http://www.howtogeek.com/226510/how-to-use-your-free-windows-10-license-after-changing-your-pc%E2%80%99s-hardware/
 
http://windowssecrets.com/top-story/sorting-through-the-changes-in-windows-licensing/
 
 

I would add when you upgrade from win7/8 to win 10 you MUST disable boot of DVD (or whatever media you are running from) in BIOS and run setup within win 7/8. If you are promoted with a key simply skip it. Once you log in for the first time then check for activation.

After you've installed WIN10 for the first time you can then do a clean install by booting of DVD (or USB or whatever). Again skip prompts for install keys...

That is for the upgrade scenarios.

Ta.

 I'm getting convinced more to stay with Windows 7 on my new builds.  I don't like the tiny quick launch icons in 10. Edge and Cortana have no use for me. Hate the icons.
  There's also articles that contradict about Windows 10. It's all starting to make my head hurt.  Maybe they will drop the upgrade price.  I bought my W8 Pro license from MS for $50. 

You can disable quick launch, edge and cortana if you so wish.....

Drop the upgrade price? You realise it is 'free' or do you want them to pay you money to use it?In all seriousness could happen, they did it with Bing!! ;)

Doktor Avalanche
You can disable quick launch, edge and cortana if you so wish.....

Drop the upgrade price? You realise it is 'free' or do you want them to pay you money to use it?In all seriousness could happen, they did it with Bing!! ;)

It's not free after July 2016.  It's not free if your motherboard dies and it's out of warranty.  After the free period has ended and you are on 8 or 7 I would like an introductory upgrade price. There are still people on XP and 7.  I don't think the free W10 is the success MS thought it would be yet. 

Doktor Avalanche
You can disable quick launch, edge and cortana if you so wish.....

kitekrazy1
Drop the upgrade price? You realise it is 'free' or do you want them to pay you money to use it?In all seriousness could happen, they did it with Bing!! ;)

It's not free after July 2016.  It's not free if your motherboard dies and it's out of warranty.  After the free period has ended and you are on 8 or 7 I would like an introductory upgrade price. There are still people on XP and 7.  I don't think the free W10 is the success MS thought it would be yet. 

XP you can't upgrade for free but Win7 you can.
Who knows what happens in August 2016. 10 months is plenty of time to do an update. If people are still in Win 7/8 by then they have clearly made a decision to stick with the OS. Planning to upgrade after the 'free' period is an unnecessarily expensive idea. New PC's will still come with OEM versions.

kitekrazy1
If you have a retail version of Windows this basically is only good for one computer.
 
So what is the point of buying a retail license unless they are saying you can't install on more than one machine?

 
Retail versions of MS OS...This is able to be imaged to other dirves (now confirmed) and when your system/Machine it is installed on Goes belly up...You have the right to install on the new machine!...OEM does not..when the Machine of original install dies..so does that OEM os!..and you cannot use it on another machine id.
 
But in some cases...Like when first building...if a part fails within a time limite..You can replace the part.(motherboard) and call and explain the reason for the change...(they might check it out) but if it checks out...You may then be given the right to use it again on a new machine ID....Like I did do.
 
So buying a retail licence...is better in the case you need not buy another licence for a new machine past the limite of allowable setup and working on or with..it is then locked to that machine...Yes only one machine is true at a time.
 
But if as I said that machine ends its working state over 30 days...You can build another one...and use the retail...over and over...Like all retail versions...they do not get locked out...Only not supported by updates or support teams of MS.
 
I think  before the close out a version, they should make a iso of all update, and offer it as a add out upgrade, so one can continue to have it in full format on a dvd or cd of installed complete version...of which the buyer was suppose to get when buying the not updated and working product sold at first buy,...yet they do not do that.
 
So playing with iso hacking could make a completely updated and all drivers of a sort for X system...was a hastle for the user to do...And they tried to not support that...yet never offered me a XP fully update dvd...or any other....that would help, once the finalize support..They sold it as service pack version 1 or 2, and still never really finalized it, as more updates came well after that....if you do not have the right things installed or saved....internet will not work with explorerIE.and XP original release dvd..
 
And to get onto the internet and get to pages or sites with first renderings of retail version dvds, after many moons of change, if no longer supported...you have to do some magic tricks....
 
That is retail vs OEM..and a add on comment...in a nutshell....cheers!

Doktor Avalanche

Doktor Avalanche
You can disable quick launch, edge and cortana if you so wish.....

kitekrazy1
Drop the upgrade price? You realise it is 'free' or do you want them to pay you money to use it?In all seriousness could happen, they did it with Bing!! ;)

It's not free after July 2016.  It's not free if your motherboard dies and it's out of warranty.  After the free period has ended and you are on 8 or 7 I would like an introductory upgrade price. There are still people on XP and 7.  I don't think the free W10 is the success MS thought it would be yet. 

XP you can't upgrade for free but Win7 you can.
Who knows what happens in August 2016. 10 months is plenty of time to do an update. If people are still in Win 7/8 by then they have clearly made a decision to stick with the OS. Planning to upgrade after the 'free' period is an unnecessarily expensive idea. New PC's will still come with OEM versions.

  So I wonder if I installed it and revert back to 7, sometime after August I can reinstall it?
 

Doubt it. Rolling back could take away product key. Maybe cloning and restoring with acronis will work but it's a risk.. Do it before August I suggest and stick with it.

Doktor Avalanche
Doubt it. Rolling back could take away product key. Maybe cloning and restoring with acronis will work but it's a risk.. Do it before August I suggest and stick with it.

 Which product key?  I've already had to roll back a system and I still have the GWX thing in the tray telling me to upgrade.