Windows 10 will be activated completely free of charge and all you need is to log in with the Microsoft account used to register for the Windows Insider program.

“As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated. Once you have successfully installed this build and activated, you will also be able to clean install on that PC from final media if you want to start over fresh,” Microsoft said in the announcement.

“For registered insiders” only

On Twitter, Gabriel Aul, head of the Windows Insider program, confirmed that once you are on the latest build of Windows 10 preview, and the RTM version is out, you are updated automatically to the final build and your copy of the operating system is activated.

“For registered insiders,” Aul explained when asked if the original announcement means that users can clean install Windows 10 preview and use a Microsoft account to update to RTM when the OS becomes available and get a free activated install.

Certainly, making Windows 10 available to as many people as possible is a priority for Microsoft, especially because Redmond is hoping to bring the new OS on 1 billion devices by 2017.

But if you're paying close attention to Microsoft’s statements, there's still some ambiguity that leaves room for interpretation, so don't be too surprised if the company makes a sudden change of strategy and requires users a paid Windows 7 or 8.1 license to upgrade to Windows 10 RTM.

We've contacted the company for a new statement to make sure this is the correct message of today's announcement, so we'll update the article when we get an answer.

Source

[0veR]

It's already said millions of time you still need to have legit version of Windows 7 or 8.

[GRiM]

It's already said millions of time you still need to have legit version of Windows 7 or 8.

..No you don't. At least not with Windows 7 anyway. Use Daz loader and you will be able to upgrade fine. Most likely same will go for some activations of Win8/8.1 via slic and other methods.

The types that wont are dirty activations like RemoveWAT etc etc.

[CODYQX4]

It's already said millions of time you still need to have legit version of Windows 7 or 8.

..No you don't. At least not with Windows 7 anyway. Use Daz loader and you will be able to upgrade fine. Most likely same will go for some activations of Win8/8.1 via slic and other methods.

The types that wont are dirty activations like RemoveWAT etc etc.

Things could get murky with the loader.

If you have SLIC 2.1 in your BIOS, then all the loader did was install the key and cert for you, indistinguishable from an OEM PC.

If it is actually using the loader part, the upgrade could mess with the MBR/Bootloader and deactivate the loader, and then catch you red handed as your SLIC "just disappeared". A BIOS mod for that machine would likely suffice. It remains to be seen whether or not that would be an issue.

Any KMS is sure as hell to not pass, and nobody has a OEM activator for 8.X since it is machine specific activation.

[Codify]

“As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated.

The highlighted section has now been removed from the blog post. Now it doesn't say anything about remaining active - instead it says you need to have upgraded from Genuine Windows 7 or Genuine Windows 8.1

[Batu69]

Free Windows 10 RTM for Preview Users? Maybe Not, Microsoft Now Says

Here's the modified paragraph (emphasis is ours):

“As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build. Once you have successfully installed this build, you will also be able to clean install on that PC from final media if you want to start over fresh. 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.”

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Free-Windows-10-RTM-for-Preview-Users-Maybe-Not-Microsoft-Now-Says-484833.shtml

[CODYQX4]

Damn MS, I don't see how you could possibly make so many cock-ups and gotchas. You should have had this sh*t down in clear, idiot proof language, but you're so good at overcomplicating everything.

Even if you did have a legit license, upgrading from it to a preview would be the height of idiocy, and don't they just blast away all records on the machine anyway?

[dMog]

Damn MS, I don't see how you could possibly make so many cock-ups and gotchas. You should have had this sh*t down in clear, idiot proof language, but you're so good at overcomplicating everything.

Even if you did have a legit license, upgrading from it to a preview would be the height of idiocy, and don't they just blast away all records on the machine anyway?

i agree with your statement that their should be idiot proof language...problem being there are far too many idiots...bottom line the word has ALWAYS been LEGITIMATE holders of previous OS's will get win10 for free