Specific upgrade paths to get to all versions of Windows 10

[ThrashZone]

Yea I wouldn't give up a retail version of 7 either the price of those is well more than 10 could ever amount too

oem/ system builders 7 possibly but no time soon.

 

[Brds7t7]

Yea I wouldn't give up a retail version of 7 either the price of those is well more than 10 could ever amount too

oem/ system builders 7 possibly but no time soon.

My guess is that this is going to be the sting of this "wonderfully free" upgrade offer. It's tied to the one device. If your device dies... Kiss goodbye to your free upgrade!

 

[alphanumeric]

They could make it non transferable. There will be conditions. They have every right to do it. If you don't like them don't agree to them and don't do the free upgrade. I'm not trying to be smart @ss etc, just saying. This may be the time you really want to read the whole EULA before you click the I agree box.

 

[alphanumeric]

The one big flaw I see with converting a Retail to OEM license is Windows Tech Support. Normally Microsoft does not offer Tech support for OEM versions, you would call the manufacturer. I doubt you'll get much sympathy from the OEM if you do the free upgrade and things go south. If I already posted this my apologies, the same thread topics are on all there sister sites and I'm loosing track of what I've posted on what site.

 

[groze]

The one big flaw I see with converting a Retail to OEM license is Windows Tech Support. Normally Microsoft does not offer Tech support for OEM versions, you would call the manufacturer. I doubt you'll get much sympathy from the OEM if you do the free upgrade and things go south. If I already posted this my apologies, the same thread topics are on all there sister sites and I'm loosing track of what I've posted on what site.

If upgrading from a windows 7 oem, they would just say put windows 7 back on and not upgrade to windows 10. After a year or 90 days most OEMs don't support your computer anyways.

 

[alphanumeric]

The one big flaw I see with converting a Retail to OEM license is Windows Tech Support. Normally Microsoft does not offer Tech support for OEM versions, you would call the manufacturer. I doubt you'll get much sympathy from the OEM if you do the free upgrade and things go south. If I already posted this my apologies, the same thread topics are on all there sister sites and I'm loosing track of what I've posted on what site.

If upgrading from a windows 7 oem, they would just say put windows 7 back on and not upgrade to windows 10. After a year or 90 days most OEMs don't support your computer anyways.

Yeah, they'll just ask you if you created your recovery media. then offer to sell you it if you haven't.

 

[Brds7t7]

They could make it non transferable. There will be conditions. They have every right to do it. If you don't like them don't agree to them and don't do the free upgrade. I'm not trying to be smart @ss etc, just saying. This may be the time you really want to read the whole EULA before you click the I agree box.

I don't rush into anything, I'm certainly not rushing into a "too good to be true sounding" free upgrade. I'm old enough to be very careful about what I do.

The fact is, if you buy a retail licence and then an upgrade, you should be able to transfer the original retail and the upgrade to a new pc, you've originally paid for a retail licence and that's what you should be able to keep. But I don't think that's going to be the case with this offer. And if that's true then I'll skip it. I'd rather be able to move my Windows licence whenever I want. And W7 still works great for me.

 

[alphanumeric]

How many times has anyone actually transferred a Windows license from one PC to another? A very low number compared to the total licenses out there I would think. Most are OEM licenses anyway. Unless you build a new desktop your self, that new PC is going to come with Windows already installed and licensed. I've only ever done it once in all my years of computing and only because of a motherboard replacement. I don't see it as all that big a deal. It's all conjecture at this point anyway. I do see where your coming from and I'm not unsympathetic to your point. Just my 2 cents on the subject.

 

[Brds7t7]

How many times has anyone actually transferred a Windows license from one PC to another? A very low number compared to the total licenses out there I would think. Most are OEM licenses anyway. Unless you build a new desktop your self, that new PC is going to come with Windows already installed and licensed. I've only ever done it once in all my years of computing and only because of a motherboard replacement. I don't see it as all that big a deal. It's all conjecture at this point anyway. I do see where your coming from and I'm not unsympathetic to your point. Just my 2 cents on the subject.

It's probably because Windows licences are so expensive. My retail licence wasn't cheap to buy and I bought it for good reason. I've transferred my licence from one pc to another and when I next build one (probably not until next year) I plan to transfer it again. If they made the licences cheaper in the first place, I'd definitely have no issue buying an OEM licence every time. I wouldn't expect something for nothing of course, but a little cheaper would always be nice.

Of course, I could be completely wrong and they will make it transferable. In which case, I'll be kissing the ground MS walks on!

 

[alphanumeric]

I bought Windows 7 OEM from TigerDirect because it was cheaper than the full retail version, a lot cheaper. I knew it was non transferable, but that wasn't an issue for me. I had no plans to move it from PC to PC. By the time I build a new desktop a new version of Windows is out anyway. I'm still using that old desktop PC as a Media Center PC anyway. If I ever give it away, Windows 7 will go with it.

 

[groze]

If I buy a windows 10 system builder OEM and install it, I technically have to sell the system but I could sell it to myself and support myself. That how I am thinking of using windows 10 if I use it at all.

 

[Indianatone]

I have 7 Windows 7 Ultimate licences and that is how they are staying. Windows 7 SP1 for the duration. I also have a couple of 8.1 with Media Center and I never thought I would say this but they will probably stay 8.1 as they have the all too valuable Media Center. To me Windows 10 is a fail. No Aero like Windows 7, now no media center. The icons are awful and basically it is a mobile OS with scant regard given to Power Users / Desktop Users. All the unnecessary changes with the Control Panel. There is a new build out and frankly I cannot be bothered to see what they have mucked up now. I will be sticking with my 7 and 8 but may run some virtual machines or dual boot on one PC with a sacrificed 7 Pro key.
I'll bet you this site will become very busy once some have been upgraded to 10 without knowing or it was not what they expected and they want their familiar Windows 7 back. It may even be a bounty for OEM's selling 7 recovery media. Our biggest issue as helping posters will be where do they get on ISO from. I have loads of Versions burnt to DVD, loads of ISO's stored in my storage but we are not allowed to offer a download. Or are we?

 

[alphanumeric]

Windows 7 ISO's will be hard to find for the average Joe. Microsoft finally pulled the plug on the one good source. I have MSDN so I can get the regular ISO's. They are only good for OEM installs if you can read the product code off of the COA sticker. They will not do OEM SLP installs. You need branded custom OEM media for that. Good luck finding those ISO's. Where you'll have to look for those I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. You may be able to get them from the OEM that sold you the PC but they will more than likely charge you for them.
Windows 8.1 is a lot easier. My regular MSDN ISO's, which I believe are identical to retail DVD's, will read the embedded codes automatically. The Media Creation Tool that anybody can use will too. 8.0 and 8.1 keys and OEM embedded keys.

As far as I know, links to anything other than official Microsoft sources for ISO's are not allowed. Reason being is they could be modified images, modified in a bad way.

 

[groze]

I have 7 Windows 7 Ultimate licences and that is how they are staying. Windows 7 SP1 for the duration. I also have a couple of 8.1 with Media Center and I never thought I would say this but they will probably stay 8.1 as they have the all too valuable Media Center. To me Windows 10 is a fail. No Aero like Windows 7, now no media center. The icons are awful and basically it is a mobile OS with scant regard given to Power Users / Desktop Users. All the unnecessary changes with the Control Panel. There is a new build out and frankly I cannot be bothered to see what they have mucked up now. I will be sticking with my 7 and 8 but may run some virtual machines or dual boot on one PC with a sacrificed 7 Pro key.
I'll bet you this site will become very busy once some have been upgraded to 10 without knowing or it was not what they expected and they want their familiar Windows 7 back. It may even be a bounty for OEM's selling 7 recovery media. Our biggest issue as helping posters will be where do they get on ISO from. I have loads of Versions burnt to DVD, loads of ISO's stored in my storage but we are not allowed to offer a download. Or are we?

From my understanding you can't provide an iso online but you can share your install dvd without a key to anyone you choose.

 

[alphanumeric]

I've seen people post links to their Onedrive public folder so other members could download scripts and utilities they made. If in doubt, PM a moderator and ask if its allowed before you do it.

 

[alphanumeric]

Well, I can confirm that Windows 8.1 (Core) now gets you Windows 10 Home Technical Preview. And that Windows 7 Ultimate gets you Windows 10 Professional Technical Preview. I don't think it did that in the past. You just got Windows 10 Technical Preview, which I believe was the equivalent of Pro. These were both online upgrades to 10074 via the Insiders page. Then upgraded again to 10122.

Interesting note: On the Windows 7 upgrade it never prompted me to setup a live ID. It just let me long on with a local account on the first boot into Windows 10. No nag screen to switch either. I had to manually do it. It may have prompted me to switch eventually, I don't know. I switched to the Live ID after my first log in.

 

[Joan Archer]

I've not tried the preview on my Windows 7 machine, at the moment I only have it in a VM on my 8.1 Asus Notebook. It's up to version 10130 at the moment. I know I'll upgrade this Notebook but not sure yet about the 7 desktop it's getting on a bit as it originally came with Vista.

 

[Brds7t7]

Just as an update to one of my posts earlier about Retail licences.

According to this post: Windows 7 retail license upgrade to Windows 10 - Microsoft Community if you're upgrading from a Retail 7 or 8 licence then the free upgrade will also be a retail (upgrade) licence and will be transferable.
That's really good news for anyone who owns retail versions and I'll be upgrading (eventually) if that's the case.

 

[Arc]

Thanks for the link, Brds7t7. It will be a not-so-good feeling to loss the retail license in exchange of an OEM one.

If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.


Full version (Retail):

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- Doesn't require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive


Upgrade version (Retail):

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive, but cheaper than full version

So the possibility is there. Now just need a confirmation on it.

 

[Brds7t7]

Thanks for the link, Brds7t7. It will be a not-so-good feeling to loss the retail license in exchange of an OEM one.

If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a retail version.


Full version (Retail):

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- Doesn't require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive


Upgrade version (Retail):

- Includes transfer rights to another computer.
- require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
- Expensive, but cheaper than full version

So the possibility is there. Now just need a confirmation on it.

No problem, I'll be keeping an eye out and will definitely make sure this is true before installing. I posted a similar question myself and received the same response.