windows 10 iso

[akiro525]

hey guy

as we all know the free upgrade to windows 10 is ending on july 29th, and i was wandering if i create an iso on my usb would i still need to pay if i choose to upgrade once the offer has ended. i looked around and all i kept finding were websites showing me how to create the iso instead of answering my question.

thanks in advance

 

[13thmonkey]

I would suggest that the answer is yes. The iso is just the iso, it'll the registration point that counts from a timing point of view.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

After July 29th , the severs won't activate it for free , you will need to pay.

 

[TJ Hooker]

Yes, you will still need to pay. You need to install and activate Win 10 before the 29th to get the free upgrade.

 

[johnbl]

Activate windows 10 on a second drive then wipe it. The activation will have been recorded on Microsoft activation servers with your hardware profile. Next time you install Windows 10, the activation Servers will treat it as a reinstall.

 

[TJ Hooker]

I believe Windows 10 activation is tied to your motherboard, so if you take johnbl's advice you may have issues if you try to use that license on a different machine.

 

[johnbl]

Microsoft figures out a unique hardware signature for your current setup of hardware they use that and store your activation status under that key. You have to be using the same hardware to get the activation to be ok later.
otherwise, if you replace the motherboard and use the old key it will not autoactivate and you will have to call microsoft to get it resolved. They seem pretty good about it if you are upgrading a motherboard. You give them the old key, the check the status and see if is being used. The last time I did this I think the deactivated the old key and just gave me a new key and all was well. Took about 5 minutes on the phone.

I believe Windows 10 activation is tied to your motherboard, so if you take johnbl's advice you may have issues if you try to use that license on a different machine.

 

[TJ Hooker]

@johnbl do you know if it matters how much hardware is changed? For instance, could you activate it on one computer, and then sometime down the road install Windows using the same license on a completely different computer (as long as it's no longer being used on the original computer)?

Not really related to the OP's question, just curious.

 

[johnbl]

they really don't tell people how they identify the hardware signature. It is a trade secret I think and will prevent people from hacking it. people have tried what you said but you then have to use phone activation and tell them you had to replace the motherboard. I don't think the support people would know how the signature is calculated either. You call them, they querry a database and read from a help script if they don't know what to do. I am pretty sure the key words will be "I had to replace my motherboard and my windows will not activate" most support people will then check your key to see if it is a banned key (pirate) and just generate a new one for you.

overall, I think it is more important for microsoft to get rid of all of the old windows versions just so they can reduce support costs
(not only for microsoft but the entire world that uses a microsoft product., development cost of many versions of drivers, on many different versions of windows each with there own set of bugs, then the cost of support people with different levels of expertise)

windows looks pretty bleak, when you have OEMs that will not provide drivers to microsoft so they can be updated with out the user starting the process by knowing they have to look for the driver updates since the manufacture will not give them to microsoft
(or can not give them because of certain bugs) Microsoft used to charge $50,000 to take a OEM driver, many OEMs refused. Now I don't think microsoft charges anything but they make you say that you ran some tests. OEMs still refuse to provide the updates. (I suspect their driver fail to pass the tests)

@johnbl do you know if it matters how much hardware is changed? For instance, could you activate it on one computer, and then sometime down the road install Windows using the same license on a completely different computer (as long as it's no longer being used on the original computer)?

Not really related to the OP's question, just curious.