Windows 10: Here’s what happens after the July 29th free Windows 10 offer ends

Not being a Windows 10 fan (an exercise in futility as far as I am concerned) however;
So if a person upgrades their machine now, and then switches it back (lets say in one day), the Windows 10 license would still be valid for that machine? Is that correct? If so I would be willing to do that, heck why not.

OR, if you switch back does it invalidate the Windows 10?

 

Once installed and activated properly it's activated on that device(MB) for ever no matter which OS you use in mean time. Yes even after deadline as long as you do it first time before that.

 

I did the free upgrade, then as a test latter on I reinstalled the OS I upgraded from, 8.1 Pro. It activated with no issues. Retail key. This was months after doing the free upgrade. Then clean installed 10 again, it activated with no issues with the Digital Entitlement. There is no issue with upgrading and then going back if you want.

 

Well, that is an option. Thanks for clarifying. That is what I will do with my 10 PCs then.

I really wish I could like it. Perhaps in another 5 years, I will reconsider using Win 10 after they improve it. *Eek

 

I think over time, its just going to get even more not like Windows 7. I don't see them back tracking now. I'm a bit miffed that they added the Start Menu back to be honest. I much more prefer the Start Screen / All Apps Screen, than the Start Screen / All Apps menu. If you don't like it, you don't like it. Unfortunately your options are a bit limited. I'd be fine with a Windows 7 like desktop version of 10, and a (like the current version) Tablet version. As long as I get to chose which one I run on which device. I don't see that fork in the road ever happening though.

Anyway, to get things back on track. As near as I can tell. If you do the upgrade, Windows 10 doesn't even look at your current product key. It just looks to see if your legally activated and what version of Windows it is to figure out if you get Home or Pro. I can't prove it, but that's how it looks to me. Based on a bunch of threads here. I could be wrong but that's my gut feeling. The only time a key actually gets recorded and tied to your activation on the activation server is if you clean install with a Retail 10 key on a PC with no Digital Entitlement. Or its Enterprise or VL etc.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-10-activation

 

I did a clean install from an ISO to W10 as the pc would not upgrade due to it's old socket 939 Athlon X2. The original W7 product key activated W10 successfully.

 

One other step I did was after upgrading a win 7 computer that was using a local login only. I created a new administrator user with my Microsoft Account details and used it to log in once to the computer. That way the computer is now listed in my Microsoft account if there is any future activation issues.

 

Is there any disadvantage to those with an activated 586 win 10 who have never used an MS account to log in?

 

The disadvantage I see if you only use local accounts and then roll back to a previous operating system is that if you later make hardware changes and then reinstall windows 10 it may not activate.

If it shows in your account there is then a record that you actually have a Win Ten license if you have to phone Microsoft for activation.

Also if it is tied to your account then the Anniversary update changes may help fix the problem.

Microsoft tweaks activation rules for Windows 10 Anniversary Update - Windows 10 Forums

 

That's not in effect yet, as far as I can see. Your devices will be listed in your account if you log in with your Microsoft ID, but it has nothing to do with activation. Mine have been listed there from the first time I installed Windows 10. I've also deleted devices from the list. I've had the same PC listed multiple times. Using a local account won't affect your Digital Entitlement. If you upgrade from Windows 7 that's what you end up with anyway. You have to then switch to a Microsoft ID, if that's what you want to log in with.

 

The Windows Store won't work, and some (maybe all) Apps won't work. Sync won't work either.

 

I upgraded literally the first day it came out. Got a driver issue and it crashed on boot. Luckily I was able to fix it 2 days later. Those kinds of stories are what is keeping people away. I LOVE Windows 10 for the most part. Just gotta be aware of the quarks.

 

Quarks as in nuclear particles, or Ferengis *chuckle?

 

I've read the responses to the above, NeedHelp, and you may be in luck if the following holds true:

1. You joined the Insider Program early on and chose to stay on it.
2. You have a licensed copy of Windows 7 or 8.1. If so, you can reinstall and use the product key of one of those.

If you do have said licensed copy, remember to install like for like; i.e. Home version for Home version, etc. Also, remember that when upgrading Windows, you can no longer use the older version of Windows.

I joined the Insider Program almost as soon as it was started and chose to stay on it. My copy of Windows 10 is activated and I have digital entitlement. That said, though, I knew I'd "fallen through the cracks" so in order to stay ethically legal, I now Dual Boot my machine and upgraded from Windows 8.1. Of course, as long as I'm an Insider, my Insider version is legal.

 

Hey, Lin, just bite the bullet and sign into Windows 10 at least one time with a Microsoft account. Then you can go back to local and not have to worry about it. *Smile <ducking and running>