Windows 10: Should I Upgrade My Older PC To Windows 10?

It is not permanent on your device. Your device ID in the bios is registered with Microsoft's servers in that you can install 10 on that machine all that you want without risking the stupid non-compliant activation problems.

 

Ok so when is it no longer permanent? I'm a bit lost here

 

It depends upon the type of license the person installs on their computer. The free upgrade created a digital license for Windows 10 stored on Microsoft activation servers based upon the Hardware ID of the computer that was upgraded. To reinstall the same edition of Windows 10 (Home or Pro) on the same computer all the user has to do is skip entering the product key when asked for it and it will activate based upon the license retrieved from Microsoft activation servers matching the Hardware ID of the computer. That type of license is permanently tied to that specific computer. This type of activation is new to Windows 10.

If you install a purchased, full retail copy of Windows 10, that uses product key activation just like all previous versions of Windows did.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-10-activation

If I were you, I would download a Windows 10 ISO file, do the upgrade from Windows 7 and see how you like it before buying it:
Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums

Mount the ISO file using a program like WinISO and run setup.exe from the virtual DVD drive that appears when the ISO file is mounted:
How do I mount iso image file in Windows 7?

 

The digital key that comes from the key and UEFI bios code are used to match the "Volume" license that Microsoft assigns to Windows 10. They are following other vendors ways of making sure that any hardware that Windows is installed on, is not one that someone has tried to skirt around the rules by activating 10 on one machine and moving it to another, even though you can take two of the same model and hardware of machine from a OEM and Microsoft's servers look at them as the same machine.

If the machine has never been activated for Windows 10 and you install the ISO on a newer machine that has Windows 8 on or even upgrading to another version of 10, it does go through.

 

That is not true. OEM Windows 10 installed by computer manufacturers have unique product keys stored in UEFI firmware / BIOS or on a COA label. Read the last entry in the table in the link provided:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-10-activation

And if two otherwise identical computers came with Windows 7 OEM installed, and they are upgraded to Windows 10, then it is the unique hardware ID of each computer that creates entirely separate licenses for Windows 10 on Microsoft activation servers.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...-10-activation

 

That is such a cool feature! Thanks for letting me know.

I've already installed windows 10 and have it activated, but if I have too many problems I have a windows 7 disk to reinstall 7. Thanks again.

 

thanks as well everyone!

 

Hardly. This tinfoil hat type of thinking is so counter-productive. I am running Windows 10 on five computers, with 50 additional ones in the corporate setting. No loss of control here.

 

Agreed!