What happens to those free Windows 10 upgrades after July 29, 2016?

VR24COD · 31 Jan 2016

Suggest getting yourself another drive and clone current drive for testing Windows 10, as the FREE Upgrade is coming close to end. I have been testing the FREE Upgrade to see if I like the format. But there are some problems that you run into if you do not like the upgrade on current HDD. Cloning your current HDD will allow you safely test the free upgrade of Windows 10 for the full 30 days and still retain your current files. But a pain if you are not using a laptop, it might be beneficial later. To have a valid operating copy of Windows 10 for your PC.

I myself will be making a copy of the current OS fresh installation without web surfing with all the current updates and no added programs. Then upgrading it to the Free Windows 10 for later use.

maxseven · 31 Jan 2016

TZ sorta gave me what I was looking for--"Yea win-7's upgrade adviser was way too simple to download and run". I guess M$ wants everyone to dive-into the deep end of the pool, whether they know how to swim or not! W10 now and forever!

I want to try W10 because I'm the one--not all yinz guys--I'm the one all my friends and relatives depend upon for advice and support, and they are starting to ask me about it. I will try it on one of many old machines I have, and will pursue further questions in tenforums.com. Thanks for the links.

ThrashZone · 31 Jan 2016

Yep even the 10 insiders rules changed dramatically
Anyone wanting to test has to use a M$ account as login and also now requires a qualifying activation key 7-8-8.1.

mjf · 31 Jan 2016

strollin said:

My Win 7 machine is already 3 years old so by 2020 it will be 7 years old so I will most likely be looking to build/buy a new machine by then (if not sooner). Any new machine I build or buy will have Win 10 on it so I don't really care about Win 7's end-of-life date. I don't plan to use Win 7 until they "pry it from my cold, dead hands".

I'm still running a i7 2600k Sandy Bridge system and although the i7 6700k (Au$519, US$363!!) benchmarks show some improvement I don't think I'd notice much practical difference. I run some CPU intensive tasks which include Photo editing and some video encoding (Handbrake) and find the 2600k fine. I've built 2nd 3rd 4th gen systems and my personal system is the 2nd gen.
I'm not planning to do anything until 2020. I may keep my W7 as an offline system and may build a new system depending on what new Intel CPUs are on offer and what MS do to W10.

jonnyhillow · 31 Jan 2016

I have a Sandy Bridge i5 and it runs fantastic , i never download stuff or keep anything important on my laptop so i will easily go to 2020 and decide then.

Joan Archer · 01 Feb 2016

I have my Asus upgraded to 10 with no problems, it was an 8 machine before that. My 7 machine is one that will have to go till it dies a death or 2020 whichever comes first.

It can't be upgraded according to the upgrade icon as it's not compatible, I think it's the CPU that was mentioned. I'm happy with that, I don't go on that machine much now since I got this Notebook.

ThrashZone · 01 Feb 2016

Yep my little 32 bit M-Series Gateway lappy is way too old and dual core too so it will die with either win-7 or linux lite on it :)
My Acer no telling I doubt I'll waste a win-10 install or upgrade on it it will either die with 7 or eventually get a new mother board... in the case it's in which I'm not in any hurry to do I already have 10 on my new asus build so 1 win-10 pro is quite enough :)

Layback Bear · 01 Feb 2016

I think the only sure thing about W-10, is it will be constantly changing.

The whims of Microsoft will keep us Windows 7 user on our toes as much as it will the W-10 users. Even when one is happy with W-10 they will still have to watch for Microsoft using Updates to install a sneaky peaky things in their systems. Of course Microsoft will claim those updates will help world peace and global warming and improve the enjoyment of the users all in one Microsoft happy meal of sneaky updates.

ThrashZone · 01 Feb 2016

Yea kb3112343 pretty much proves that point.
M$ added some high cpu issue fixes in it for good measure

Windows Update patches KB 3112336 and KB 3112343 are all about Windows 10 | InfoWorld

Painter · 01 Feb 2016

Guess there is going to be a slew of fake W10 feature rich laptops and tablets to run your counterfeit W10 on.

You can get a really cheap Dell laptop in many countries - they even have serial numbers. BUT, they are counterfeit.

Counterfeit computer components and accessories also out there. Knockoff motherboards, memory cards, HDD, SSDs, audio, video cards etc. Makes for cheap laptops, phones and tablets for those who do not know or do not want to know. Some counterfeit parts can not be easily spotted and end up in a good OEM product. It is not exactly the same as an accident investigating officer finding a counterfeit part in an airliner, vehicle or heavy duty equipment (and this has happened many times), but it takes its toll in other ways.