Thread: Windows 10 - free upgrade to those with PC using Windows 7 or 8
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Old 07-31-2015, 12:56 PM   #1183
wodin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhowell View Post
I may have this wrong, but my understanding is that product keys for older versions of Windows are not valid for installing Windows 10. The free upgrade requires an existing installed and activated copy of Windows 7 or 8.1. The installer upgrades to Windows 10 and sends a snapshot of your hardware configuration to Microsoft. They store that and use it to verify your license during activation if you ever need to do a clean install of Windows 10 on the same PC in the future.

Any other installation of Windows 10 requires a new, paid for, Windows 10 license. It is not transferable to new hardware.
You also have to watch the version your installing. I downloaded and created USB media for 64 bit Professional on my Surface Pro 3, then tried to install that on Susie's HP Pavilion touch 15 (Home Premium). It wanted and rejected the key. So I went back to the MCT page and downloaded 64 bit Home version and it installed without issue, except of course the aforementioned Symantec BS.
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