Windows 10 Will Be Free To Users Who Test It

[dlevere]

Posted by Soulskill

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."

[Combusto Dragon]

meh.. i think i will stick with Windows 7 Ultimate forever

[dlevere]

Want Windows 10 for free use this simple trick - no prior license needed!

By Brian Fagioli

Throughout history, upgrading Windows versions has been a paid affair. It has been a particularly pricey prospect too; both full and upgrade licenses can be the most expensive software a home user buys. This is why a Windows license has been highly valued by its users.

Luckily, because of the negative sentiment towards Windows 8.x, an upgrade to Windows 10 will be free (for the first year) as a sort of mea culpa. Not only will an upgrade be free for Windows 8.x users, but Windows 7 too. But what if you are on XP or Vista? Hell, what if you are using a non-Microsoft OS such as Ubuntu Linux, BSD or OS X? No matter what operating system you are running now, you can score a free Windows 10 license if you do this simple trick.

"Windows Insiders running the Windows 10 Insider Preview (Home and Pro editions) with their registered MSA connected to their PC will receive the final release build of Windows 10 starting on July 29th. This will come as just another flight", says Gabe Aul.

Aul further explains, "I’ve gotten a lot of questions from Windows Insiders about how this will work if they clean installed from ISO. As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA 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".

There you have it folks. As long as you install the Insider Preview and connect it with a free Microsoft account, you will have a fully-functional Windows 10 license when the final version comes out. There is no need to have ever owned a previous version of Windows. Sweet!

If you are particularly greedy, you can - in theory - create multiple Microsoft accounts and stockpile an endless amount of licenses. Keep in mind, however, this loophole will not be open forever. I would suggest taking advantage of this trick ASAP before Microsoft stops it.

You can download the ISO here.