Windows 10: Will Free Windows 10 "Upgrade" work with Clean Install (CMPXCHG16b)?

Thanks for your prompt replies, Roger -

Here's the problem: I am wondering if I can get the full, final Microsoft Windows 10 64-bit operating system - when Microsoft finally releases it to retail - as a "free upgrade", even though I cannot install it using the "In Place Upgrade" procedure when booted into Windows 7. I cannot install it this way because the "In Place Procedure" requires the CMPXCHG16b CPU instruction, which my AMD 64 X2 Athlon 4400+ (Socket 939) CPU does not have in its instruction set.

A clean, full-wipe install of Windows 10 64-bit does *NOT* require this instruction, and does not look for it. I have successfully done this installation on my PC using this exact same processor, and it installed Windows 10 x64 and runs fine, without a hitch.

To reiterate: Even though the only way I can install Windows 10 64-bit on this system is to do a full disk wipe/format, clean, full install (instead of the In-Place Upgrade procedure within Windows 7), I am wondering if I will nevertheless be able to take advantage of the Microsoft Free Upgrade policy (which is good for a year after Windows 10 is officially released), thereby getting Windows 10 free of charge. Would I somehow "convert" my Windows 7 x64 Home Premium Product Key over to Windows 10?

(And no, saying "buy a new PC" or "it's time for new hardware" do not count as answers.)

 

Ok, MS is likely going to provide a DVD for clean instillation I suspect and you can purchase that and make use of it.

But, keep in mind that from the release of WIn10 on the thought is that MS will only provide updates/upgrades to the OS and no more ISOs. So in the end the processor will have to be able to handle this one way or the other.

 

Thanks, BunnyJ:

So you think it likely that somewhere down the road, MS will push a Windows 10 update out of Redmond that will suddenly make my Windows 10 PC unable to boot (let alone run) Windows 10?

Have they done things like that in the past - abruptly switched hardware requirement "horses" in mid-stream, to the point that it crippled some of their end-users' PCs?

 

WIn8.1 requirements are different from Win8 and some users could not upgrade to it.

As for the rest, there are rumors that MS will make Win10 the "last" major version of Windows and all of the changes/versions will come via upgrades in place. So as I said earlier if your PC can't handle upgrades now it better after Win10 RTM is released or you could be out of luck when changes come down.

 

Maybe at that point the update will be sufficiently significant to merit a dot-release/OS upgrade; i.e., "Windows 10.1", which I then wouldn't be able to install - just like I wasn't able to install Windows 8.1, no matter the procedure.

 

No one knows for certain, everything is just speculation. In the end of the day, I would make sure that any PC can accept in place upgrades just in case a new ISO is not released with each major upgrade.

 

"A clean, full-wipe install of Windows 10 64-bit does *NOT* require this instruction, and does not look for it. I have successfully done this installation on my PC with using this exact same processor, and it installed Windows 10 x64 and runs fine, without a hitch."

Trevor

This conversation is beginning to remind me of a Democratic National Committee meeting!!!

Let me try to recap using the smallest amount of time and space possible.

You have a machine with a missing instruction set.

You don't need it!

Your machine will run Win10.

Win10 is going to be free to holders of a valid key for either Win7 or Win8.

The mission, should you choose to accept it, is to get a copy of Win10 installed on your machine, FOR FREE!

Upgrade is out!

I buy Pro versions of Windows and only a retail version. I can move any OS to any machine at any time, legally!

Here's my plan for Win10 and I can see no reason why you can't use the same plan.

When the final is released, I'm going to download an ISO, 64bit.

Once downloaded, I'll burn it to a DVD, and make a copy on a flash drive for backup.

With the DVD in my grubby fist, I will wipe the drive and install the new Win10.

Registration?? No answers yet! Where to download the ISO? No answers yet!

Having played with Windows since Win3.0 I rest easy knowing that an ISO will become available and MS will come up with a system to register the new install. Since one of their goals is to get users off Win7 I'm going to assume that they'll want your Product ID for Win7 in trade for the Product ID for Win10.

It's well known that this must all transpire within a year after the release date to keep it free.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

IMHO you have nothing to worry about. You'll be able to get a free copy of Win10 with very little effort.

If someone convinces you that you're running a flawed CPU. a replacement to fit your mobo, possibly with better specs, is available on Ebay, starting at $9.99.

No worries
Relax!

 

@Roger You're assuming that you'll be able to download a copy of Win10 ISO for free.. where do you get that information that that option will be available. From all that I've read the only free copy will be via an upgrade and not a clean install format(ISO).

 

(Quoting Nelson Van Alden, from "Boardwalk Empire"): "I am relaxed."

Roger, DavidY beat you to the punch about 3 hours ago, and as far as I'm concerned, he put it to bed.

His response was essentially this: There really is no way to know the answers to my questions....we'll just have to wait and see what Microsoft does.

I went with that.

The only reason I have drawn this out beyond that point was because you seemed to need further clarification.

Pursuant to that, I believe I have come close to exhausting all possible arrangements of ASCII characters on a standard U.S. PC keyboard.

Just. Sayin'.

 

Google

I'm assuming history repeats itself!

 

FWIW, I assume nothing. *Wink

 

Sounds like a rather boring lifestyle.
When I hit the switch on my computer I assume Windows will boot.
When turn the switch key on my car I assume it will start.
When I board the Staten Island ferry I assume it will take me to Staten Island.
When I board an aircraft westbound out of California I assume we'll land in Hawaii.
When I go to the supermarket I assume they'll have groceries available.
When I Google for a free Windows ISO I assume I'll get several hits.
and on and on it goes!
You must find it hard to get around??

 

No, you probably won't be able to do that.
The process will be an in place upgrade and I assume it's going to be quite the process!

Three things I'm not sure of:
- whether your current key will serve as the new Product Key or you'll be issued a new one,
- whether you need to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Preparation Tool,
- whether at time of upgrade it will run the 'Upgrade Assistant'
(The Upgrade Assistant or the upgrade process itself may address the issues unique to your machine)

...but if it does and your machine is good to go, the upgrade process will start.
Sometime during the process you should be given the opportunity to save the iso file. Then your machine plus the iso will be encoded with a 'Unique Identifier' and a timestamp of some sort.

(Then you may be able to perform a clean install with that iso on that machine only for the supported lifetime of the device. (I will admit, this was kind of a grey area)

This is the process I was lead to believe was going to be implemented.

 

You're confusing the fact that the setup program does not scan for the instruction with "not requiring it". You may simply not have triggered something that uses the instruction yet. I doubt you've used every piece of the OS.

More importantly, Microsoft says it's required. You can certainly play Russian roulette, but when you system starts crashing for strange reasons you should know what the problem is.

I didn't suggest buying a new PC. I suggested updating your CPU. I'm sure you can find an AMD CPU that will fit your motherboard for $20 or less that has the instruction.

EDIT: On further research, it appears there are no Socket 939 processors that support CMPXCHG16b, you need at least an F2 stepping which means AM2 or better. Oh well.

 

@Roger
That comment was a joke. *Wink And I would hope that when you download one of those "free" copies of WIn7 you have a valid key for it. If not that would be piracy and that's not condoned here.