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

Apologies to Wynona and others. Old problem. I know what I meant but failed to communicate it! With the thread being a clarification AFTER the free upgrade I assumed too much, perhaps.

I am fine as I have been using my MS account since Oct 2014 but I was wondering about ramifications for others I have upgraded without creating an MS account when 29 Jul passes. Guess it doesn't matter as they already have a digital entitlement so can get the licence added to an MS account at any time after Jul 29 if they choose.

There, I think I have answered my own question*Biggrin

 

Well, I did wonder, since I know you know what you're doing. *Smile Even if you didn't need telling, it's a good reference for others.

 

Unfortunately, there are not enough people like you in the world that have the logic and foresight such as this.... :/

 

1. You joined the Insider Program early on and chose to stay on it.
Nope I did not joined any program at least I do not think so *Smile

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.
I don't have a key just a Dell laptop with Windows 7 factory installed and it's not applicable to upgrade to Win10 at least I did not get any indications.

I just built a new gaming PC for me on October of 2015 and the only thing missing was the OS! I tried to buy Windows 10 from Microsoft website but they do not accepted the usual payment method I use here and I did not want to make a new bank card just for that *Sad The internet stores that I know and can be trusted are not selling Win10 only this shady ones I don't want that!

Anyway on a google search I found out that in this free upgrade time you could install Win10 even without a key and use it without problems only getting a watermark stuff telling you to register and not be able to customize how it looks so I'm using it since then *Smile

Strange thing is that in some of this Windows updates Win10 got REALLY messed up so I just deleted everything and did another clean install but with a newer ISO from Microsoft and now I don't even get the watermark asking to register and I can change wallpapers without it being blocked go figure!

In the end the simple answer for me is find some place safe to get Windows 10 cause the clock is ticking and Microsoft will mess this PC real good if I do not register a key *Smile I need to buy a key but I'm having trouble to find it and even finding it this things are expensive in my country but that's something no one here can help

 

Check if you have Digital entitlement for that MB.

 

me? how do I do that?

OK since mine is in Portuguese I found a screen in English on the internet with exactly what I see here but instead of PRO I have HOME version here:





I'm pretty sure there is nothing I can do but to buy a key because I can't expect to magically get a free digital entitlement with the key space in blank and I did not made anything good to Microsoft to get a free copy *Smile

 

Generally, anything with Windows 7 on it will upgrade to Windows 10. When you say "not applicable", I'm not sure what you mean. Have you tried to upgrade it to Windows 10 and it said it can't upgrade? Or, do you mean you can't legally install Win 10 on it? If that's the case, anything running Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 is legal for Windows 10. Boot your Win 7 lappy and go here to see if it will upgrade: Windows 10 Just follow the yellow brick road.

I wasn't aware you could do that! *Smile Learn something new every day. Probably a trial version. Since you already have a working copy of Windows 10 on your computer, why not join the Insider Program? I tried to go there this AM, but the site is down, so can't give you a link.

Again, I haven't heard anything about that one. Since it worked for you, I guess it's legit. *Smile

Have you looked at Activation again to see if it's either activated or you have digital entitlement?

At one time, Newegg.com was selling product keys for Windows 10. I don't know if they'll accept your payment method, but if they will, that may be a source. Since you're a gamer, I'd get the Pro version rather than the Home version.

 

In other words, you are on probation ?

 

Looks that way, Count.

Also, I'm wondering if folks can get into the Insider Program now. I tried to log in, but it seems the site is down.

If we can still get into the Insider Program, that could be a solution for NeedHelp. Maybe.

 

What you could try right now, is instead of trying to buy a legal copy of Windows 10 Home or Pro, is to buy a legal copy of Windows 7 Pro, which would be a lot cheaper. Make sure its a true Retail Version, not an OEM version. Then you will have a legal and cheaper way to Upgrade your NEW gaming Computer to Windows 10 Pro. With a Retail version of Windows 7 Pro you can move it to another computer in the future if you decide to Build another computer. This would also be the same for your Windows 10 Pro, once you upgrade your Windows 7 Pro. Just a suggestion for you to think about. *Smile

 

You can buy a W7, W8 or W10 key to activate your build. I agree with OldMike's suggestion below - get a Retail key, so when you upgrade your rig, you won't have any future activation issues. You can buy from Newegg, Amazon, - really any major retailer, because it will be a digital download so they won't have to ship anything to Brasil. And, yes, you're right - you need to buy from a reputable source, as you don't want the activation failing in the future, as happens with purchases from questionable sources, when the keys get blocked by MS down the road.

 

Technically (and legally) this statement is correct. But the spirit of the law would say that Microsoft is only interested in you running the previous version and Windows 10, based on the same license, on 2 separate machines.
If you have a PC with a valid OEM license on a PC with a cloned disk containing an upgrade of that same license, I doubt they would unofficially object to that because "you are not running them both at the same time". Some people like to do "extended evaluations" of new OS's with the expectation that eventually they would permanently migrate to the new OS.
The funny thing is, Microsoft never considered the installation of the OEM version on a user-built PC as being a "fully-licensed" copy of Windows. You would have to sell that new PC you built to someone else to make it fully legal. But Microsoft never enforced that because they realized it would cut into sales to DIY builders.

 

It violates the EULA whether or not Microsoft objects to it:

 

I fully agree with you.

 

Gonna be hard-arsed here - but as we know the EULA is a legal necessity...it's not being enforced however (since donkeys years) - and as we know, law without enforcement means nothing... reasons given by many is upsetting consumers, but they know exactly how their activation works and since Win 8, are in full control.. so that's no excuse.