I have a promotional disc for Windows 7 Ultimate I received during the Windows 7 launch. I've transferred it new computers several times since (with the help of MS support to authorize the transfer in those cases where I neglected to deactivate it first).
I've read that the free Win 10 upgrade is non-transferable. I've also read that it is transferable so long as the original OS was transferable. (These both may have been true at some point since it appears that MS's policy on this has changed over time. See here and here.) I'm not clear if the promotional disc counts as OEM, retail, or some special case.
My question: Once I've upgraded from my promotional copy of Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 10 and after the free upgrade period has passed, will I be able to transfer this Windows 10 license from this computer to another as in the case of a full system upgrade? Additionally, what edition of Windows 10 will I effectively have?
References to support your answer appreciated.
Edit: I'd like to make it clear that this question has an odd but not unique circumstances attached to it, so I repeat:
- The Windows 7 disc is a promotional copy. While I've been able to transfer it to completely new computers, I'm unsure if it counts as OEM or retail for the purposes of the free Windows 10 upgrade.
- When the Windows 10 promotion started, MS's stance appeared to be the the upgrade would be non-transferable. There is evidence that this has changed:
Does my Retail copy of Windows become an OEM copy (Locked to the
hardware it was upgraded on) after the upgrade?
- UPDATE As of the license terms released with build 10240, an original OEM copy upgrades to what is, in effect, still an OEM copy.
An original Retail copy upgrades to what is, in effect a retail,
transferable copy. Microsoft has done away with terms like "OEM" in
the license, and now use terms like "If you originally acquired the
software preinstalled on the device" and "If you acquired the software
from a retailer". And, in the license they explicitly say that an
upgraded retail license is still a transferable retail license.In no situation does your original Windows 7/8/8.1 license get
converted to an OEM license.To clarify, in order to transfer your copy of Windows 10 to a new PC,
assuming you have a retail license of Windows 7/8.x, you must first
install Windows 7/8.x on the new PC, then perform a new upgrade on
that PC. If this happens after the 1 year upgrade period is over, the
Activation servers will know that your old license has already been
upgraded and re-activate the new upgrade.
When I upgrade a preinstalled (OEM) or retail version of Windows 7 or
Windows 8/8.1 license to Windows 10, does that license remain OEM or
become a retail license?If you upgrade from a OEM or retail version of Windows 7 or Windows
8/8.1 to the free Windows 10 upgrade this summer, the license is
consumed into it. Because the free upgrade is derived from the base
qualifying license, Windows 10 will carry that licensing too.If you upgrade from a retail version, it carries the rights of a
retail version.If you upgrade from a OEM version, it carries the rights of a OEM
version.Full version (Retail):
Includes transfer rights to another computer.
Doesn't require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
Expensive
Upgrade version (Retail):
Includes transfer rights to another computer.
require a previous qualifying version of Windows.
Expensive, but cheaper than full version
OEM :
OEM versions of Windows are identical to Full License Retail versions
except for the following:
OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel
OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on
OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard
OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system
Edit 2: For those who seem to think the only way to install the free Windows 10 upgrade is over the top of an existing, validated Windows 7/8/8.1 install: How to do a Clean Install of Windows 10, the Easy Way. Describes doing a clean install using a non-upgraded Windows 7/8/8.1 key and getting it validated.
Best Answer
I took the plunge and upgraded. Microsoft's Volume Activation Management Tool has this to say about the installations current state:
Until I actually try it, the ability to migrate the digital entitlement to new hardware is still difficult to determine. Sources indicate that this is allowed if the OS you upgraded from was retail:
In Microsoft's Windows 10 license terms, section 4.b.:
I think the key bit is the part that reads: "and also if you upgraded from software you acquired as stand-alone software".