One of the questions Windows users had after Microsoft announced that Windows 10 would be free, was whether they could clean install the OS again after the 1-year period of free upgrades ends. You often need to reinstall Windows for various reasons and after obtaining the license with the free upgrade program, people were concerned that Microsoft might require them to pay for a reinstallation. Well this has been clarified by Microsoft.
If you obtained your license for Windows 10 within the first year, you can re-install the operating system on the same PC hardware. You can use the built-in reset / refresh feature of the OS too or you can install it from a bootable USB, DVD or use the ISO image.
Once you have the installation files for Windows 10, you can use it with the license key you got from the free upgrade.
Remember that Microsoft offers Windows 10 for free for all genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8 users, but not Windows XP or Vista users. Within a year after the release, you can upgrade your operating system to Windows 10 without the extra cost. But if you get a new PC after Windows 10 ceases to be free, you will obviously have to pay for the cost of the OS.
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Thanks Sergey! That was helpful and informative!
Well, this is the official info. It is good for all who will move on Win10.
Windows 10 will keep the Windows 7 or 8.1 installation files for 30 days before deleting them. Users can manually request their deletion in Settings.
“whether they could clean install the OS again after the 1-year period of free upgrades ends”
Off topic; But how much are the updates going to cost after “the 1-year period”? With 5 computers, I could easily find myself in a bad way should I jump on this for all, then have to take out a second mortgage a year later. Can one revert back to Windows 7 if the cost is too high? Has Microsoft stated the cost of updates after the one year period? Seems a bit of a come-on to get people hooked before they ‘pull the rug out’; Totally unfair and arrogant, in my opinion.
Windows 7 suits me well and it’s support period probably lasts past my ‘planting date’. :)
Don’t like being conned; they should tell us up-front, the economies of this ‘subscription’ they don’t want to talk about…..yet..
Enough of this disinformation nonsense. There is no subscription. If you don’t upgrade in the first year, you’ll have to pay the full price only once like before.