Windows 10 has been, or will be downloaded today for those who reserved - Don't delete C:\$windows.~BT

[zMeul]

Use key finder program and see if your key matches with one of the win10 generic keys.

Http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/1828275-Windows-10-Generic-Product-Keys

nop, mine doesn't match any of them

[TorqueS]

nop, mine doesn't match any of them

Mine neither...

[NumLock21]

nop, mine doesn't match any of them

 2 different things that I've read so far.

1. When upgrading to Windows 10, your computer generated a unique hardware id, where it gets send to Microsoft activation server. The server validates that unique hardware id and then validates and activates your Windows 10 os. Now when you do a clean install, it will activate based on that unique hardware id. If you change too much hardware, then I assume, it will have to create a new hardware id, but if you did it after the free upgrade expires, then, you won't be able to reactivate your Win10 OS as the hardware id will be different than the one you had?

2. When upgrade to Windows 10, your current product key is sent to ms along with a unique hardware id. When you want to reinstall Win10, then you'll have to install 7 or 8.1 first and then perform the upgrade to win10 and it will activate based on  7 or 8.1 key you had, during the free win10 upgrade time frame. If you have a oem license, then your license cannot be transfered to a new computer so that means, you might loose your Windows 10 os. but if you have a retail license, then you can transfer that to a new computer. So with retail license, on a brand new build, you can install 8.1 first and activate with your retail key. After that upgrade to win10 and it should activate.

I'm going to do a clean install, to see if, I'll get a different key, but I can't test if changing too much hardware will render my license invalid and have to get a new one as I've got a retail os.

[Tweakforce_LG]

Anyone who is waiting for the notification and wants windows 10 now follow this

http://www.redmondpie.com/force-download-windows-10-free-upgrade-right-now-heres-how-tutorial/

Just be aware there may be a reason you havent been notified, im on a probook 4530s and i followed this and had some bugs caused by driver support for my device being buggy, causing slow boots. If you want to take the dive and are prepared to take the risk like me go ahead!

[mr moose]

Telemetry data collecting was there since XP. Nothing is there to identify you, or track you.

This is how Microsoft focuses on features that matters for most people, and cuts out feature that people don't care about.

For example, when they cut Media Center, you don't see a mass number of people complaining... very few people used it.

When Microsoft decided to improve multiple display in Windows 8, Microsoft telemetry data showed that multiple monitor setup is more common these days, and that they should improve it. It is similar to how Steam collects data on how much you play each game, and computer specs.

 

 

I sometimes wonder if people where given the option which they would prefer, having telemetry on and getting better improved products for everyone, or go back to the old days where product improvements generally only suited the people who took the time to fill out surveys.

[Sakkura]

Anyone who is waiting for the notification and wants windows 10 now follow this

http://www.redmondpie.com/force-download-windows-10-free-upgrade-right-now-heres-how-tutorial/

Just be aware there may be a reason you havent been notified, im on a probook 4530s and i followed this and had some bugs caused by driver support for my device being buggy, causing slow boots. If you want to take the dive and are prepared to take the risk like me go ahead!

 

That reason is still in many cases going to be Microsoft's gradual rollout. My main Windows 7 install only got the upgrade last night, and it had been reserved for a long time. And I'd been dual-booting the tech preview since October.

[jtdemille]

 2 different things that I've read so far.

1. When upgrading to Windows 10, your computer generated a unique hardware id, where it gets send to Microsoft activation server. The server validates that unique hardware id and then validates and activates your Windows 10 os. Now when you do a clean install, it will activate based on that unique hardware id. If you change too much hardware, then I assume, it will have to create a new hardware id, but if you did it after the free upgrade expires, then, you won't be able to reactivate your Win10 OS as the hardware id will be different than the one you had?

2. When upgrade to Windows 10, your current product key is sent to ms along with a unique hardware id. When you want to reinstall Win10, then you'll have to install 7 or 8.1 first and then perform the upgrade to win10 and it will activate based on  7 or 8.1 key you had, during the free win10 upgrade time frame. If you have a oem license, then your license cannot be transfered to a new computer so that means, you might loose your Windows 10 os. but if you have a retail license, then you can transfer that to a new computer. So with retail license, on a brand new build, you can install 8.1 first and activate with your retail key. After that upgrade to win10 and it should activate.

I'm going to do a clean install, to see if, I'll get a different key, but I can't test if changing too much hardware will render my license invalid and have to get a new one as I've got a retail os.

AFAIK, that is very wrong. Your 7/8.1 product key is made invalid, and you get a NEW Windows 10 key. (It is made valid again if you revert) If you make big changes to hardware, you need to activate via phone. This applies to OEM, and sort of retail

[NumLock21]

AFAIK, that is very wrong. Your 7/8.1 product key is made invalid, and you get a NEW Windows 10 key. (It is made valid again if you revert) If you make big changes to hardware, you need to activate via phone. This applies to OEM, and sort of retail

Well they did not give me a new Windows 10 key, but a generic key that everyone can basically grab from the internet.

[linuxfan66]

Well they did not give me a new Windows 10 key, but a generic key that everyone can basically grab from the internet.

Where you installing using an insider disc?

[NumLock21]

Where you installing using an insider disc?

downloaded the media creation tool from MS and used that to upgrade. I do have a insider account, but I didn't feel like using that to do the upgrade.

[Django]

Not sure about the OP, while I have a $WINDOWS.~BT folder of 402kB the main update seems to be in folder $Windows.~WS (5.8GB).

 

Still on 8.1 for now even though I keep getting nagged via taskbar that W10 is ready. Will give it a little more time yet to see how things are with early adopters.

[burnttoastnice]

Not sure about the OP, while I have a $WINDOWS.~BT folder of 402kB the main update seems to be in folder $Windows.~WS (5.8GB).

 

Still on 8.1 for now even though I keep getting nagged via taskbar that W10 is ready. Will give it a little more time yet to see how things are with early adopters.

 

If you have a read through the thread (that will take a while ) it's basically full of everyone's experiences so far (including mine). You might learn a bit more about the Windows 10 experience in the process.

 

One thing I can say right now though is that the store is dead, It's not allowing any downloads or updates. This appears to be fairly recent as there's reddit entries on Google from around 16-20 hours ago.

[StareX]

 

Locate the registry key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\OSUpgrade]

It should exist, but if not, create it.

Create a new DWORD (32-bit) Value with Name = "AllowOSUpgrade” (without the quotes), and set the Value = 0x00000001

 

Does this really work? For people who don't have the GWX.exe on and can't install? (asking for my friend)

[Django]

If you have a read through the thread (that will take a while ) it's basically full of everyone's experiences so far (including mine). You might learn a bit more about the Windows 10 experience in the process.

 

Do you really expect everyone to read ~700 posts? Better IMHO if the first post is updated, failing that then search which incidentally only shows one vague reference (post 565) to the folder I mentioned.

[zMeul]

Does this really work? For people who don't have the GWX.exe on and can't install? (asking for my friend)

that I do not know

if you're missing GWX.exe, then you're missing KBs

[kameshss]

Guys, I guess downloading Windows 10 via Windows Update is pretty waste of time. Sometimes it won't install for some bad reasons.

 

You can always download your respective version of ISO file here legally.

 

And then upgrade via that, plus you get to keep ISO file for future clean installation on your PC or some one's PC.

[jtdemille]

Well they did not give me a new Windows 10 key, but a generic key that everyone can basically grab from the internet.

My key is NOT generic. AND it is not my Win7 key, it's a new one. I don't know why you got a generic

[NumLock21]

My key is NOT generic. AND it is not my Win7 key, it's a new one. I don't know why you got a generic

Maybe it's because I upgrade with the media tool? Don't know, I'll do a clean install to see if it gives me a new key. I do have media center, not sure if that has anything to do with it.

[Techhog]

My key is NOT generic. AND it is not my Win7 key, it's a new one. I don't know why you got a generic

 

 

Maybe it's because I upgrade with the media tool? Don't know, I'll do a clean install to see if it gives me a new key. I do have media center, not sure if that has anything to do with it.

 

 

Retail, OEM - System Builder, or prebuilt? (This is for both of you.)

[NumLock21]

Retail, OEM - System Builder, or prebuilt? (This is for both of you.)

Desktop: win8 pro retail, update to 8.1 added mce pack retail. Upgrade to win10 pro, using media creation tool, gets generic key.

Laptop: win8 pro oem, update to 8.1 still oem. Added mce pack, license is now retail. Upgrade to win10 pro, using media creation tool. Gets a generic key.

Both os are activated. Still in the process of updating to 8.1 on my laptop.

The os is retail, if it was oem, then under window is activated, that id will have the word oem in it.

[jtdemille]

Retail, OEM - System Builder, or prebuilt? (This is for both of you.)

OEM

 

Maybe it's because I upgrade with the media tool? Don't know, I'll do a clean install to see if it gives me a new key. I do have media center, not sure if that has anything to do with it.

I upgraded with the Media Creation Tool.

[Techhog]

Desktop: win8 pro retail, update to 8.1 added mce pack retail. Upgrade to win10 pro, using media creation tool, gets generic key.

Laptop: win8 pro oem, update to 8.1 still oem. Added mce pack, license is now retail. Upgrade to win10 pro, using media creation tool. Gets a generic key.

Both os are activated. Still in the process of updating to 8.1 on my laptop.

The os is retail, if it was oem, then under window is activated, that id will have the word oem in it.

 

 

OEM

 

I upgraded with the Media Creation Tool.

Interesting... I wonder if that has anything to do with it? I should see what key I get

[NumLock21]

Just finished updating to win10 on my laptop, still generic key but os is activated.

[theburgerbucket]

I got win 7 home premium installed right now but I got a key for win 8.1 pro lying around. I assume if I upgrade from 7, I will get 10 home premium? So I would have to install 8.1 then upgrade to 10 I assume? Sounds like a bother :\

 

I also have 8.1 running on my macbook. Does anyone know if I can upgrade that one without problems?

Been on Windows 10 MacBook for a week now, and Bootcamp drivers where just updated. You should be good to go.