Edit:

As of January 16th, microsoft has actually taken down the Assistive Technologies upgrade. All official upgrade offers are over, and you can no longer upgrade from an install with Daz's Loader to get a License. You may still be able to get a Windows 10 license by entering a legit Windows 7/8.1 key during install, if they have not yet patched that part of the original upgrade system.

https://www.howtogeek.com/272201/all-the-ways-you-can-still-get-windows-10-for-free/

If you used an upgrade at any point in the past to successfully activate Windows 10, you can reinstall it at any time (see FAQ for more info on Digital Licenses).


























                                                            Intro
                                         How to get rights to W10 while using 7/8.1
                                                 Frequently Asked Questions
                                                            Links




		What’s this all about?


Explaining how to get a permanent license for windows 10 before microsoft pulls free upgrades on the 29th and starts charging $119 to upgrade. There's a pretty easy trick to keep using window 7 or 8,  AND have the rights to install 10 at any time. I also want to perma-answer the handful of questions /g/s been getting overrun with with so we don’t have to keep explaining this shit over and over.




>Do you like windows 10?

No. Fuck the store. Fuck the layout. Fuck the botnet. Also fuck micrsoft for shoving it down our throats all year like they believed only cortana's shiny blue ass could save our souls from eternal torment in the fiery pits of hell.




>So why would I ever want it?

Because there's some shit only Windows 10 does. DirectX12 is only on W10, so there will be at least some games that require it. Also many future Xbone games will be cross platform for W10.




>Fuck vidya.

Microsoft also builds a lot of security advancements into it’s newer OSes that never reach the old ones, so infection rates tend to be a lot lower. And in 2020 Windows 7 will stop receiving security updates too (like that shit that went down with XP a while back), so anyone who wants to keep using their shit as long as possible might want to keep their options open. Also W10 is supposed to be the last version of windows, with them just doling out more servicepacks instead of selling us a new OS every 3 years, hopefully making this the last time we have to have this conversation. It also means that we'll eventually start seeing more and more programs that require either Windows 10 or its (goddamn) app store. At any rate the license doesn't take long to get, so why not have it in case you need it?




>So how do I get a license without upgrading?

You upgrade. But then you just undo it. That’s the loophole: you don't have to KEEP W10 on your computer, you just have to install it once before the 29th, say for 5 minutes, so the microsoft servers note your particular PC’s hardware as eligible for Windows 10 going forward.  You then have a permanent "Digital License" on that computer, even if you go back to your old version of windows immediately.






		How Do?


There are basically 4 different ways this can go down...

1) The easiest method is to just upgrade to W10, then downgrade using the “Go Back” button in settings (available for 30 days).

2) If you’re specifically worried about windows messing up the install, you can make a system backup image instead with Macrium Reflect (or Clonezilla, Easeus Todo, etc.), then do the upgrade, then use a recovery disk to restore the image. You can always make a backup for extra security, even if you are planning on using a different option for your upgrade. It’s always a good idea to back up your system regularly, even when you’re not planning on any big changes.

3) You could follow the upgrade by reinstalling windows 7/8 from scratch if you have the means to install and activate it.

4) You can actually do a clean install of windows 10 using it’s install disk, then activate it by entering your windows 7/8 key at the prompt. This means you could install 10 to another drive or partition without needing an existing copy of windows at all. You could swap in a spare HDD or SSD, shrink an existing partition for a temporary dual boot, or just backup and restore a drive like in option #2. You could even backup a Linux system (with Clonezilla), install 10 in its place, then restore it from backup.



If you're planning on restoring your system with a backup program, go ahead and create the image now (along with a recovery disk). Otherwise there’s no prep, just accept the Windows 10 upgrade.*
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*If you've been having trouble with the upgrade for some reason, you want to do this on multiple PCs, or you just don't want to bother using windows update, you can download the W10 install disk directly from microsoft's website:

                     https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Click "Download tool now" to make a DVD or USB copy of W10. Then you can run the disc within windows (like installing something from a CD). Skip downloading updates. If you’re installing W10 to a blank drive instead of upgrading, enter your windows 7/8 key, otherwise just hit skip when it asks.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Once W10 is installed, make sure it has activated itself online by clicking Start> Settings> Update & Security> Activation. Make sure it says “Windows 10 on this device is activated with a Digital License"

With W10 activated it’s time to go back to your old OS. For option #1 use the 30 day "Go Back" setting in W10 to recover your old copy of windows (stored in C:\Windows.old). To find it, click Start> Settings> Update & Security> Recovery, then hit the “Get started” button under Go back to Windows 7(or 8.1). For options 2-4 either boot your Macrium(ect.) recovery disk and restore your system from backup or go ahead with a fresh install of 7, 8, or Linux. Mission accomplished.








		Frequently Asked Questions:


>Digital License? What is this BS? Where's my damn key?

"KEYS? Where we're going we don't need KEYS."  Most versions of W10, including all free upgrade copies, don’t come with keys. A "Digital License" means that their servers’ fingerprint of your PC (with it's hardware and motherboard serial number) now shows that device "owns" a copy of Windows 10 forever. From then on every time you reinstall W10, it activates itself online automatically by checking that fingerprint against microsoft's records. So even if you used a W10 install disk to clean install your system, you would be activated automatically as soon as you’re connected to the internet.

Changing your RAM, GPU or HDD/SSD has no effect on the License. For replacing the motherboard, see   https://www.windowscentral.com/how-re-activate-windows-10-after-hardware-change




>If I upgrade, do I lose my old windows 7/8.1 license?

No, you can go back and forth as much as you want, as long as you still have your old installer and key (or a backup/recovery). You're not officially allowed to have both versions of windows installed at the same time (i.e. dual boot), but even that is unlikely to cause a problem. The downgrade rights last until 2020 for windows 7 and 2023 for windows 8, when official support ends for the OSes.




>I heard people might start having to pay a monthly subscription for W10 in the future...

Nope. At least none of the PCs people already own have to worry about that. And you still have the option to go back to your old windows until at least 2020.




>I can't make W10 install. Something always goes wrong. How do I make it work?

Try using the install disk instead, at:
microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10




>If I upgrade from windows 7/8.1 retail, is my W10 also a retail(meaning transferable) version?

No. Your copy of W10 is locked to that PC. But if you uninstall windows from that computer entirely you can transfer your old windows 7/8.1 to another PC. To get W10 retail, you have to buy W10 retail. However some people claim to have gotten a retail key by calling microsoft and claiming they need it to install windows in a Virtual Machine.




>How do clean reinstalls work in windows 10?

All you need is that free install disk from the microsoft site. No keys, no HP/Dell recovery partitions taking up disk space. Just run and done. No activation required (if asked for a key hit skip and it will activate automatically over the internet).




>How do I downgrade to windows 7/8.1 if my computer came with 10?

Windows 7/8.1 are available as free downgrades IF you have the pro version of W10, otherwise you’re supposed to buy a copy. You would also need to make sure your core hardware actually has drivers for that version of windows. It's a bit complicated but here's instructions:
http://www.groovypost.com/howto/downgrade-windows-10-to-windows-7-windows-81/2/




>I'm staying on windows 7/8. How do I make the update notifications go away?

The easiest way is to use GWX Control Panel:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/gwx_control_panel.html
Just run it once (Monitor Mode isn't necessary). That's it.

If you would rather block the update manually through windows instead, you can download and install update 3065987 on Windows 7, or 3065988 on Windows 8. Then save---
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"DisableOSUpgrade"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\GWX]
"DisableGWX"=dword:00000001
---to a text document on your desktop named DisableOSUpgrade.reg and run it as administrator.




>How do I disable Cortana/Bing and reduce telemetry?

The Windows Club has been releasing their Ultimate Windows Tweaker tool since Vista, and the modern version includes a privacy section for windows 10 that allows you to disable “Telemetry, Biometrics, Advertising ID, Bing search, Cortana, Windows Update sharing, Feedback requests, password Reveal button, Steps Recorder, Inventory Collector, Wi-Fi Sense and Application Telemetry."

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-4-windows-10

Other recommendations include W10Privacy and O&O ShutUp10. The various tools out there do very similar things, and most of the difference is in their layouts. They minimize the amount of data shared, but I would very skeptical of any tool claiming to block microsoft entirely, as Windows 10 is designed to bypass any internal software/firewall interference, as well as reset system mods during future updates.

Comparison of tools:
https://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/14/comparison-of-windows-10-privacy-tools/
http://www.majorgeeks.com/news/story/which_windows_10_privacy_tool_is_right_for_me_(video).html





>I’ve reinstalled Windows 7 recently and I can’t get it to update.

When microsoft put out a new Window 7 update client, they fucked over any copy of 7 that doesn’t have it yet, including clean installs. To get windows update working you will need 3 updates:

microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=51212
microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=47351

and the most recent monthly "update rollup". August's is:

microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=53581


Optionally you can get almost every update in the last 5 years at once, if you are ok with not being able to uninstall them individually. Micrsoft now puts out a "Convenience Rollup" which acts like an unofficial SP2 for Windows 7 and will save you some time and reboots.

http://pastebin.com/quC0gz4j





>Should I just start using Linux instead?

Maybe! Linux definitely involves going outside your comfort zone, but it can be a very rewarding experience. Once you get the hang of it, many things like program updates and connecting peripherals can be much more convenient than under windows. And while there are certainly some programs that won’t work on Linux, there are also many free ones designed specifically for it, and with some tinkering in W.I.N.E. many windows programs are supported as well.  Linux has a knack for running very smoothly until some weird problem comes up, then it’s off to the forums. Luckily you don’t have to dive in all at once. You can start by running a copy within windows using VMware or Virtualbox, and if that goes well, try a dual boot. Ubuntu is one of the easier distros to use and comes with an active online community and many guides for beginners. A great way to minimize risk before shrinking windows or trying a dual boot is to do a complete system backup with Macrium Reflect or similar. And after installing Linux, I recommend downloading the third party (PPA) program Timeshift as a kind of equivalent to Windows Restore, to help you undo most minor mistakes without hours of searching through forums. Good luck!




		Links:

howtogeek.com/253901/get-windows-10-for-free-after-july-29th-with-a-little-prep-now/
zdnet.com/article/microsoft-releases-new-license-terms-for-windows-10-no-surprises/
zdnet.com/article/how-to-block-windows-10-upgrades-on-your-business-network-and-at-home-too/



>GWX Control Panel:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/gwx_control_panel.html



>Ultimate Windows Tweaker 4:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/ultimate-windows-tweaker-4-windows-10