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Confusing news coming from Microsoft seem to come to a clear end regarding the release of Windows 10 and the users who get to upgrade for free.
What was so confusing was the fact that Microsoft did not single out one process through which all users would receive the upgrade to Windows 10. Now, it’s crystal clear: it all depends on how users got the Windows copy they are currently using, which version of Windows they’re running on and of course, the way it was purchased.
The starting point of the discussion that threw everyone in the confusion pit was on Friday.
Initially, Microsoft announced that all registered users of the Insiders beta version of Windows 10 are eligible for a free upgrade to the full Windows 10 version. One tweak to the blog post changed the news to make it look like Windows 7 and Windows 8 users would be the only ones getting the perks of a free upgrade.
This piece of the news stands. Provided of course, that the users are not freeloaders. If you have a copy of Windows 7 or 8.1 that came with the computer or directly purchased from Microsoft or somewhere else, yes – upgrading to Windows 10 will come automatically over the Internet and for free.
Still, if you run old-school and would like to have your own copy on a physical media, then Microsoft may attend to your wish, perhaps at a nominal price for the physical media itself. Or you can choose to burn your downloaded ISO file.
Later during the weekend, Microsoft’s Gabriel Aul fired up Twitter with clarifications that all users with a registered Microsoft Account and working on the prerelease build will undoubtedly continue to be activated for the full-version Windows 10.
That being said, there is little chance for freeriders to get the goodies pack. The activated final build of Windows 10 will only be made available for users of Windows 7 and 8.1 and who installed and activated the Windows 10 Preview.
If your copy of Windows was pirated or never activated or older than the Windows 7 and 8.1 versions, then chances are the free upgrade to Windows 10 does not concern you.
The real confusing part was well tucked within the news concerning Windows 10 Insider Preview. While it is used to release new beta versions, it will run after the upgrade to Windows 10 is released to.
The tricky part is that every time you receive an upgrade, provided you are part of the Insider group, you will only benefit of buggy beta versions. Newest versions, yet bug-ridden nonetheless.
A full upgrade to RTM will probably cost Insider users as much as it would anyone who buys a license key.
So, if this is the end of the confusion talk of free upgrades, buckle your seat-belts and wait for July 29th for Windows 10 RTM to take over.
Image Source: expertreviews.co.uk
