How to Get Windows 10 for Free If You're Running Windows XP, Vista, Linux, or Mac OS X

[Batu69]

Windows 10 will be free for Windows insiders

Windows 10 will be offered as a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8.1 users who install it in the first 12 months after launch, and starting this weekend, it appears that it'll also be free for all those installed the Windows 10 preview builds on their computers.

In other words, anyone who runs a preview build and updates it to RTM when it becomes available will get a fully-genuine and activated copy of Windows 10.

Microsoft hasn't said it clearly and there's still some confusion out there, but Gabe Aul, head of the Windows insider program, said that a Microsoft account enrolled in the Windows insider program and a Windows 10 preview build is all you need to update to Windows 10 RTM.

So if this is the case, Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users are not the only ones that can get Windows 10 free of charge, but absolutely anyone, no matter if they run Windows XP, Windows Vista, Linux, or Mac OS X.

Getting Windows 10 free of charge through this process basically comes down to just two steps:

Register for the Windows Insider program

First and foremost, you need a Microsoft account that's registered for the Windows Insider program, so go here and become part of the Windows 10 testing effort.

This is absolutely mandatory because Microsoft accounts will become must-have for running Windows 10 preview builds until RTM comes out. Local accounts will be available in the final version of Windows 10, but Microsoft could be using accounts to ship and activate RTM to preview users.

What's more, the license could be tied to the Microsoft account and the PC.

Install the latest Windows 10 preview build

Basically, you must be running the latest Windows 10 preview build to be offered the RTM version and right now this is 10130. Just download the ISO and clean install it on your PC, log in with the Microsoft account you just created and you're good to go.

“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,” Microsoft explained.

Once Windows 10 RTM becomes available, your copy of Windows 10, be it 10130 or a newer one (expected to launch this week), should get the upgrade to RTM. Microsoft will check your MSA to see if you're a registered insider, and your copy of Windows 10 should be then activated.

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[Holmes]

This is probably due to them wanting xp gone so fucking badly. They offer windows seven and eight free because they dont want to see them become like xp. I dont know if you can just install it and do all that and only have to do that to get it free they need to make money somehow and free this and free that theres going to be a catch question is when and what..

[kowalski215]

“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,” Microsoft explained.

Just only if you already have a Windows Vista/7/8/8.1 original license code. No special gifts from MS this time :(

[gipsy]

“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,” Microsoft explained.

Just only if you already have a Windows Vista/7/8/8.1 original license code. No special gifts from MS this time :(

so what is the problem? install 7(Pro version only) ,activate by MAK online & renew till 10 for free July 29.

[banned]

This is probably due to them wanting xp [and 7] gone so fucking badly.

lol yeah, but I wouldn't even take Windows 10 for free.. I'll still be using XP primarily.

[software182]

it's not the end of the world if i couldn't get Win 10 for free :lol:

i will not make the same mistake like i did with win 8, i will wait for 3 or 4 months then i decide to make a move to use win 10 or not :)

[knowledge-Spammer]

is it ready

[Holmes]

This is probably due to them wanting xp [and 7] gone so fucking badly.

lol yeah, but I wouldn't even take Windows 10 for free.. I'll still be using XP primarily.

I have a hard drive with legit xp on it a hard drive with a illegitimate copy of windows eight (I dont think it has point one yet lawls) a legit windows seven pro what Im on right now a legit windows seven ultimate (Im going to be formatting my windows seven pro and installing ultimate and get rid of the windows seven ultimate vmware I have) on a vmware and windows ten pro on vmware. Im going to install a vmware with ubunto I dont know linux like I know windows.

I want windows ten pro for free but I refuse to upgrade my windows seven I like windows seven and I also like xp Im going to try and get windows ten pro final release using windows insider..

[banned]

I want windows ten pro for free but I refuse to upgrade my windows seven I like windows seven and I also like xp

Yeah I would probably try keeping the Windows 7 installation as well. Maybe try cloning your Windows 7 partition and upgrade that one instead. Microsoft says you can do a clean install of Windows 10 after you've installed the free upgrade.

However, as you said before, Microsoft's intention is to blow Windows 7 away, so the cloning idea might not work either..

[MidnightDistortions]

Needing a MS account is a dealbreaker for me. Don't want one. That and i'm not giving up Windows 7 or Linux. I might find a legit W8 machine and upgrade from that but i think that would be the only way for me to get a free copy of W10 at this point.

[AthieN]

Needing a MS account is a dealbreaker for me. Don't want one. That and i'm not giving up Windows 7 or Linux. I might find a legit W8 machine and upgrade from that but i think that would be the only way for me to get a free copy of W10 at this point.

You don't need a MS account. You can register an existing email account, be it gmail, yahoo, etc. and that will then become the account you use to "log in" to Live with. For example, my gmail is registered as my Live account and when I go to any MS website, I use it to log in with...