Recommended Posts

As long as MS phone operators are prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt when you claim that "I just changed my harddisk and increased my RAM, then authentication failed", ALL keys are transferable.

 

I just changed my motherboard, processor, RAM, video card, hard drive, optical drive and then authentication failed. Please help!  :woot:

  • Like 3

why would it be any different than say windows 8.1? 

 

Free is free. I think we might be reading too much into this. I'm sure if anything changes, we'll ferret it out

Free is "free for the life of the device" if it can't be transfered, meaning activated automatically or manually, on another device afterwards, even though the license you "traded in"  could do that virtually indefinitely.

 

If the Windows 10 license is a bonus license that people who use 7 or 8 get for free upon upgrade, but are still able to use the new Windows 10 license and the old Windows (7) license on separate machines, even though the Win10 one is tied to a machine, but the old can be used on another machine , then, yes,  your point still stands.

I really hope Microsoft don't require the "free" upgrade to be done from a previous Windows install (i.e. Windows 8.1 upgrades to 10 through the Windows Store) but offer a proper Windows 10 ISO download. Imagine how much of a nightmare it would be having to reinstall 8.1 then do the 10 upgrade.

 

The sad thing is I see Microsoft doing exactly this :no:

I really hope Microsoft don't require the "free" upgrade to be done from a previous Windows install (i.e. Windows 8.1 upgrades to 10 through the Windows Store) but offer a proper Windows 10 ISO download. Imagine how much of a nightmare it would be having to reinstall 8.1 then do the 10 upgrade.

 

The sad thing is I see Microsoft doing exactly this :no:

 

We don't know for sure, but I don't think they'll do it via Store. Look at what happened with 8.1. They'll most likely offer it via Windows Update.

 

If I remember correctly, you could do a clean install with the $30 windows 8 upgrade, so it might be possible with this one as well. 

Why is it so hard to understand this? It's the same licencing system as it always has been, you just aren't handing over any cash if you upgrade in the first year of release.

 

You really have no clue...

 

I really hope Microsoft don't require the "free" upgrade to be done from a previous Windows install (i.e. Windows 8.1 upgrades to 10 through the Windows Store) but offer a proper Windows 10 ISO download. Imagine how much of a nightmare it would be having to reinstall 8.1 then do the 10 upgrade.

 

The sad thing is I see Microsoft doing exactly this :no:

 

Yes, this, plus the fact that i'd probably be replacing a retail license of Windows (7)  for an OEM equivalent of Windows 10.

 

 

We don't know for sure, but I don't think they'll do it via Store. Look at what happened with 8.1. They'll most likely offer it via Windows Update.

 

If I remember correctly, you could do a clean install with the $30 windows 8 upgrade, so it might be possible with this one as well. 

 

Yes but that 30$ Windows could be moved to another machine, right? One can hope it's the same for 10, but "supported for the life of the device" doesn't give me much hope.

 

Yes, this, plus the fact that i'd probably be replacing a retail license of Windows (7)  for an OEM equivalent of Windows 10.

 

 

Yes but that 30$ Windows could be moved to another machine right? One can hope it's the same for 10, but "supported for the life of the device" doesn't give me much hope.

 

Not as far I know. 

 

In the comments section of this article http://winsupersite.com/article/windows8/clean-install-windows-8-upgrade-media-144648

 

 

 

Hello, this would be my first time buying an upgrade so I have a question. If for whatever reason I have the need to format my pc later on, is the key I purchased still usable for a re-install or would I have to buy another? Thanks =)

 

To which Paul responded:

 

 

 

You can use the same key (on the same computer).

 

It appears as thought the behaviour will indeed be the same with Windows 10. One can hope that if for example you've gotten the upgrade in the first year, but let's say you add more ram after the offer is over, you could upgrade to a non-OEM licence by paying a smaller fee than buying W10 outright. 

It appears as thought the behaviour will indeed be the same with Windows 10. One can hope that if for example you've gotten the upgrade in the first year, but let's say you add more ram after the offer is over, you could upgrade to a non-OEM licence by paying a smaller fee than buying W10 outright. 

But if one had a Windows 7 RETAIL license to begin with, it seems like a downgrade to move to an upgrade that's basically tied to that machine like an OEM one, isn't it? Am i the only one that sees the wrongness in this?

 

Also if you add more ram, you're genuine license won't get invalidated. Didn't happen 15 years ago, not gonna happen now. If adding more RAM forces you to move from 32 bit to 64bit that may be another issue alltoghether. However i have yet to come across a license that worked on one and didn't work on the other (i.e. 8 pro 32 bit to 8 pro 64 bit and viceversa, 8 non-pro 32 bit to 8 non-pro 34 bit, 7 home premium 32 bit to 7 home premium 64 bit and so on).

But if one had a Windows 7 RETAIL license to begin with, it seems like a downgrade to move to an upgrade that's basically tied to that machine like an OEM one, isn't it? Am i the only one that sees the wrongness in this?

 

Also if you add more ram, you're genuine license won't get invalidated. Didn't happen 15 years ago, not gonna happen now. If adding more RAM forces you to move from 32 bit to 64bit that may be another issue alltoghether. However i have yet to come across a license that worked on one and didn't work on the other (i.e. 8 pro 32 bit to 8 pro 64 bit and viceversa, 8 non-pro 32 bit to 8 non-pro 34 bit, 7 home premium 32 bit to 7 home premium 64 bit and so on).

 

 

If you have a retail license to begin with, yes, this like a downgrade. That said, I don't think the target audience for this thing is the tech enthusiast, but rather John or Jane Doe, in the sense that normal people usually buy a PC and use it until it breaks. When it does break they most often buy a new PC, rather than upgrading it. Since the PC comes with Windows pre-installed, this upgrade makes sense  'for the lifetime of the device'. Tech enthusiasts will most likely buy a system builder license or something, depending on their needs.

 

I think they'll focus on the upgrade, but will have the other options also available at launch. One can hope.

But if one had a Windows 7 RETAIL license to begin with, it seems like a downgrade to move to an upgrade that's basically tied to that machine like an OEM one, isn't it? Am i the only one that sees the wrongness in this?

 

Also if you add more ram, you're genuine license won't get invalidated. Didn't happen 15 years ago, not gonna happen now. If adding more RAM forces you to move from 32 bit to 64bit that may be another issue alltoghether. However i have yet to come across a license that worked on one and didn't work on the other (i.e. 8 pro 32 bit to 8 pro 64 bit and viceversa, 8 non-pro 32 bit to 8 non-pro 34 bit, 7 home premium 32 bit to 7 home premium 64 bit and so on).

At this time, it does not convert the license.  So if you have a retail license, it continues to be a retail license.

There is not one word of this that has been different than any other Windows License Agreement, including the wording of, "Life of the Device".

 

This was first used in context of Windows XP.  Life of the device in Microspeak is:

 

1. Life of the License Purchased (Lifecycle of the Product)

2. Type of License Purchased. (Retail, OEM, MAK, VAK, Enterprise)

 

If you purchase an OEM license (One that comes with the machine) It is tied to the machine it was purchased for.  That license cannot be moved to another machine.

If you purchase a Retail license, that can be moved to another machine. So it then becomes the Life of the product only.

 

This is how all of the licensing has worked up to this point, and I do not see it changing. 

If you have a retail license to begin with, yes, this like a downgrade. That said, I don't think the target audience for this thing is the tech enthusiast, but rather John or Jane Doe, in the sense that normal people usually buy a PC and use it until it breaks. When it does break they most often buy a new PC, rather than upgrading it. Since the PC comes with Windows pre-installed, this upgrade makes sense  'for the lifetime of the device'. Tech enthusiasts will most likely buy a system builder license or something, depending on their needs.

 

I think they'll focus on the upgrade, but will have the other options also available at launch. One can hope

I do not see anywhere in this that it is a Downgrade of the license.  Can you please point that out to me?

I do think LauRoman is bringing up a good point that many in this thread either ignore or don't understand.

 

There are clear differences between RETAIL and OEM licensing. With the free Windows 8 program done in the past, that was meant for mom and pop machines who bought Windows 7 near 8's release (which 99% of the time is equipped with an OEM license) and get a free OEM upgrade.

 

...thats fine and all and that is "equivalent exchange" (OEM for OEM)...except LauRoman threw up the cash for a RETAIL Windows 7 which has privledges and the biggest perk is its ability to be moved to another machine (so long as you purge it from the previous machine it was on). If Microsoft's licensing allows Lau to generate a 10 key for their 7 key, will that 10 key be RETAIL or OEM? If its OEM then yes, Lau definitely got the short end of the stick.

 

At the same point, one could say its "fair" solely for the fact that man hours have went into a product upgrade that you haven't paid for and, luckily, Microsoft is giving some sort of licensing of 10 away for free for sometime. I honestly expect that it will ONLY be OEM freebies as the priveldge described above comes as a premium.

 

Until Microsoft clarifies, I recommend holding on to your keys Lau.

I do not see anywhere in this that it is a Downgrade of the license.  Can you please point that out to me?

 

I guess it's a problem of interpretation. I thought of "life of the device' as how long the hardware itself lasts, be it 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, whatever. The way you said it, it seems as though 'life of the device' means life cycle of the product, rather than the hardware. That's where the trouble is. 

 

One could argue that if it is the way you said it, they could just replace 'device' with 'product' and it would clear a lot of misunderstandings. I think it has to do with the proportion of Windows licences sold. If most of them are OEM licences (i.e. tied to the device) , then 'lifetime of the device' makes sense. If not, I don't know.

Please, people stop friggin saying it's a free license, like people didn't get this when Microsoft first said it and you think it's some insightful thing.

 

So, if you see it as a downgrade - here's a solution...

 

DON'T TAKE UP THIS OFFER

 

(gasp)

 

You misunderstand me. I will take the offer, on one machine, at least, regardless of the type of license. As i paid for 7 Windows 7 licenses (1 is OEM Home Prem. and 6 are Retail Pro) i just wish Microsoft would make it clear before the launch of the product what type of license (stop saying free) you get after the upgrade, hopefully.

 

If that clarification will not be forthcoming i would like to know from people that used the $30 (or whatever the price was) Windows 8 upgrade to go from XP/Vista/7 if they could, or have moved their Windows 8 installs to another machine if the original XP/Vista/7 was RETAIL.

Please, people stop friggin saying it's a free license, like people didn't get this when Microsoft first said it and you think it's some insightful thing.

 

 

You misunderstand me. I will take the offer, on one machine, at least, regardless of the type of license. As i paid for 7 Windows 7 licenses (1 is OEM Home Prem. and 6 are Retail Pro) i just wish Microsoft would make it clear before the launch of the product what type of license (stop saying free) you get after the upgrade, hopefully.

 

If that clarification will not be forthcoming i would like to know from people that used the $30 (or whatever the price was) Windows 8 upgrade to go from XP/Vista/7 if they could, or have moved their Windows 8 installs to another machine if the original XP/Vista/7 was RETAIL.

Just checking to see if you saw my message or not.  It spells everything out, unless it is changed, and if it is changed, it will be rather big news. 

I am not certain how much more they can spell it out.

As long as MS phone operators are prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt when you claim that "I just changed my harddisk and increased my RAM, then authentication failed", ALL keys are transferable.

 

Its automated anyway.

 

I really hope Microsoft don't require the "free" upgrade to be done from a previous Windows install (i.e. Windows 8.1 upgrades to 10 through the Windows Store) but offer a proper Windows 10 ISO download. Imagine how much of a nightmare it would be having to reinstall 8.1 then do the 10 upgrade.

 

The sad thing is I see Microsoft doing exactly this :no:

 

I'm pretty sure this is how its going to work. Least work for them, plus then after the 'year', they can easily start charging since they would just shut down the upgrade system.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • UniGetUI 2026.2.2 by Razvan Serea UniGetUI is an application whose main goal is to create an intuitive GUI for the most common CLI package managers for Windows 10 and Windows 11, such as Winget, Scoop and Chocolatey. With UniGetUI, you'll be able to download, install, update and uninstall any software that's published on the supported package managers — and so much more. UniGetUI features Install, update and remove software from your system easily at one click: UniGetUI combines the packages from the most used package managers for windows: WinGet, Chocolatey, Scoop, Pip, Npm and .NET Tool. Discover new packages and filter them to easily find the package you want. View detailed metadata about any package before installing it. Get the direct download URL or the name of the publisher, as well as the size of the download. Easily bulk-install, update or uninstall multiple packages at once selecting multiple packages before performing an operation Automatically update packages, or be notified when updates become available. Skip versions or completely ignore updates in a per-package basis. Manage your available updates at the touch of a button from the Widgets pane or from Dev Home pane with UniGetUI Widgets. The system tray icon will also show the available updates and installed package, to efficiently update a program or remove a package from your system. Easily customize how and where packages are installed. Select different installation options and switches for each package. Install an older version or force to install a 32bit architecture. [But don't worry, those options will be saved for future updates for this package] Share packages with your friends to show them off that program you found. Here is an example: Hey @friend, Check out this program! Export custom lists of packages to then import them to another machine and install those packages with previously-specified, custom installation parameters. Setting up machines or configuring a specific software setup has never been easier. Backup your packages to a local file to easily recover your setup in a matter of seconds when migrating to a new machine Devolutions UniGetUI 2026.2.2 changelog: This release marks the completion of UniGetUI's migration from WinUI to Avalonia. With the remaining WinUI components and dependencies now removed, UniGetUI is fully powered by Avalonia. This update also brings Windows 11 Snap Layouts support, refined styling throughout the application, improved log viewing, new illustrations, and significantly smaller release packages. Highlights Further refined the Avalonia user interface to better match WinUI styling and behavior across package lists, navigation elements, dialogs, and controls. Added support for Windows 11 Snap Layouts when hovering the maximize button, matching the behavior of native Windows applications. Added illustrations for empty and loading package list states, improving visual feedback throughout the application. Improved the operation log window so automatic scrolling no longer interrupts users when reviewing previous log entries. Reduced installer and application package sizes, resulting in smaller downloads and a significantly leaner Windows distribution. User Interface Improvements Improved package list styling, column headers, backgrounds, hover states, and selection indicators for a more polished and consistent experience. Refined sidebar navigation and segmented controls to better align with modern Windows design patterns. Improved package tag badges and icon presentation throughout the application. Updated several labels, placeholders, and interface elements for improved clarity and consistency. Removed the remaining WinUI-specific styling dependencies, further consolidating the application around Avalonia. Windows Improvements Added native Windows 11 Snap Layouts integration for the maximize button. Improved maximize button hover and pressed visual states to more closely match native Windows behavior. Performance & Reliability Reduced the size of Windows release packages by removing unnecessary runtime dependencies and optimizing published builds. Reduced installer size through improved compression settings. Simplified application dependencies and reduced overall maintenance complexity. Fixes Fixed log output auto-scrolling behavior when manually reviewing previous entries. Resolved various UI inconsistencies and styling issues across the Avalonia interface. Addressed several minor issues and edge cases throughout the application. Other Changes Dependency cleanup and project maintenance. Internal code refactoring and infrastructure improvements. Additional test coverage and build pipeline optimizations. Download: UniGetUI 64-bit | Portable | ~90.0 MB (Open Source) Download: UniGetUI ARM64 | Portable Links: UniGetUI Home Page | GitHub | Screenshot Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • The best controller for XBOX and PC is down to the lowest price by Taras Buria Image via Neowin The GameSir G7 Pro is a fantastic controller for XBOX and PC. Officially certified, it works with Microsoft's consoles, mobile devices, and PCs, giving you a universal controller for any kind of gaming machine. And right now, you can save 20% on it, thanks to the latest deal during Prime Day 2026 (purchase link below). The G7 Pro has the classic XBOX layout, complemented by a couple of extra elements, such as the M button for changing various settings and four additional remappable buttons. It also has trigger locks and TMR sticks that eliminate drifting issues, giving you a reliable, long-lasting gamepad. The controller is powered by a built-in battery, which charges via a USB Type-C cable or the bundled dock station. The G7 Pro supports wireless (XBOX Wireless, proprietary dongle, or Bluetooth) and wired connectivity. In addition to software customization (you can remap multiple buttons to different actions), it lets you personalize the look by swapping the faceplate or grips, enabling multiple design combinations. Other features include a 1,000Hz polling rate, an audio jack for your headphones, Hall Effect triggers, and a swappable D-pad (two extra are included). The controller is also available in four color variants, and all of them are now discounted. Thanks to quality materials, reliable components, rich customization, universal compatibility, and an affordable price tag, the G7 Pro received very high praise in our review. It is certainly among the best controllers you can buy. GameSir G7 Pro - $63.99 | 20% off with Prime Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Microsoft further improving Windows 11 Taskbar with latest builds by Sayan Sen Microsoft has released new Windows 11 builds for users flighting the Experimental channels. The new builds are 26300.8758 for Windows 11 26H2, 28120.2374 for 26H1, and 29617.1000 for future platforms. There are improvements related to the Taskbar, File Explorer and more with the new update. The full changelogs are given below: First we have the build 26300.8758: Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out [Taskbar] Taskbar customization just got easier. As we continue to make improvements to the Taskbar experience mentioned last month, we've introduced a dedicated Taskbar Size setting, making it simpler to find, understand, and personalize your ideal taskbar experience. UI showing the new Taskbar Size setting in Settings. We've also made refinements to the transitions between taskbar sizes for a smoother overall experience. [File Explorer] We've improved the reliability of thumbnail previews for cloud files in the Details pane. The pane has also been reorganized so file properties are easier to find and review at a glance. Fixed an issue where the OneDrive shortcut in File Explorer stops working when File Explorer is run in administrative mode. Fixed an issue where the confirmation dialog might display an internal Recycle Bin file name instead of the original file name when permanently deleting a file. [Sounds] Improved system sounds when using Windows in dark mode. Up next we have build 28120.2374: Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out This update includes a small set of general improvements and fixes [Mobile Device Settings] You can add and manage your mobile devices in Settings under Bluetooth & Devices > Mobile Devices. On this page, you can manage features such as using your device as a connected camera or accessing your device's files in File Explorer. [Remote Recovery Management] Added a recovery remote management plug-in to extend WinRE management capabilities for MDM providers. [Input] The emoji panel (Windows key + period (.)) now uses GIPHY as the GIF provider, delivering a smoother GIF browsing and sharing experience following the deprecation of the Tenor API. Finally we have the changelog for Windows 11 build 29617.1000: Changes and improvements gradually being rolled out [Windows Update] As announced in the Windows Update announce blog, we are now bringing a new unified update experience to reduce the number of reboots you see per month. We are starting by coordinating driver, .NET, and firmware updates to align with the monthly quality update, reducing the update experience to a single monthly restart. See the blog for more information. [Windows Magnifier] Magnifier now gives you more control over how you zoom. You can type an exact zoom percentage directly in the magnifier toolbar to land on precisely the level you need. We've also added preset step increments (5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, 150%, 200%, and 400%) to the Settings dropdown, so you can jump to common levels in a single click. Whether you need a subtle boost or a dramatic close-up, Magnifier adapts to how you want to zoom. Enter an exact percentage or jump to preset steps —5% up to 400%. Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Magnifier. [Accessibility] We're introducing screen tint, a new accessibility setting that applies a color overlay across your entire display, softening its intensity so it's easier on your eyes throughout the day. If bright, saturated screens leave you with tired or sensitive eyes by the end of a long session, screen tint can help. Screenshot showing UI for screen tint in Accessibility, with color presets and a strength slider. To get started, open Settings > Accessibility (or press WIN + U) and look for screen tint under the Vision section. From there, you can: Pick from six preset colors or choose a custom color of your own. Adjust the tint strength slider from a subtle wash to full intensity. Night light warms your display to reduce blue light that can interfere with sleep. Screen tint reduces overall screen intensity to ease eye fatigue and light sensitivity during the day. They tackle different problems and you can use both at the same time, one working on warmth and the other on intensity. Note that turning on screen tint will disable color filters, and vice versa. If you currently rely on color filters, you might need to keep screen tint turned off. Feedback: Share your thoughts in Feedback Hub (WIN + F) under Accessibility > Narrator. [Voice Access] Voice Access now supports Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), and Korean (South Korea). [Audio] Continuing our work on improving Sound Settings, we've made a few more updates in this build: We've adjusted the description text for the Allow option in properties for audio devices to include the current state of the device, to improve the clarity of the text and the purpose of the button actions. "Listen to this device" is now available in properties for audio devices, so you don't need to enter Control Panel for this functionality. [Multiple Desktops] Improved explorer reliability when switching between multiple desktops. [Storage] We've updated the dialog when creating a Dev Drive to now support specifying the size in GB instead of only MB. This has also been added when changing the size of volumes under Settings > System > Storage. [Personalization] This update improves color selection accuracy when adjusting your accent color to match your wallpaper when automatic accent color selection is enabled in Personalization settings. This update improves wallpaper persistence reliability across restarts and upgrades, including better support for large-resolution wallpapers and other scenarios to prevent solid color wallpaper fallback. [Display and Graphics] Improves the reliability and persistence of applying color profiles. You can view the official blog posts here (link1, link2, link3) on Microsoft's site.
    • Windows 11 is getting redesigned taskbar settings in new build by Taras Buria Microsoft is rolling out new Windows 11 preview builds in the Insider program, offering users new features and changes to try ahead of public release. In the Experimental channel (formerly Dev), Microsoft is shipping build 26300.8758, while in the Beta channel, users can download build 26220.8754. The changelogs do not contain much, but there is an important update to taskbar settings. Here is what is new in build 26220.8754: [Taskbar] Taskbar customization just got easier. As we continue to make improvements to the Taskbar experience mentioned last month, we've introduced a dedicated Taskbar Size setting, making it simpler to find, understand, and personalize your ideal taskbar experience. We've also made refinements to the transitions between taskbar sizes for a smoother overall experience. [File Explorer] We've improved the reliability of thumbnail previews for cloud files in the Details pane. The pane has also been reorganized so file properties are easier to find and review at a glance. Fixed an issue where the OneDrive shortcut in File Explorer stops working when File Explorer is run in administrative mode. Fixed an issue where the confirmation dialog might display an internal Recycle Bin file name instead of the original file name when permanently deleting a file. [Sounds] Improved system sounds when using Windows in dark mode. And here is what is new in build 26220.8754: [Smart card removal policy] Administrators can now configure Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365 sessions that use Microsoft Entra ID (RDS AAD Auth) authentication to automatically disconnect when a redirected smart card is removed. This extends smart card removal policy enforcement to Microsoft Entra authenticated remote sessions, helping organizations meet security and compliance requirements. [File Explorer] Fixed an issue where the OneDrive shortcut in File Explorer stops working when File Explorer is run in administrator mode. [Taskbar] Improved reliability of loading the system tray area of the taskbar. [Sounds] Improved system sounds when using Windows in dark mode. You can find release notes for build 26300.8758 here and for build 26220.8754 here.
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Year In
      bernmeister earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Week One Done
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      tuben earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • First Post
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      First Post
    • Reacting Well
      OffsetAbs earned a badge
      Reacting Well
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      441
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      197
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      156
    4. 4
      FloatingFatMan
      71
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      67
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!