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Windows 10 Will Be Free To Users Who Test It

Posted by Soulskill on from the free-as-in-beer dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft has been making a big push to change its business model for Windows — likely due to the low/no cost updates you can get for competing operating systems. The company surprised everyone when it said legit copies of Windows 7 and 8 would be supplied with free upgrades, but now they're extending that even further: anyone who tests the Windows 10 Technical Preview will get a free upgrade to the full version of Windows 10 when it comes out. In a blog post, Microsoft's Gabe Aul said, "As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the [Microsoft account] you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated. Once you have successfully installed this build and activated, you will also be able to clean install on that PC from final media if you want to start over fresh."

16 of 281 comments (clear)

  1. So that means it's free to everyone by JoeyRox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Because we've all been beta-testing Windows since forever.

    1. Re:So that means it's free to everyone by jasmusic · · Score: 4, Funny

      Because we've all been beta-testing Windows since forever.

      Wait till someone lets you in on the secret of Linux.

    2. Re:So that means it's free to everyone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      only if you install windows 10 preview and give in to the online requirement and link your windows to a microsoft account

      That might be because it's a tech preview explicitly meant for people who are willing to test it. Reporting back information to Microsoft is the entire fucking point.

      Windows 10 RTM will have no such requirement.

    3. Re: So that means it's free to everyone by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I don't think Microsoft is giving 10 away to appease users of 8. I think they want to avoid 7 turning into another XP where a crapload of users stick with it so it is hard for them to ditch it, and they end up having to support it for 14 years. That will ROYALLY screw up their "Windows 10 is the final Windows" plan, which I *think* means they plan to charge an annual fee for it (the other shoe for Windows' future licensing model has yet to drop, and I think they expect that most people will hate it, but that they'll hate it only after it's already too late.)

      However it would be silly to give it to users of Windows 7 but not users of Windows 8, so they're just giving it to both.

    4. Re:So that means it's free to everyone by Malfuros+the+Wizard · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Sorry, I work in a restrictive FCA and PCI compliant environment. (Think card processing/banking type environments). I do have Windows 10 running in a secure sandbox, giving it internet access is a PITA, so many hoops. It's already been decided, Windows 10 due to the sheer number of activities it wants to perform which are internet based is too insecure and bleeds too much data to the web to be allowed into our environment. Windows 7 is where we are for the foreseeable future until Microsoft stop chasing the consumer and present corporates with a secure operating system that doesn't want to do everything on the internet. If the final version allows us to disable all that internet crap then we may re-evaluate but until then our minds are made up. Apologies for the wall of text, some filter somewhere on my network appears to be stripping something out.

    5. Re:So that means it's free to everyone by wvmarle · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Maybe it's about time for you guys to consider alternatives to Windows? It sounds like it's not exactly the right tool for the job.

  2. Because Microsoft laid off their QA team last fall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's not really all that surprising that MS wants additional testing badly enough to give away copies of Win10 for free to get it. Remember the fact that part of Microsoft's 2014 layoffs included elimination of all the SDETs in the Windows division. Those that were deemed worthy to stay were converted to SDEs and the rest were told to hit the road.

    Needless to say, the result is likely to be exactly what one would expect of canning the entire test team suddenly, if the state of the technical previews has been any indication...

  3. Re:But I pirated Windows 7 Ultimate by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    > Will I get Windows 10 Ultimate??

    Yes, you will. As a punishment.

  4. Re:Trialware - not free by neilo_1701D · · Score: 5, Informative

    Then your understanding is wrong. As per Gabe Aul, you own it.

    The "one year" thing is to push people into upgrading sooner rather than later. If you upgrade within the first year, Windows 10 is free for the life of the device (and that includes reinstalls; so long as you have a Microsoft account and your Windows user is connected to that account, you can reinstall on that device to your heart's content.

    If you delay in upgrading past that one year mark, you need to go buy a copy.

  5. Re:Ha-ha. No. by ArcadeMan · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A small price to pay to get a free OS for my gaming PC that won't be used for anything else.

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  6. Re:yes ... by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Informative

    If your PC runs Windows 7 it'll run Windows 10. There have been no increase in performance requirements in the past 3 versions of windows. In fact Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 are working on ever increasing memory and CPU efficiency.

  7. Re:not interested...unless. by PNutts · · Score: 3, Informative

    One real problem is once you "upgrade" to Windows 10 from say Windows 7 - there is no going back Having checked it out on their website, My Windows 7 copy is no longer registrable.

    The free program Advanced Tokens Manager allows you to back up your activation and reapply it at as many times as you want.

  8. Re:not interested...unless. by X0563511 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Shame you can't make an image of MS' activation servers, too, because that's the problem.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  9. Re:not interested...unless. by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 3, Informative

    So make an image of your Windows 7 setup before you upgrade.

    From Microsoft:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/e...

    Specifically :If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.

    Try it and tell me how it works for you?

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  10. Re:yes ... by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Jury is out.

    It looks like to get a Windows certification OEMs *must* ship with UEFI 2.3.1 and with Secure Boot enabled by default. It also looks like they've removed the requirement that Secure Boot must be selectable on x86 architectures (which is a backtrack and potentially a problem for Linux). Also it appears that this requirement will only be enforced after 1 year from the Windows 10 release. This is based on replies on the Microsoft Forums.

    Currently the technical preview has no problem running under Legacy BIOS (actually people are having more problems installing it on UEFI BIOSes based on forum complaints.

    That said some of the media sites are reporting that UEFI is not optional, but I can't find anything on the Microsoft site to say that.

  11. Update: "remain activated" deleted in MS blog post by __roo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    From TFA:

    Update, June 21st 9:45AM: Microsoft has updated its blog post today and removed references to "remain activated." The stealthy edit isn't acknowledged, and we've reached out to the company for comment.

    I bet /. comments helped encourage this.

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