Windows 10 development is in full swing and the final version is expected to be released in the next few months. Windows 10 will ship with new Start menu, redesigned Start screen, digital personal assistant called Cortana, new Edge web browser, universal Windows apps, Windows Hello (login using face recognition), and more.
As many of you likely know, Windows 10 will be a free upgrade to existing PC users running genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. While upgrading from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, users will be able to keep all personal files such as documents and pictures, most of the installed programs, and Windows settings.
Free Windows 10 upgrade from Windows 7 and Windows 8.1
The free upgrade from previous versions of Windows to Windows 10 is applicable to uses who upgrade in the first year after the official release of Windows 10 RTM. Once upgraded to Windows 10, users will receive all future updates without any limitations.
Upgrading to Windows 10 from pirated Windows 7/8.1
Although most computer users are running genuine Windows 7/8.1, there are millions of users who are using non-genuine or pirated Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 for variety of reasons. As per the official Windows Blog, users who have non-genuine or pirated copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will not be allowed to upgrade to Windows 10 for free.
However, as with the case of previous versions, people running pirated copies of Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 will be able to upgrade to Windows 10. In other words, if you have pirated Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, you’ll be able to upgrade to Windows 10 but the license will continue to remain non-genuine. In simple words, one can’t get genuine copy of Windows 10 by upgrading pirated Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 installation to Windows 10.
That said, Microsoft will also offer very attractive Windows 10 upgrade offers to non-genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8 users. At this stage, there is no additional information available about the upgrade offer for non-genuine users.
Those of you who can’t wait for the RTM build of Windows 10 can download and install the latest preview build. After downloading the ISO image of Windows 10, create a bootable USB to install Windows 10 from USB flash drive.
Are you running non-genuine Windows 7/8?
Katongo chrisford says
I need to upgrade to windows 10 mobile
Jef says
So i have Windows 10 in dual boot with win 8.1. So i don’t get the free upgrade icon on win 8.1 ?
jan says
Since today (jun 1 2015), i have aan windows pane offering a reservation to update to 10.
Accedentallie i clicked “reservate”.
How to cancel this resevation?
How to remove the pane in de right bottom from my screen?
geraldf says
what happens if you’ve already upgraded windows 8 or 8.1 with windows 10 RTM? how will MS regard the RTM version when they go gold with Win 10 retail?