Windows 10 upgrade question

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
22,307
6,466
136
I did the free upgrade from win 7 to 10 some time back. Didn't like 10 even a little bit, so I went back to 7. Now that 7 is nearing the end of it's life and I'm forced to upgrade, will I have to buy 10, or is there an OS fairey somewhere that knows I got it for free once? This bears on my decision as to weather or not I move to Linux.
 

balloonshark

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2008
7,169
3,630
136
I'm pretty sure your golden but not 100% sure if MS stores the info related to your upgrade, it's linked to your MS account or it's in the BIOS. I did the same thing you did buy made image of my 8.1 install, did the 10 upgrade and activated 10 then imaged 10 and then used my previous 8.1 image to go back. Either way you get a bump.

Edit: Have a gander here. https://www.tenforums.com/general-s...o-back-windows-10-later-if-you-downgrade.html
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,381
4,999
136
I use both, but my primary OS is Linux Mint on all of my home PCs. The only thing I use Windows for are converting my audio books to remove the DRM...

Once you get accustomed to Linux and weaned yourself off WIndows you will be fine.
 

ch33zw1z

Lifer
Nov 4, 2004
39,797
20,393
146
The free license was given to certain hardware, if the hardware (specifically Mobo) hasn't changed, then MS will activate win10 on the hardware again.