J
JonnathanP
I am aware that the Windows 10 free upgrade through the Get Windows 10 (GWX) app ended on July 29, 2016.
source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-za/help/12435/windows-10-upgrade-faq
And although in the same article above it skirts around the issue of upgrading from a USB or ISO, there are other articles claiming that the free upgrade is still possible (Just google it).
I have customers who need to upgrade from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro soon. It is a lot of work and money involved. One customer in particular has confirmed they were able to upgrade one PC to Win 10 from Win 7 using a standard setup USB - and this PC never opted into the original GWX program.
I'm in a dilemma. We've put together proposals for lots of Win 10 licensing either through CSP or M365 channels for these customers. But now finding out that the free upgrade may still be possible (and confirmed here: Activating Windows 10 using a Windows 7 Product Key . . . - Windows 10 Discussion) it would be unethical to charge for licensing to these customers unnecessarily. Sure, we lose out on money, but still. I can't move ahead on these proposals with uncertainty either.
What is the official stance from MS on this? Does the free upgrade work from Win 7 to Win 10 or not? Is it considered genuinely licensed thereafter? Does it only concern OEM or retail or both? What risks might I face, will there be any Win 7 PC's that decide not to activate on Win 10 and should I prepare for this knowing that it creates a fickle proposal to the customer? Will this upgrade continue to work for the foreseeable future - i.e. when can I expect to start telling customers this route is invalid?
Continue reading...
source: https://support.microsoft.com/en-za/help/12435/windows-10-upgrade-faq
And although in the same article above it skirts around the issue of upgrading from a USB or ISO, there are other articles claiming that the free upgrade is still possible (Just google it).
I have customers who need to upgrade from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 10 Pro soon. It is a lot of work and money involved. One customer in particular has confirmed they were able to upgrade one PC to Win 10 from Win 7 using a standard setup USB - and this PC never opted into the original GWX program.
I'm in a dilemma. We've put together proposals for lots of Win 10 licensing either through CSP or M365 channels for these customers. But now finding out that the free upgrade may still be possible (and confirmed here: Activating Windows 10 using a Windows 7 Product Key . . . - Windows 10 Discussion) it would be unethical to charge for licensing to these customers unnecessarily. Sure, we lose out on money, but still. I can't move ahead on these proposals with uncertainty either.
What is the official stance from MS on this? Does the free upgrade work from Win 7 to Win 10 or not? Is it considered genuinely licensed thereafter? Does it only concern OEM or retail or both? What risks might I face, will there be any Win 7 PC's that decide not to activate on Win 10 and should I prepare for this knowing that it creates a fickle proposal to the customer? Will this upgrade continue to work for the foreseeable future - i.e. when can I expect to start telling customers this route is invalid?
Continue reading...