Microsoft hasn’t been very clear on how the Windows 10 upgrade system will work for users that are currently using the Technical Preview of the operating system, despite the fact that this is one of the questions that people have been asking the most. Fortunately, the company finally decided to clear things up yesterday when it announced that anyone who is testing out Windows 10 currently will be able to have a free upgrade to the operating system when it fully launches next month.
While there was some confusion over Microsoft giving away Windows 10 to pirates, the software giant is now being clear about its free upgrade plans for Windows 10. We already know that Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users will get Windows 10 as a free upgrade (providing you install within a year of July 29th), but Microsoft is introducing a new way for anyone to get Windows 10 free of charge. If you install the latest Windows 10 preview (build 10130) on a machine and use a Microsoft Account that’s registered for the Windows Insider program then you’ll get the final version of Windows 10 free. Windows 10 will stay genuine, so you can clean install the preview right now and simply upgrade to the final bits for no charge. Microsoft’s Gabe Aul confirmed this method on Twitter yesterday as part of a new blog post detailing some new changes to the way the company tests Windows 10. “As long as you are running an Insider Preview build and connected with the MSA (Microsoft Account) you used to register, you will receive the Windows 10 final release build and remain activated,” says Aul.
