Windows 10 upgrade, update details announced

[Crowley]

tbf even just booting into metro only took one click to get to the desktop in win8

the whole metro argument is really rubbish. even worse when you consider 8.1.

But all the cool kids are doing it.

 

[Electron1]

I wonder how the upgrade path will work. Will you be able to seamlessly upgrade from windows 7, windows 8, windows8.1 to 10 or will you have to format and reload?

 

[milomak]

it would be strange for them to stop being unable to upgrade this late in the game

 

[Grouter]

I wonder how the upgrade path will work. Will you be able to seamlessly upgrade from windows 7, windows 8, windows8.1 to 10 or will you have to format and reload?

Well considering 8 to 8.1 was a full 4 odd gigs and essentially a re-install that was fully automated, I'd expect nothing less than the same for the 8.1 to 10 migration. After all, can you imagine the support necessary from Microsoft to guide people through a backup / format / install process if it isn't automated? And considering it will be free, every man and his dog will be wanting it.

 

[kianm]

This is awesome. Kind of unexpected from Microsoft though but i give them this one

 

[Petec]

Well done MS

 

[_TrXtR_]

How in the hell are you going to prevent you from reinstalling Windows 7? Are people really this stupid?

Well most people are able to prevent themselves from doing something if they didnt want to do that. Not sure how that's relevant.

 

[gregmcc]

I'm already running the pre-alpha of Windows 11 and have no reason to ever go back to W10.

 

[gregmcc]

Now I"m confused:

Windows 10 download will initially be free

Windows 10 will be free for Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users during the first year.
Pricing structure beyond this time frame has not yet be finalised and could be subscription based.

The company revealed that Windows 10 will be free for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users for the first year. During a Q&A after the presentation, executives declined to comment on the pricing structure after this time frame.

Read more: http://www.itpro.co.uk/operating-sy...ate-specs-and-pricing-announced#ixzz3PXqAkmpF

 

[Bryn]

Now I"m confused:

It's just poor wording. If you upgrade in the first year, no subsequent payments will be required to keep using Windows 10. They're talking about the price beyond the first year.

 

[gregmcc]

Ahh ok. Thanks.

 

[ponder]

I wonder how the upgrade path will work. Will you be able to seamlessly upgrade from windows 7, windows 8, windows8.1 to 10 or will you have to format and reload?

I would prefer a downloadable iso image in order to do a clean install as an option.

 

[Bismuth]

I would prefer a downloadable iso image in order to do a clean install as an option.

This, same way I normally install Linux. Although haven't done that in awhile if you look at my sig, think it's time for an update there!

B

 

[satanboy]

Microsoft stealthily backs away from free Windows 10 promise

On Friday, Microsoft described a way for anyone to get Windows 10 for free: activated, genuine, and updated forever. We wrote at the time that we expected the company to do a volte-face and back away from this promise. Lo and behold, it has come to pass.

Since Friday, the blog post describing the changes to the Windows Insider preview program has been silently updated. Previously it said that signed up members of the Insider Program running a preview version would "receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated." Now it says only that they will "receive the Windows 10 final release build." The activation wording has been removed. The company has also added a "clarifying" sentence: "It's important to note that only people running Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 can upgrade to Windows 10 as part of the free upgrade offer." This is in contrast to what the company said on Friday, when Microsoft's Gabe Aul confirmed that upgraded preview copies would be Genuine.

So what does this all mean? The main thing it means is that we're not expecting clear communication from Microsoft about licensing any time soon. We don't imagine that there will be any technical difference: we expect that as previously described, Windows 10 installed via the preview will activate and show as genuine. It should be fully functional (no "non-genuine" watermark on the desktop or anything like that), and essentially indistinguishable from any other Windows 10 installation.

However, the positioning has changed. On Friday, this method of getting Windows 10 had a veneer of officialness to it. It was an explicitly documented way of getting Windows 10 that was activated and genuine for free. It isn't any more. That doesn't mean it won't work, but it's no longer completely above-board and officially authorized. This doesn't really matter to hobbyists and other home users who just want a free Windows for their self-built PC; that few million users will be able to sneakily get a free copy of Windows 10. But it does matter to corporations and organizations—groups who might be subject to a software audit. They won't be able to tell Microsoft "Oh yeah, we got Genuine copies of Windows by upgrading from the preview." And that's what Microsoft really cares about.

http://arstechnica.com/information-...hily-backs-away-from-free-windows-10-promise/