I thought the "OS Chief" was Terry Myerson?
Gabe Aul just runs the Insider programme.
Microsoft has attempted yet more damage control regarding Windows 10, after the software giant confused world+dog into thinking that anyone could qualify for a freebie version of its soon-to-be-released operating system. As The Register reported on Sunday, it had initially appeared as though users needed only to install a …
@tony 72 - I suspect somebody wants any indication that it's free or that MS aren't going to make you "subscribe" and charge you a yearly fee or that Satya Nadella isn't going to rape your dog to be downvoted because by definition "Micro$oft == TEH EEEEEEEBILZ" and therefore anything non-negative anyone posts must be made to look wrong.
Or we just have a couple of complete bellends voting here.
And if I do upgrade my W7 system, but later decide that W10 is crap, can I go back to a W7 image, or will it then have been deactivated?
How can they deactivate an, SLIC OEM Key? Its flagged between the BIOS, and MicroSoft's own certs. No Internet required... Now if your on one of them new-fangeled UEFI thingamajigs.. Then yeah MicroSoft probably, from what I gather has the power to fork you over... e.g. kill the key...
Historically the evidence would suggest that going back to 7 or 8.1 would be OK. There is confusion here I think because, just as with the 'free for insiders' issue, questions have been asked and no-one has come back with a concise Yes/No answer.
One thing that raises suspicions that the upgrade is irrevocable is the language used by Microsoft : the license is not transferred to Windows 10 but, rather is consumed by Windows 10.
For what it's worth, I suspect that the transfer will be one way, or at least reversion will involve a bit of effort.
That's a non-simple answer to a simple question. I hope that satisfies nmy downvoters above.
"...MS was managing a "complex topic" as it juggles multiple versions of Windows, while changing the way it builds and deploys the OS..."
Here's a tip that works well for OSX and most Linux desktop distros, release just 1 version! Job done. OK MS, I'll cut you some slack as you do have servers to sort out, just release just 2 versions, desktop and server. Simples!
Would that be the single version that is, for example, Mint:
Cinnamon 32bit
Cinnamon 64bit
Cinnamon No codecs 32 Bit
Cinnamon No codecs 64 Bit
Cinnamon OEM 32 bit
Cinnamon OEM 64 bit
MATE 32 Bit
MATE 64 Bit
MATE No codecs 32 Bit
MATE No codecs 64 Bit
MATE OEM 32 bit
MATE OEM 64 bit
KDE 32 Bit
KDE 64 Bit
Xfce 32 bit
Xfce 64 bit
So glad only one to chose from....
Oh silly me I forgot LMDE variation of MINT.
Cinnamon 32bit
Cinnamon 64bit
MATE 32 Bit
MATE 64 Bit
"There are fourteen different downloads linked from
http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php"
True enough, and I take the point being made but these 14 downloads are essentially installing the same OS but with different default setups. They are provided as a convenience to the one who is installing, and to allow the one who is installing to demonstrate compliance with local laws (the no codec variants). It would in principle be possible to have a single Mint DVD (at least for the Ubuntu based install) and then ask the installer a series of questions about the software required (c. f. the Debian installer as run from the netinstall image).
The various Widows versions have different functionality I understand, so that Windows 7 Home edition as supplied with my refurbished T61p under a scheme for refurbished computers will not be able to do everything that the College machines with their Windows 7 Enterprise (?) versions can do.
The only Linux distros I know of that only release one version are....um....yeah, can't think of any. All of them I'm familiar with offer at least a 32 and 64 bit version, many of them have versions supporting various different (and sometimes obscure) architectures, and most of them have multiple versions with different default desktops.
Not so much "too many versions" as a more simpler matter of who gets the Windows 10 upgrade for free.
Microsoft have been reasonably clear in who will get a free upgrade; it is for those who fall outside that where the confusion exists.
I thought, as some analysts had also suggested, that this was Microsoft's way of getting everyone onto 10, even if not automatically entitled to that, or were currently running older, pirated or unauthorised versions of Windows. The hard part being to do that while still holding an official position which rejects piracy etc and avoiding complaints that those who stuck with older versions were getting an unfair, better deal than those who had upgraded.
Whatever Microsoft chooses to do, someone will jump on that, find some reason to criticise, complain or fear-monger over, so it's a minefield for Microsoft at the best of times. No matter what Microsoft state, someone will read it other than it is, will read between the lines, and it then it goes on from there. With demands for completeness and clarity, with the degree of scrutiny Microsoft is placed under for every word, it is nigh on impossible for them to publish anything without that being pulled apart.
If you do a clean install onto a machine it appears that it will not have a previous install there, which is how most 'DVD' preview installs will likely have been/will be made. How then will they be treated? Will you have to remove the preview than re-install windows 7/8.x before going forward again?
Also, if a hard disk or other key part drops off its perch, how will you then recover the machine? I guess you could (a) keep an image or (b) keep the upgrade download, put 7/8.x back and re-run the upgrade. This does appear a slight(?) nightmare of confusion.
Quote: '...for free for the life of that device'.
It's this bit that worries me, 'that device'.
They don't seem to be taking into account those people who currently have full, rather than OEM licenses.
Currently I can update, re-build, create a completely new PC, and then just reinstall my copy of Win 7 as often as I want, with no restrictions other than not being allowed to have it installed on another machine at the same time.
If I lose that ability, by updating/upgrading to Win 10, then that's a bit of a deal breaker for me, might have to stick with Win 7 if that's the case, at least on my gaming rig.
This post has been deleted by its author
The Windows 10 giveaway should have been unmitigated good publicity for Microsoft. And yet, somehow, they manage to make a massive PR cock-up out of it. Impressive!
I think this will blow over, and there should still be plenty of positive vibes from giving away 10 to all licensed 7 an 8.1 users. Assuming the final version of 10 isn't crap of course.
"Windows 10, whether you get it on 29/7 or whether you got it in a preview form through the Windows Insider Program, is intended to be installed on Genuine Windows devices," ... First off, what's a genuine windows device? When did MS start selling PC hardware? And assuming this is meant to mean "devices with a genuine windows installation" surely, it should be "windows 10 upgrade"; or is windows 10 not meant for new devices, up/downgrades from linux etc?
that way you get everyone on the system in the shortest amount of time. I may be wrong here, and I'm sure that I will be told very quickly if I am, but the OEM licenses and corp stuff is where the big money is now. If so then just give the damn thing away and get as many as poss off XP, Vista even 7.
Already have the situation where I have had to install windows on a new drive in an existing machine following drive failure (caused by an over zealous wifes fist when she was frustrated by how very very slow the OS was).... and the OS now claims not to be genuine and keeps sticking stupid messages everywhere.
I think MS secretly want to close the company and are doing their utmost to drive customers away and into the arms of linux. Perhaps an opportunity for a new company? After all MS are a mess and Linux crowd are wildly unpleasant (what... were you not born with that knowledge in your head... then you are an idiot who doesn't deserve to breath)
What does your incompetence at re-installing an OS, and getting it registered with Microsoft, have to do with the current topic?
If you've re-installed from the official media that came with the PC, or from a recovery disk created from that PC, then registration with MS should be automatic.
If for some reason this didn't work, or your not using the proper disks to install with, then just call MS quoting the details from the Windows sticker on the PC and they'll get it sorted out for you.
Except it's not hard. The confusion here only applies to techy folk messing about with the preview which is a small minority.
Normal users currently on a valid win7, 8 / 8.1 install get a release version of 10 as upgrade for free if they do it within a year of release.
Nothing had changed there.
Once the code is moved from the fiery forge, through the cooling patch phase, it then rolls to the sales room it moves under the control of the licensing wing, that is a large dark part of Redmond that producing nothing tangible but must constantly feed off the workers and anyone stupid enough to wander into their reach.
Of course things are getting murky as the dark arts take control.
Write down what was said, seal it in a safe place and revisit in a years time, every word will be turned on it's head, meaning rewritten.
"Of course we never said support for those off contract, a device ceases to exist if it is not on subscription so of course it will stop working, that is what has always been implied."
Would it be too much to ask, just provide a web site that you can enter your Win 7 or Win 8 license key, and it will generate a brand new Win 10 one? I really don't want to have to install my OS once more, just to roll back to the old OS... just so I can then re-upgrade to Win 10 when it IS released.
Anyone running Win 10 Preview as their full day to day OS only has their self to blame.
I always run previews on a VM or separate machine. Never goes near my main OS. It's always been like this. Upgrades to release from previews are rarely or never supported, and personally I'd do a full wipe and install regardless of licence issues just to be sure it's clean of the bugs from the preview.
That said, it might be the full Win10 install will accept a Win 7/8/8.1 key as qualifier. Can't be certain.