Windows 10 team clarifies upgraded Seven license always retrievable

[gregrocker]

A member of the Windows 10 team has replied to my inquiry in MVP communication channels assuring that Windows 7 used to upgrade to windows 10 is always retrievable via either roll back within 30 days, or indefinitely via restoring an image or clean reinstall. For this reason I would save a Win7 backup image before Upgrade! Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
Macrium Imaging - Windows 7 Help Forums

Further, not using the qualifying Windows 7 after upgrade is on the honor system as with the upgrade previously from Vista or XP to Win7.

In order to get the free Windows 10 upgrade one must do an in-place upgrade from Windows Seven or 8.1. Thereafter free ISO media can be obtained from Microsoft to do a Clean Reinstall of Windows 10. Windows 10 will remain activated via the BIOS.
Windows 10 - Upgrade Installation - Windows 10 Forums
Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

 

[GokAy]

Greg, is there any way I can upgrade my currently unused keys (1 Home and 1 Home Prem) without actually installing? Or would they work if I changed my keys in Win10 Insider/TP. Or perhaps I can do it with a virtual machine? Licenses are retail.

Is there any upgrade to W10Pro from Home edition? Or I need to upgrade W7 to Pro/Ult first and do the upgrade to W10?

Feel free to leave any question that you think should be answered in TenForums out.

 

[gregrocker]

The free upgrade is giving you an in-place upgrade only. There is a Go Back feature that is only good for 28 days due to too much instability foreseen to safely roll back beyond that. Hence that time limit is not in any way related to time beyond which 7 license can be retrieved.

It is beginning to look to me like what we were surprised to discover about upgrade from XP or Vista (either in-place or clean installed) only checking for any installed OS to allow Install with 7 Upgrade version. Then not using the qualifying OS was/is on the honor system and could be indefinitely retrieved simply by stopping use of 7 Upgrade - which was also on the honor system - and then reinstalling, reimaging or in the case of 10 using Go Back.

However what I am less familiar with since I don't support Windows 8 is how BIOS based activation might change this in any way. I doubt it since it hasn't on 7/8 Dual Boots I've seen.

 

[DavidE]

A member of the Windows 10 team has replied to my inquiry in MVP communication channels assuring that Windows 7 used to upgrade to windows 10 is always retrievable via either roll back within 30 days, or indefinitely via restoring an image or clean reinstall. For this reason I would save a Win7 backup image before Upgrade!

Further, not using the qualifying Windows 7 after upgrade is on the honor system as with the upgrade previously from Vista or XP to Win7.

In order to get the free Windows 10 upgrade one must do an in-place upgrade from Windows Seven or 8.1. Thereafter free ISO media can be obtained from Microsoft to do a Clean Reinstall of Windows 10. Windows 10 will remain activated via the BIOS.

Knowing restoring an image will work to revert back to W7 is great news, thanks Greg !

I'm planning to upgrade a Win 7 32 Bit OS (Retail) with the free Win 10 upgrade offer (at some point, when the dust settles).
Can I then legally do a clean install of Win 10 64 Bit "over the top" of the Win 10 32 Bit upgrade OS ?

The PC hardware is old, Legacy BIOS only, no BIOS key (if this matters).

 

[gregrocker]

Should work David.

You might post the same question at 10F to let us know what they're saying. I don't have time to spend away from here. We had record attendance 2 days ago.

 

[GokAy]

I will try the Virtual Machine upgrade sometime next couple of days (hopefully), at worst I would have to phone activate, right? I don't know if I would have to go "W7 Home - W7 Pro/Ult - W10Pro" or "W7 Home - W10 Home - W10 Pro" when I chose to get the W10 Pro. I don't have the finances at the moment anyway.

 

[DavidE]

Should work David.

You might post the same question at 10F to let us know what they're saying. I don't have time to spend away from here. We had record attendance 2 days ago.

Thanks Greg, i'll post back if i get a definite answer ...
For anyone interested, here is the TF Thread:
Is clean install W10 64 Bit over the top of W10 32 Bit upgrade legal ? - Windows 10 Forums