I don't want to update to W10 yet and I have read that I cannot keep my current W7 installation along with a free upgraded a W10 from the same W7 key.
So, if I do the free upgrade from W7 to W10 and then go back to W7, will I keep the free upgrade on this PC if I install W10 after the summer 2016 deadline? Or going back to W7 will disable the free upgrade to W10?
Thank you.
Technically, your license has been converted to Windows 10 license and thus you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free past the deadline.
I saw many questions regarding this on Microsoft Answers too but this remains a mystery as of now.
Once you upgrade to Windows 10 you can revert to old OS and reinstall at any time in future on same pc/mobo. You can even clean install - no need to reupgrade, or even enter a key.I don't want to update to W10 yet and I have read that I cannot keep my current W7 installation along with a free upgraded a W10 from the same W7 key.
So, if I do the free upgrade from W7 to W10 and then go back to W7, will I keep the free upgrade on this PC if I install W10 after the summer 2016 deadline? Or going back to W7 will disable the free upgrade to W10?
Thank you.
When a user upgrades to Windows 10 from Windows 7/8/8.1 a digital entitlement for Windows 10 gets generated and stored on Microsoft activation servers based upon the unique hardware ID calculated by Windows. Nothing happens to the Windows 7/8/8.1 license or product key.Technically, your license has been converted to Windows 10 license and thus you can upgrade to Windows 10 for free past the deadline.
I saw many questions regarding this on Microsoft Answers too but this remains a mystery as of now.
1. The user can go back to Windows 7/8/8.1 any time they choose to.
2. Once the digital entitlement is stored on Microsoft Activation servers it can be retrieved at any time by Windows 10 over the internet by means of the unique hardware ID (which is generated 99% from the motherboard serial number/configuration). A product key is not required to retrieve the digital entitlement. Thus the user can go back to Windows 10 at any time they choose to and a Windows 10 product key is not required.
3. What will happen in July 2016 when the free upgrade offer expires is that Microsoft will stop allowing newdigital entitlements to be granted/stored on the Microsoft Activation servers for free - however the existing digital entitlements already saved will be unaffected. Thus the free upgrade expiration will not affect those that upgraded prior to end of July 2016 even if they do a clean install on the same computer - same computer (motherboard) = same hardware ID = matching digital entitlement.
Thank's a lot guys for the help.
I am guessing that I cannot check Microsoft Activation servers for my entitlement after trying W10 on this W7 machine?
Only if you have Windows 10 currently installed.I am guessing that I cannot check Microsoft Activation servers for my entitlement after trying W10 on this W7 machine?
