7 to 10, back to 7, eventually to 10.

crowbraid · 24 Jun 2016

Hi. I have a desktop running Windows 7. I understand that one can upgrade to 10 for free, then downgrade back to 7. I also understand that, when upgrading to 10, MS does a hash of the product key and stores it on its server. My question is, if I eventually upgrade that machine to Windows 10, that the product key stored in the MS servers will be good and I won't have to buy Windows 10?

To recap, I want to upgrade from 7 to 10, downgrade back to 7, then in a year or two upgrade to 10, all for free. Possible?

rvcjew · 24 Jun 2016

Yup when you update to 10 it makes an image of your windows 7 setup so once your all done upgrading go to settings, update/recovery, recovery and then pick go back and it will revert to the image of 7, but before you go back make sure your windows shows activated in system properties in 10 and then while in 10 run this tool to see what your actual 10 key is in case you ever need it. Before you attempt it though I would use a program like Macrium Reflect Free to image your windows partition just to be safe in case the upgrade goes bad. I would also use the Windows media creation tool and not the GWX tool from windows update.

Good Luck.

Macrium Reflect Free
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209
ProduKey - Recover lost product key (CD-Key) of Windows/MS-Office/SQL Server

torchwood · 24 Jun 2016

You will NOT be able to upgrade for free after the current deadline.
MS will keep your W7 details on file WHILE you use it, and will remove the W10 Digital Entitlement from its database.

Roy

rvcjew · 24 Jun 2016

Wait so if you get your key now and do not change hardware then clean install after the cut off date it will not activate any longer?

crowbraid · 24 Jun 2016

There's an article on the Howtogeek page that claims one can upgrade, then downgrade back to 7, then upgrade to 10 anytime after July 29 and it's still free. If I'm reading it right, anyway. Or if MS hasn't changed the rules since that piece was written. Here's the link. Get Windows 10 for Free After July 29th, with a Little Prep Now

rvcjew · 24 Jun 2016

Yeah I figured it was the same as it has been, I prepared for this right after the tech preview ended.

torchwood · 25 Jun 2016

Tech preview has NOT ended either.
Updated to the latest version yesterday, build 14372.

Roy

ThrashZone · 25 Jun 2016

Hi,
Unlikely
If you roll back and have not reactivated win-10 before the free offer expires you will most likely have to buy win-10.
It would make no sense for M$ to honor the free upgrade if a person was not using win-10 and had reactivated the qualifying os.
That is called having your cake and eating it too :)

Windows checks activation as soon as it gets internet connection and that is not just a one time occurrence it re verifies every day on startup.
Not to mention many windows updates that search for activation cracks

derekimo · 25 Jun 2016

crowbraid said:

Hi. I have a desktop running Windows 7. I understand that one can upgrade to 10 for free, then downgrade back to 7. I also understand that, when upgrading to 10, MS does a hash of the product key and stores it on its server. My question is, if I eventually upgrade that machine to Windows 10, that the product key stored in the MS servers will be good and I won't have to buy Windows 10?

To recap, I want to upgrade from 7 to 10, downgrade back to 7, then in a year or two upgrade to 10, all for free. Possible?

crowbraid said:

There's an article on the Howtogeek page that claims one can upgrade, then downgrade back to 7, then upgrade to 10 anytime after July 29 and it's still free. If I'm reading it right, anyway. Or if MS hasn't changed the rules since that piece was written. Here's the link. Get Windows 10 for Free After July 29th, with a Little Prep Now

The truth is nobody can answer that, the same thing is being asked at TF.

I think it will just need to be confirmed after the fact.

I do think once you have activated 10 on your machine with the digital entitlement and it's in the 10 activation servers, you should be good even if you go back to 7 then back to 10 later.

That's just my opinion though, Microsoft is the only one who can really answer it and they aren't talking about that yet that I have seen.

crowbraid · 25 Jun 2016

Thanks for all the replies. I thought I'd give it a go in the next week or two. Windows 7 right now is running on a 128gb SSD. I ordered a 250gb SSD, and I'll clone the 128gb, using Macrium, to the 250gb. Then I"ll take the 128gb out, upgrade to Windows 10 on the 250gb, and run that setup for a few days before taking the 250gb out and sliding the 128gb in and run Windows 7. Sometime in August I'll replace the 128gb Windows 7 with the 250gb Windows 10 disk and see if Microsoft screams at me.