Upgrading to W10 Official from Latest Preview

[dayoungtx]

If I've already installed the latest version of the W10 Preview for Insiders, how do I upgrade to the official release when it comes out next week? Do I still have to reserve my upgrade and if so, how do you do that from w/in the preview?

Thanks

 

[Japser]

We're not entirely sure, but the official release will probably come to insiders as a regular build. You don't need to reserve your upgrade.

Either way you shouldn't have to do anything special. The official release will come through Windows Update.

 

[dooderooni]

This has been bugging me as well.

I only have one PC (a laptop with an SSD) and have been running the TP since it came out.

I have a backup of my fully licensed Win8.1 Pro w/Media Center on an external HDD, but I don't want to have to re-install it just to get retail W10 in seven days time.

I'm really hoping that I can just get the W10 retail via Windows Update and then simply insert my W8.1 license key to complete the upgrade.

 

[Japser]

This has been bugging me as well.

I only have one PC (a laptop with an SSD) and have been running the TP since it came out.

I have a backup of my fully licensed Win8.1 Pro w/Media Center on an external HDD, but I don't want to have to re-install it just to get retail W10 in seven days time.

I'm really hoping that I can just get the W10 retail via Windows Update and then simply insert my W8.1 license key to complete the upgrade.

You will be able to get it via Windows Update, and you won't even need to insert your 8.1 key :smile:

 

[AndyCalling]

You will be able to get it via Windows Update, and you won't even need to insert your 8.1 key :smile:

Somehow I doubt we will be able to download the final release from WU to a PC currently using the tech preview key, then drop out of the preview programme to stay on the release version. That way we'd end up with two keys for the price of one. Where have you got this idea from? If MS are really going to do this I'd be very impressed. That way I could run W8 and use my extra free key to run W10 under hyper-v, which would give me a proper touch mode! Pipe dream I think, I may pay for a 2nd key to do it though...

 

[marratj]

Somehow I doubt we will be able to download the final release from WU to a PC currently using the tech preview key, then drop out of the preview programme to stay on the release version. That way we'd end up with two keys for the price of one. Where have you got this idea from? If MS are really going to do this I'd be very impressed. That way I could run W8 and use my extra free key to run W10 under hyper-v, which would give me a proper touch mode! Pipe dream I think, I may pay for a 2nd key to do it though...

Well, technically, this is exactly what you can do when opting out of Insider Previews after updating to 10240.

It even shows a message that states that you now have to adhere to the Windows 10 EULA (that is, having a valid license) when you continue using it.​​

 

[dooderooni]

You will be able to get it via Windows Update, and you won't even need to insert your 8.1 key :smile:

If I don't insert my W8.1 key into W10 retail I'll still be part of the ongoing Insider Program and using the generic key and not full retail.

I just want to perform the free W10 upgrade which my W8.1 license entitles me to without having to re-install W8.1 on my laptop first. It's a bit of a grey area in all of the articles I've read regarding the upgrade process.

I guess I'll find out in a weeks time.

 

[Skamath]

This has been bugging me as well.

I only have one PC (a laptop with an SSD) and have been running the TP since it came out.

I have a backup of my fully licensed Win8.1 Pro w/Media Center on an external HDD, but I don't want to have to re-install it just to get retail W10 in seven days time.

I'm really hoping that I can just get the W10 retail via Windows Update and then simply insert my W8.1 license key to complete the upgrade.

That is interesting to know that the upgrade is for pro editions too. I thought it was for the home editions only lol. BTW the media centre will be removed when installing the windows 10Windows 10 Specifications ? Microsoft.
As far as I know the license key that you have while swapping over to W10 TP, it will be somewhere in the registry and it will be used to determine if you are using a genuine copy or not. If it is genuine than there has to be some sort of keygen in MS which changes it to another unique key in W10. All the upgrades and updates will come through the Windows update and your copy will be automatically retail which doesn't require you to insert anything anywhere.

Just curious did you check if your PC qualified for the free upgrade? If you did and it said yes and then you got the TP than sit back and relax.( One would be used to it by now installing all these TP builds)

For any concerns Check this out
Cheers

 

[AndyCalling]

I think there's a misunderstanding going on. If you updated W8.1 to the TP through Windows Update then you will be using your W8.1 key.

BUT...

If you used the TP ISO to do a clean install you would have used the generic TP key that everyone else who did this used. I did this because Windows Update refused to offer the TP on my W8.1 install for some reason (yes, I have a valid and legal key that is due the update).

So, if you want to give advice, realise some are talking about situation no. 2 here.

 

[Japser]

If I don't insert my W8.1 key into W10 retail I'll still be part of the ongoing Insider Program and using the generic key and not full retail.

I just want to perform the free W10 upgrade which my W8.1 license entitles me to without having to re-install W8.1 on my laptop first. It's a bit of a grey area in all of the articles I've read regarding the upgrade process.

I guess I'll find out in a weeks time.

If you updated from 8.1 to the insider preview builds (not a clean install) then you will get the final version through WU without having to reinstall 8.1. I am sure of that. And what I meant by not having to insert your 8.1 key is this: keys for Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 are bound to the hardware of your PC, meaning you'll never have to manually insert it on the device that had 8.1 installed.

 

[EL620]

Before upgrading from a genuine install of windows 8.1 pro i made a complete system backup. I noticed that on the last couple of preview builds that my windows 8.1 key got switched off with the latest insider pro key. So now I'm wondering if i would get full rtm after dropping out from the insider rings.

 

[AndyCalling]

If you updated from 8.1 to the insider preview builds (not a clean install) then you will get the final version through WU without having to reinstall 8.1. I am sure of that. And what I meant by not having to insert your 8.1 key is this: keys for Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 are bound to the hardware of your PC, meaning you'll never have to manually insert it on the device that had 8.1 installed.

Not true in the case of retail box installs (or upgrades rooted from an original retail box code). Only OEM keys are embedded in the UEFI firmware.

 

[David Feifer]

What he is referring to is the hardware ID that is created when you activate a windows license. This is basically a fingerprint of your system. When you signed up for the insider program you effectively linked your hardware ID to your Microsoft account. Same thing that is going to happen with everyone else when they upgrade to 10.

Of course most of this seems moot since from what I have heard 10240 that we are using now IS rtm all we are getting from here on out are KB updates through windows update, at least until they start releasing update builds for TH2.

 

[AndyCalling]

I don't think he is. There was never a need to type in any 'hardware ID'. Also, how does MS know which of my PCs I signed up on? I may even have signed up via a work PC. That only makes sense if talking about a Windows Update TP install. Also, my hardware ID has changed since I signed up as I have installed a TPM since then.

This is not a moot point, please read the previous posts. Many installs have the TP key in use, not the 8.1 key. That is the potential problem here.

 

[Scott Bradley]

Microsoft clarifies how Windows 10 RTM will be offered to Windows Insiders | Windows Central

"I want to opt out of the Windows Insider Program on 7/29."

If you decide to opt-out of the program and upgrade to the 7/29 build you will be subject to exactly the same terms and conditions that govern the offer* that was extended to all Genuine Windows 7 and 8.1 customers. This is not a path to attain a license for Windows XP or Windows Vista systems. If your system upgraded from a Genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 license it will remain activated, but if not, you will be required to roll back to Windows 7/8 or acquire a new Windows 10 license. If you do not roll back or acquire a new license the build will eventually expire."

It seems pretty clear. If you used the insider build to upgrade from a genuine Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 operating system, then it will remain activated. If you did a clean install you will be required to roll back or acquire a new Windows 10 License.

I am still not sure how this impacts the difference between Pro and Home versions - if your original Windows 7/8.1 license was the Home version and now you are on the Professional insider build, but they may simply turn a blind eye at that point. Who knows.

I have a Windows 7 license for my box, but I did a clean install so I have a choice. I think I will stay on the insider build - it is an older machine anyway.

That will give me a year to build a new system if I want and use the Windows 7 license as a source for my OS.

 

[Scott Bradley]

This has been bugging me as well.

I only have one PC (a laptop with an SSD) and have been running the TP since it came out.

I have a backup of my fully licensed Win8.1 Pro w/Media Center on an external HDD, but I don't want to have to re-install it just to get retail W10 in seven days time.

I'm really hoping that I can just get the W10 retail via Windows Update and then simply insert my W8.1 license key to complete the upgrade.

Did you wipe the 8.1 from the laptop before installing TP or did you upgrade? If you upgraded, you will be fine, if you wiped and did a fresh install then you will need to roll back to 8.1 and follow the standard upgrade procedures.

Based on this: Microsoft clarifies how Windows 10 RTM will be offered to Windows Insiders | Windows Central