Windows 10: Can I still install a fresh copy of Win 10 Insider Preview?

Hi all,

Overall I'm pleased with Windows 10 since using it over a year. It trumps Win 7 in almost every way.

Just checking, on my second computer (which is currently Win 7), I'm also looking to install Windows 10 Insider for free - is this still possible, just as I did last year?

Many thanks.

:)

 

I did a fresh install of Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview from the ISO on a Macbook Pro, will I need to pay for a new Windows 10 licence?

Hi Brian,



In order to get Windows 10 free, you need to have a genuine copy of Windows 7/8 or 8.1



As you don’t have the product key with you, hence unfortunately you won’t be able to upgrade to the final version or it might show you that the Windows is not activated or might tell you that you are using a non-genuine version of Windows.



Unfortunately as of now, we don’t have any information related to pricing of Windows 10 hence we cannot share the details with you.



We will keep you posted on this once we get an update on this.



Thank you.

 

I did a fresh install of Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview from the ISO on a Macbook Pro, will I need to pay for a new Windows 10 licence?

That's what I was thinking, thank you for providing an official confirmation. If I'm able to find my Windows 7 product key would I still have to do a fresh install?

 

Yes, just sign up for it, and install.

 

Sorry, I guess I posed my question incorrectly.

I meant - I know technically it's still able to do so - BUT, is it still legal?

 

Microsoft wouldn't let you sign up for it if it wasn't legal to install.

 

Okay. I was just asking since I read a while back MS has stopped giving product keys for Insider, so wasn't sure what the situation was.

Anyway, will check it out.

 

I wonder if you care to consider this "round about " suggestion :
I do know you already have a computer running Win 10 and are happy with it.
Why not upgrade your 2nd computer to Win 10 as well ?
Once it is activated, you now have digital entitlement on your 2nd computer as well.
Now, you can then change your 2nd Win 10 computer to Insider Preview.

 

Thanks David. Problem with that is, I'd lose my Win 7 license, which I'd still like to keep.

Interested in the dual boot.

 

You don't exactly lose you Win 7 license. It will juist get tied up with the new Win 10 installed.
You can still use the Win 7 license to reinstall Win 7 if you have had enough of Win 10.

 

Alright peeps, I've found some info regarding this. Apparently, it is NOT allowed to install a fresh copy without a valid license:

No more Windows 10 keys for Insiders; post-RTM installs must be on previously activated PCs

According to this article, Gabe Aul says, "New Insiders can't activate a clean install unless they've upgraded from 7/8 first, or own a 10 key."

 

You original question was:
Just checking, on my second computer (which is currently Win 7), I'm also looking to install Windows 10 Insider for free - is this still possible, just as I did last year?

Many thanks.

The answer to the question that you asked is still YES. You have to use your Windows 7 license, in the form of a COA product key or a genuineticket.xml file in order to active the Windows 10 insider preview - and doing that before July 29th is still free.

 

Yes, but as I clarified in the thread, I'm looking into doing a dual boot.

 

It's still legal so long as the second installation of Windows is not activated. You will have reduced functionality (no personalization) and nag screen pop-ups to activate Windows 10.

Once you gain a digital entitlement for that computer, though, by activating Windows 10, it will be hard to run Windows 10 non-activated. So, if it were my computer what I would do is install Windows 10, activate it with the Windows 7 product key or genuineticket.xml file so that you gain the digital entitlement before July 29th. Then move that Windows 10 to a virtual machine under Windows 7, which should be seen as a "different" computer and lose activation. That way you could legally run Windows 7 and "preview" Windows 10.

 

I think I understand. To confirm - you're saying that it's totally legal to install a fresh instance of a non licensed Windows 10 insider preview? (Whilst accepting the lack of features / nag screen).