Some things to consider before you go with this upgrade:
1.) This is an UPGRADE, not a full version of Windows 10. In order to perform this, you MUST have Windows 7/8/8.1 already pre-installed and activated. Like versions will upgrade to each other. All 'Home' editions move to Windows 10 Home, all Pro/Ultimate move to Pro. Enterprise is not eligible because that is an MSDN license. If you have Media Center or any Windows 7 pre-installed MS Games, they will UNINSTALL upon the upgrade. (Yes, feature degradation)
2.) If you want to perform a -clean- installation of Windows 10 - I.E. repartition, reformat, zero-fill drive, then install - you need to buy a full version. As always, Home is $100 and Pro is $200
3.) Once a computer is 'upgraded' (if you chose to do so), you can immediately re-install Windows using the "Refresh My PC" option (introduced with Windows 8) which will reinstall windows to what Microsoft considers a 'clean' install using the pre-cached files that are downloaded during the update. This is can hardly be considered clean since there is no reformatting or zero-fill to wipe pre-existing data.
4.) If your hard drive dies or you replace too many components, it will be considered a different machine and you probably will not be able to re-upgrade if you use your old Windows 7/8/8.1 media. I may be wrong on this, but following Microsoft's track record, probably not.
5.) If your drive dies after a year from now and you try to upgrade again, the offer will no longer be valid and you'll have to buy Windows anyway.
6.) If you have expired antivirus subscriptions, Windows 10 will UNINSTALL your AV upon the upgrade and activate Micro$oft's built-in version.
7.) The installer will remove any existing applications deemed "incompatible" by Micro$oft.
8.) Automatic Updates are forced on for Home edition, but not for Pro. This includes whatever drivers Microsoft releases with their updates. Testers have been complaining that every time they overwrite a driver with a known good, Automatic Updates keeps reverting it to broken releases because Microsoft hasn't updated their repository yet.
Will I be upgrading? I plan to upgrade, then refresh, then test it on my home computer. I have 8.1 Pro, so I'm not overly concerned with the Windows Update 'feature'. If I don't like it, I'll most likely revert to 8.1 by the end of next month. Then again, I wipe my computer every 3 months anyway, so this is no big deal for me. I would advise caution to anyone who is not 100% comfortable with rebuilding their PC from taking this upgrade.
1.) This is an UPGRADE, not a full version of Windows 10. In order to perform this, you MUST have Windows 7/8/8.1 already pre-installed and activated. Like versions will upgrade to each other. All 'Home' editions move to Windows 10 Home, all Pro/Ultimate move to Pro. Enterprise is not eligible because that is an MSDN license. If you have Media Center or any Windows 7 pre-installed MS Games, they will UNINSTALL upon the upgrade. (Yes, feature degradation)
2.) If you want to perform a -clean- installation of Windows 10 - I.E. repartition, reformat, zero-fill drive, then install - you need to buy a full version. As always, Home is $100 and Pro is $200
3.) Once a computer is 'upgraded' (if you chose to do so), you can immediately re-install Windows using the "Refresh My PC" option (introduced with Windows 8) which will reinstall windows to what Microsoft considers a 'clean' install using the pre-cached files that are downloaded during the update. This is can hardly be considered clean since there is no reformatting or zero-fill to wipe pre-existing data.
4.) If your hard drive dies or you replace too many components, it will be considered a different machine and you probably will not be able to re-upgrade if you use your old Windows 7/8/8.1 media. I may be wrong on this, but following Microsoft's track record, probably not.
5.) If your drive dies after a year from now and you try to upgrade again, the offer will no longer be valid and you'll have to buy Windows anyway.
6.) If you have expired antivirus subscriptions, Windows 10 will UNINSTALL your AV upon the upgrade and activate Micro$oft's built-in version.
7.) The installer will remove any existing applications deemed "incompatible" by Micro$oft.
8.) Automatic Updates are forced on for Home edition, but not for Pro. This includes whatever drivers Microsoft releases with their updates. Testers have been complaining that every time they overwrite a driver with a known good, Automatic Updates keeps reverting it to broken releases because Microsoft hasn't updated their repository yet.
Will I be upgrading? I plan to upgrade, then refresh, then test it on my home computer. I have 8.1 Pro, so I'm not overly concerned with the Windows Update 'feature'. If I don't like it, I'll most likely revert to 8.1 by the end of next month. Then again, I wipe my computer every 3 months anyway, so this is no big deal for me. I would advise caution to anyone who is not 100% comfortable with rebuilding their PC from taking this upgrade.