What happens when free Windows 10 upgrade ends?

You have 29 days left to make use of the free upgrade. But then what happens?

What will happen after the 29th of July, when the free upgrade offer expires?

There is no official announcement from Microsoft as yet but it looks like they will either extend the free upgrade period or offer a limited time discount to upgrade.

Swan Sources suggest that the purchase cost of Windows 10 will be about £99 for the Home version and £150 for the Pro version.

What happens if I Upgrade to Windows 10 for free then need to reinstall after the free period ends?

When you upgrade to Windows 10 your computer automatically activates with Microsoft in the cloud and they record details about your hardware to uniquely associate it to your upgrade.

If you need to reinstall Windows (before or after the 29th July) you can simply download the Windows 10 media and create a DVD/USB install. From this you can install Windows 10 without installing the previous OS or using a recovery disk.

What about future releases of Windows?

Windows 10 is the last major NEW release – operating systems after this will be incremental updates based on Windows 10. Expect fixes/upgrades and new features to be rolled out periodically.

The first free upgrade is scheduled for 2nd August 2016.

Will Microsoft charge a subscription fee for Windows 10?

There is no official word from Microsoft as yet but it looks like Microsoft are preparing the marketplace for a move to a subscription model. There is work required in ongoing development and support of the Windows operating system so we expect a nominal subscription sum per machine to be introduced at a later date.

Should I upgrade now?

As discussed in previous blog posts don’t jump straight into the upgrade...

Consider have you backed up all critical data? Is your hardware/software compatible with Windows 10?

If you are not sure call us and we can discuss the best option for you (0845 643 6011 or email sales@swan-solutions.com).