Wondering if you will be getting Microsoft’s next big operating system upgrade for free? Well, the company has since launch done a great job to confuse everyone about its plans in regards to any free Windows 10 upgrade . Whereas to some it seemed like all current Windows 10 testers will get a free copy, well don’t get your hopes up yet as the reality is slightly more fuzzy.
Microsoft has come out in its blog page to clear up the air, they have confirmed that all genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users will obviously get a copy of Windows 10 on the launch date on July 29th as a free upgrade. Also, all Windows 10 preview users will also get a free upgrade.
Now here is where things get messy, Microsoft claims it will keep fresh copies of Windows 10 activated for testers only if they keep opting-in to future preview updates. This means that if you refuse to opt in, no Windows 10 for you. Microsoft has also warned on those preview users who plan to trick the system. If you’ve clean installed a Windows 10 preview build and upgraded to the final then you don’t have to worry about activation as long as you keep receiving pre-release updates. Microsoft’s Gabe Aul said on its blog that :
[signoff icon=”quote-circled”]”Since we’re continuing the Windows Insider Program you’ll be able to continue receiving builds and those builds will continue to be activated under the terms of the Windows Insider Program. Microsoft is making it clear that clean installing the Windows 10 preview and upgrading just to get the final bits and opting-out of future updates “is not a path to attain a license for Windows XP or Windows Vista systems.”[/signoff]
Those with none genuine versions of Windows 7 or 8.1 devices shouldn’t expect to get Windows 10. If you install a Windows 10 preview copy right now and upgrade to the final release next month and then opt-out of pre-release updates then you won’t be genuine anymore if you didn’t upgrade from a copy of Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. At this point, you’ll need to “roll back to your previous OS version or acquire a new Windows 10 license” if you clean installed the Windows 10 preview and opt-out of updates. It should be noted that if you do not go back to the previous version of Windows or acquire a new license the build will eventually expire.
Still, if you clean install the Windows 10 preview now and continue to opt-in to future updates then you’ll get your free copy of Windows 10, this means you will be a Microsoft “lab rat” and have to endure all bugs in pre-release software and continued updates.
