Windows 10 Reservation

[ronbo613]

Probably like many people, I've reserved Windows 10. After checking it out, I see that it will download automatically to my computer. I want the free Windows 10 upgrade, but I want to install it on my terms. I may want to wait a bit to see if there are any major release issues before I install it. I may buy another SSD and clone my Windows 7 before I commit to Windows 10 in case I don't like it or it's incompatible with some of my software. I really don't have any major complaints with Windows 7.

I'm wondering if I should cancel the Windows 10 reservation and just download it when it comes out. If it downloads automatically and allows me to decide if and when to install it, I guess I'd be OK with that.

 

[owensdj]

The reservation will download the Windows 10 upgrade files in the background as we get close to the July 29th release date. Once it has everything it needs downloaded and the release date comes, you'll have the option to install the upgrade. You won't be required to install it at that time. You can decide to wait.

 

[readymix]

personally, I would not in a millions years let that go on auto. Love it or hate it, whatever the case may be, if the latter I don't want to be backing up its remnants into perpetuity.

 

[DesiPower]

Does Win 10 have pro and non-pro versions? One one PC I have Win 7 Pro and then one LT I have Win 7 home, both got the upgrade invite, will they get different versions of Win 10?

 

[Ketchup]

This should answer your question:
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2015/0...ndows-10-will-you-get-with-your-free-upgrade/

 

[ronbo613]

If it's the same software, I think I may cancel the reservation and manually download Windows 10. I've always gone the "manual" approach with Microsoft, most notably with Windows Update, I think I'll do that with the Windows 10 upgrade as well.

 

[Ketchup]

If it's the same software, I think I may cancel the reservation and manually download Windows 10. I've always gone the "manual" approach with Microsoft, most notably with Windows Update, I think I'll do that with the Windows 10 upgrade as well.

You need the reservation to get it for free. Now you should be able to remove the update causing the reminder, and add it back when you are ready.

 

[fleshconsumed]

You need the reservation to get it for free. Now you should be able to remove the update causing the reminder, and add it back when you are ready.

Really? So I can't get a Win10 image and install it using my existing Win7/8 key? This basically means I can't do a fresh install of Windows 10. That is beyond lame. Can anyone confirm?

 

[owensdj]

Really? So I can't get a Win10 image and install it using my existing Win7/8 key? This basically means I can't do a fresh install of Windows 10. That is beyond lame. Can anyone confirm?

After you do the upgrade install from Win7/8.x to 10 you'll be able to use a Win10 image on a DVD or USB flash drive to do a fresh reinstall at any time after that. It's not clear yet if you'll get a new Win10 Product Key or if the Win10 install will just accept your existing 7/8.x Product Key. Either way you'll be able to do fresh reinstalls.

 

[Ketchup]

The free upgrade will give you a Windows 10 key. After you receive the key through the current promotion, you can do whatever you want. But the free key will only be available through the one-year promotion.

It will be interesting to see if you can get the key before doing the actual upgrade, but I have not seen information indicating that this would be possible.

 

[Ketchup]

Really? So I can't get a Win10 image and install it using my existing Win7/8 key? This basically means I can't do a fresh install of Windows 10. That is beyond lame. Can anyone confirm?

How would they restrict you to the one-year offer if this were possible?

 

[thesnowlizard]

If you guys have trouble getting the Windows 10 Upgrade app icon to appear at the bottom of your taskbar try giving this manual installation method a try.

https://youtu.be/smshA5BD5w8

 

[balloonshark]

I hope someone comes up with a workaround. I prefer clean installs so I don't like the thought of being forced to do an upgrade which causes unnecessary wear and tear on my SSD.

 

[JEDIYoda]

I hate to be the bearer of super duper bad news but there will not be a way to do a clean install of Windows 10 unless you pony up some big $$$$$$!! We are not talking chump change!!

 

[tnt118]

According to this article, a true clean install will be possible:

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/3898/a-few-more-answers-about-windows-10-upgrades

 

[sweenish]

How is it that on this board, nigh everyone continues to ignore the RESET functionality that has been around since Windows 8? That's your clean install. It may be an extra step, but it's not gone.

 

[Ketchup]

Personally I think there are too many Win 10 threads going. Many of the other threads have already discussed the reset function and other ways to clean install Windows after release.

 

[DesiPower]

What happens to the Win7 key? is it disabled? Can I wipe everything off and go back to Win 7 again once I have tried and hated 10?

 

[Ketchup]

What happens to the Win7 key? is it disabled? Can I wipe everything off and go back to Win 7 again once I have tried and hated 10?

Yes, Windows 7 will still be valid and supported until its normal EOL (extended support in this case).

 

[tnt118]

What happens to the Win7 key? is it disabled? Can I wipe everything off and go back to Win 7 again once I have tried and hated 10?

Yes, Windows 7 will still be valid and supported until its normal EOL (extended support in this case).

I'm a little concerned that Microsoft says in their FAQ that the key used to upgrade is "consumed" in the upgrade. That wording does make it sound like the key is invalidated for future use, but we probably won't know that for sure until launch.

 

[Ketchup]

I'm a little concerned that Microsoft says in their FAQ that the key used to upgrade is "consumed" in the upgrade. That wording does make it sound like the key is invalidated for future use, but we probably won't know that for sure until launch.

Interesting. Can you link us to that?

 

[DesiPower]

I'm a little concerned that Microsoft says in their FAQ that the key used to upgrade is "consumed" in the upgrade. That wording does make it sound like the key is invalidated for future use, but we probably won't know that for sure until launch.

I would suppose so, otherwise technically you could end up with two independent keys, two OS

Buy in all seriousness, I am no fan of Post Win 7 OS, tired 8.0 and 8.1, had bad luck with both. Very skeptical about upgrading to 10, specially if I loose the ability to go back to 7. Only incentive is increased lifespan.

 

[bbhaag]

I'm a little concerned that Microsoft says in their FAQ that the key used to upgrade is "consumed" in the upgrade. That wording does make it sound like the key is invalidated for future use, but we probably won't know that for sure until launch.

Wouldn't surprise me. My Win7 key was "consumed" when I upgraded to 8 and I was given a new key. It happened again when I "consumed" 8 with media center and again when I "consumed" 8.1
Each time I got a new key.

 

[Ketchup]

I know the preview allows you to roll back to the previous OS, just like a normal OS upgrade, at least until you do a reset (it tells you that it will lose your roll back ability), and I have read that the new key for 10 is kept in the store, which of course your previous OS would not be. So I am still not expecting the life of the previous OS to be affected.

 

[tnt118]

I'll grab the link in the morning but I first saw it posted here on AT. I'm not interested in reusing a 7 key on a second system, but a complete inability to revert if there are problems does give me pause.

Here's the AT post I was referencing: http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=37453085&postcount=246

Edit: As I look into this more, this appears to be from a moderator at Microsoft's Q&A site, and not directly from their official FAQ. The AT quote in my previous link claims "Microsoft FAQ" but that might be misleading.