Microsoft is also updating its Media Creation tool for upgrading many devices to Windows 10. At a few point early next year, Microsoft will then change that to a “recommended update” and, depending on your update preferences, automatically download it to your machine. Really. In a post on the Windows Blog, Windows and Devices head Terry Myerson said that the reservation-system update process for Windows 10 has worked well so far.
Advertisement
Microsoft’s stated aim is one billion Windows 10 users in three years, which includes usage on PCs, tablets, smartphones, and Internet of Things devices. This will always require a confirmation from the user, Microsoft explains, and even if you change your mind, your old operating system (apps and settings included) will remain saved for 31 days should you decide to go back. Apparently, when a non-genuine Windows user attempts to upgrade to Windows 10, a message pops up saying that only genuine copies can update. The Windows 10 upgrade was showing up for a few people as a recommended update and the installer started automatically.
The company says it’s making downloading of Windows 10 pretty much automatic.
It should be noted, however, that in all cases above, Microsoft will actually first ask you if you do want to upgrade to Windows 10 but only after the upgrade has been downloaded.
Users had previously slammed Microsoft for automatically pushing install files to their computers without approval, blowing out data caps for users on metered connections. If this turns into a path for most customers to get Genuine, we will expand the experiment. After a pirate user upgrades to Windows 10, they’ll see a button in the Windows activation menu that will send them to the Windows Store for one-click purchasing.
Microsoft is also planning to initiate a pilot in the US, where users running pirated versions of Windows 7 or Windows 8 will be provided an opportunity to upgrade to genuine Windows 10 from the official Windows store or by entering an activation code just by “one click”.
Advertisement
“If you try and upgrade a non-genuine PC to Windows 10 today it says the free upgrade is only available to genuine PCs”, Mr Myerson told The Verge. The company seems to want to find a way of bringing in users of pirated Windows versions and give them an opportunity to simply buy a legal Windows key and become a user of genuine Windows 10.
