Windows 10: Windows 10 Free Upgrade License and Audit Compliance

Hi,


We had upgraded Windows 7 Pre-Installed OEM (Which came with HP / Dell Workstations) to Windows 10 in the year of 2016 when Microsoft announced a pubic free upgrade. We had reloaded a couple of our internal systems in the year of 2017 due to performance issues. We had used Windows 10 ISO file for the installation and it activated the license without using the serial key. The activation page is showing "Windows is activated with digital license/entitlement". This confirms that the Windows 10 upgrade licenses are valid.


Microsoft has initiated audits via third party audit firm and they were found that the machines are got installed in the year of 2017 are not eligible to use free Windows 10 licenses which are upgraded in the year 2016. We have indicated to them that, we had upgraded in the year 2016 and we had reloaded OS in the year of 2017. But they are insisting us to procure Windows 10 licenses as part of audit compliance.


We have produced the invoice copies of hardware purchase which indicates Windows 7 Pro OEM licenses. Even we indicated that we will be able to provide them all the serial keys of the OEM machines. However, they will not be bothered about it.



Please let me know what other proof we can able to produce to audit the firm to close the compliance review.


We did check the Microsoft site and in the FAQ's its clearly mentioned that the reinstall can be done with ISO image many times.



https://support.microsoft.com/en-in/help/12435/windows-10-upgrade-faq


Best, SK

:)

 

Windows 10 upgrade license

Hello guys,

I have 1 license of WIndows 8.1 FPP/retail license. I want to upgrade to WIndows 10, but I one thing is unclear to me.
If I upgrade, will WIndows 10 license be retail or it will "turn" into some sort of OEM license?

I ask this because I upgrade my PC, you know, more memory, replace HDD, and I intend to upgrade the MB and CPU to Kaby Lake platform sometime in the future, (and of course sell the replaced hardware)
This thing is not clearly mentioned anywhere.

Thank you.

 

Windows 10 upgrade license

The interesting question is that: the upgrade takes place before 29 of July. If I upgrade the PC (change the MB), and I transfer the Win 8.1 license to this new PC (cause 8.1 is retail FPP), will I be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free? Or a upgrade license must be bought?

 

Audit mode

Hi Diane,

Windows boots into Windows Welcome Mode and Audit Mode. Windows Welcome Mode
is the first user experience while the Audit mode is used to add customization to Windows images. Sometimes, Windows keeps running in Audit Mode and user has no idea about it, just like in your case. While your machine is running Audit
Mode when upgrading or reinstalling Windows 10, the upgrade won’t progress.

Here's how to exit from Audit mode to reinstall Windows 10:

• Open the administrative or elevated Command Prompt. Type cmd in the
  Search field at the taskbar.
• Type the following command and press Enter key: sysprep /oobe /generalize
  DISCLAIMER: Running sysprep command each time resets Windows licensing state to default. So if your Windows is activated and you run this command, you’ll need to reactivate Windows after executing this command.
  
  
• Once the command IS successfully executed, you’ll be out of Audit Mode. Now you can re-try to upgrade to Windows 10 and it should work.

Let us know if the steps above worked for you.