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Final Update [7/28]: Tomorrow is your final chance to get the free upgrade!

Update #5 [7/1]: The last day to get the free upgrade is July 29th.

Update #4 [10/15]: Microsoft will be unveiling their new Windows 10 products tomorrow morning (including a rumored Surface Pad 4 to compete against the new iPad Pro).

Update #3: Windows 10 is now available! Here are the 9 most important upgrades, according to The Verge.

Update #2: Rumor has it Staples will be doing free offline updates for anyone who wants one.

Update: Launch date is 7/29! Reserve your free upgrade now.

Microsoft just announced today that not only will they be offering the new Windows 10 (set for a "summer" release), as a free update for current Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 users, they will also be giving it to users currently running pirated copies of their software.

This article suggests this is a way to re-engage with the Chinese market, where an estimated three-fourths of all installed software is pirated.
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Comments & Reviews (166)

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demichae
Ben's cred: 5
Posted 01/21/2015 at 02:37 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 02:37 PM PT
Free, only if your time is worthless
hurl3.0
Ben's cred: 304
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:08 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:08 PM PT
looking forward to making it feel like xp.
gatzj
Ben's cred: 167
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:40 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:40 PM PT
waiting for win 11
metalliqaz
Ben's cred: 11
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:44 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:44 PM PT
Well it's official, Ben's has lost all credibility. There is no product for sale. This is an advertisement.
funghoul
Ben's cred: -6
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:44 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:44 PM PT
One of my computers crashed and I don't have the windows 7 install cd. Can I get the free windows 10?
calvinf1
Ben's cred: 12
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:49 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 03:49 PM PT
What happened to 9?
calvinf1
Ben's cred: 28
Posted 01/21/2015 at 04:05 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 04:05 PM PT
What happened to 9?

7 8 9.

Not looked into this much, they said that it was free for the year. But I did see they were asked the question how much the next year was, and there was no comment. And one reputable source that I forget (wasn't paying attention what I read where), said there was a possibility of it being subscription based. Which would be dumb.

I have the 10 preview installed to look at, basically looks like 7 or 8 with Classic Shell and the tiles on the start menu. Not a lot of difference. Me, I use Linux only for personal use, more than 8 years.
funghoul
Ben's cred: 28
Posted 01/21/2015 at 04:07 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 04:07 PM PT
One of my computers crashed and I don't have the windows 7 install cd. Can I get the free windows 10?

You can download a 7 install disc legally. And you can get 10 when it's released, or the preview now.
bostonman
Ben's cred: 190
Posted 01/21/2015 at 04:41 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 04:41 PM PT
Beware old machines, Win10 might not go back time that much for the XP machines. Drivers might not be available.

I might want to switch my behated win8.1 to this. At least I know the "start" button is back on the Win10.
JediKnight
Ben's cred: 1004
Posted 01/21/2015 at 05:45 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 05:45 PM PT
I'll stick with MS DOS.
iLikeDeals
Ben's cred: 49
Posted 01/21/2015 at 05:53 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 05:53 PM PT
I've Windows 7 pro and very happy with it :)
JediKnight
Ben's cred: 42
Posted 01/21/2015 at 06:06 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 06:06 PM PT
I'll stick with MS DOS.


Sigh... Dr DOS is much better! Rookies!
JimTG
Ben's cred: 3
Posted 01/21/2015 at 06:24 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 06:24 PM PT
The Win10 upgrade may be complimentary for Win7/8 users but it may force upgrades to other applications. I use Office 7 Professional (and a bunch of Adobe products) which suits my needs. The upgrade from Win 7 to Win 8 costs ~$100, but the upgrade from Office 7 Professional to the current, comparable Office is ~$320 (~$220 for Office Home & Office 2013 plus ~$100 for Access 2013). I seem to recall reading that Office 7 may not be compatible with Win 10.

I'm sure Microsoft factored the potential Office, and other applications, upgrade revenue in their generous Win10 offer.
JimTG
Ben's cred: 1788
Posted 01/21/2015 at 07:16 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 07:16 PM PT
The Win10 upgrade may be complimentary for Win7/8 users but it may force upgrades to other applications. I use Office 7 Professional (and a bunch of Adobe products) which suits my needs. The upgrade from Win 7 to Win 8 costs ~$100, but the upgrade from Office 7 Professional to the current, comparable Office is ~$320 (~$220 for Office Home & Office 2013 plus ~$100 for Access 2013). I seem to recall reading that Office 7 may not be compatible with Win 10. I'm sure Microsoft factored the potential Office, and other applications, upgrade revenue in their generous Win10 offer.


Office 7? You mean office 2007?

I doubt there'll be any compatibility issues.
MasterDealer
Ben's cred: 3
Posted 01/21/2015 at 07:50 PM PT
Posted 01/21/2015 at 07:50 PM PT
It's not a "generous offer" they are transitioning to Windows 10 "as a service" which means they will at some point start charging annually just like the did with Office, which is also now a "service". They not only want your money, they want your personal information (from your credit card) so they can know all about you just like Android. You will have to pay annually for the privilege of being spied on for the benefit of marketeers and the NSA.
npolite
Ben's cred: 49
Posted 01/22/2015 at 03:50 AM PT
Posted 01/22/2015 at 03:50 AM PT
All you need to do is install Classic shell for Windows 8.1 and you'll be back to Windows 7 with an better O/S. We have it installed for all of our consultants and I have heard zero issues about it.
Tekylicata
Ben's cred: 7
Posted 01/22/2015 at 05:14 AM PT
Posted 01/22/2015 at 05:14 AM PT
Windows sucks. Start using Linux NOW,and you'll have a free OS with many different flavors every year, and always lighter than Windows. Oh, and you don't have to worry about security issues. It's free! Far better support community. Oh and its free! Did i say it was free?
Little_devil
Ben's cred: 24
Posted 01/22/2015 at 10:08 AM PT
Posted 01/22/2015 at 10:08 AM PT
It is not clear if this offer applies to home users only or will this be offered to corporate devices as well.
Tekylicata
Ben's cred: 138
Posted 01/22/2015 at 10:47 AM PT
Posted 01/22/2015 at 10:47 AM PT
Windows sucks. Start using Linux NOW,and you'll have a free OS with many different flavors every year, and always lighter than Windows. Oh, and you don't have to worry about security issues. It's free! Far better support community. Oh and its free! Did i say it was free?


don't have to worry about security issues???? errr... yeah lets see how that works out for you in the long run.
sooby
Ben's cred: 28
Posted 01/22/2015 at 02:16 PM PT
Posted 01/22/2015 at 02:16 PM PT
Once read it takes Microsoft 3 times to get something right, left Microsoft years ago haven't looked back.