Free Windows 10 for testers explained
Microsoft recently published a blog post which said that participants of the Windows Insider programme would be updated to the release version of Windows 10 on launch day.
This caused some confusion, with reports stating that testers would get Windows 10 for free – even if they don’t have a legitimate copy of Windows 7 or 8.1.
Microsoft has since updated its post to clarify that the Insider programme will not circumvent the company’s original free upgrade offer.
Under this offer, anyone who upgrades to the new version of the operating system from Windows 7 or 8.1 within the first year of launch will get Windows 10 for free.
Windows 10 is set to launch on 29 July 2015.
However, even with Microsoft’s clarification, confusion remained. The post was updated again, and as Anandtech notes, it now details three different scenarios.
Windows 10 runing on a laptop
Stay on Windows Insider programme
The first option is for testers to do nothing. This will cause them to stay on the Windows Insider programme, in either the Fast or Slow ring depending on their selection.
Insiders will continue to receive pre-release builds of Windows 10 and will be required to activate the new builds before the old ones expire.
Leave Windows Insider, PC upgraded from Genuine Windows 7 or 8.1
Testers may also choose to leave the Insider programme when Windows 10 launches. If they upgraded to the Windows 10 preview build from Windows 7 or 8.1, their licence will remain activated.
Leave Windows Insider, PC not upgraded from Windows 7 or 8.1
The last scenario is testers who leave Windows Insider, but did not install the Windows 10 preview on a system running a legitimate copy of Windows 7 or 8.1.
These testers will be required to roll back to their previous operating system, or buy Windows 10.
“If you do not roll back or acquire a new licence the build will eventually expire,” said Microsoft.
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