windows 10 to be free

[kregoron]

you can also still use some MS applikations, for example onedrive, just use the desktop versions as they don't use the OS account.

[kregoron]

i had a long talk with MS today, as ive been getting a ton of questions on Win10, one of the things was win10 licensing.
Which tbh, ive read a ton of different way people say they do it..
Win10 went from a brilliant os in my book, to something in the bottom after the first year.

Question 1. When upgrading from a retail win 8.1 pro, to a win 10 pro, is the win 8.1 key invalidated and replaced by the win10.
Answer. No the windows 8.1 key continues to be valid, tho it would be illegal to use on multiple computer at a time.

Question 2.  There are a lot of talk about the locking mechanics in win10, is it true the software locks to the Bios.
Answer. Yes when upgrading to windows 10 is installed, the key gets locked to the current motherboard by registering the mac adress of the NIC.

Question 3. So if the motherboard dies, can i get the key released to the new replacement board.
Answer. Yes a new key would have to be repurchased after the first year.

Question 4. Will there be a retail key available that doesn't to the hardware?
Answer. No the currenct license structure is as it is.

Question 5. So basicly by replacing the motherboard or even a standalone motherboard after the first year, would requires one to remember a 100$ key every single time. Basicly putting a extra 100% pricetag on upgrades.
Answer. Yes, it would, but our license department have really put some thought into this, and this was the best solution for every.
Answer from me: Clearly not.

[albert]

I can't understand tying it to some sort of identifier on the hardware. There are many software DRM solutions that could be used prevent duplicate use of a key. Then deactivate it and reactivate it when it gets moved to replacement hardware.

They'll not get away with this.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

[OldBloke]

Have I got this right?

If you need to change/upgrade a motherboard within the first 12 months of registering W10 you can re-use the key at no charge. After 12 months you would need to purchase a W10 license. That new key would be tied to the hardware also.

[albert]

I'm wondering how it will cope with soft coded mac addresses. Surely if it only reads the mac from the registry one can change that easy enough.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

[kregoron]

I can't understand tying it to some sort of identifier on the hardware. There are many software DRM solutions that could be used prevent duplicate use of a key. Then deactivate it and reactivate it when it gets moved to replacement hardware.

They'll not get away with this.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

Use UEFI data instead of something stupid like hardware registration.

Have I got this right?

If you need to change/upgrade a motherboard within the first 12 months of registering W10 you can re-use the key at no charge. After 12 months you would need to purchase a W10 license. That new key would be tied to the hardware also.

Within the first 12 months, the upgrade is free, and no matter how many times you change motherboards, you be receive a new key, but after 12 months.. you have to pay for the win10 key.

I'm wondering how it will cope with soft coded mac addresses. Surely if it only reads the mac from the registry one can change that easy enough.

Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

Indeed, its pretty damn easy to spoof a mac address and just change it..
And how do they cope when you got more then one NIC??? Choosing one at random or registrering boh or...

[kregoron]

Disable datalogging to make win10 at litte more private. (credits reddit peoples)

There's been a lot of commotion over W10's privacy terms. I'm sure these methods can change/improve at any time, but here's a guide which should hopefully give you a relatively more private, safe experience, however at the risk of not being able to enjoy some of W10's features.
Before/During Installation
Do not use Express Settings. Hit Customize, and make sure everything is turned off.
It's strongly preferred that you use a local account with Windows 10.
After Installation
Head to Settings > Privacy, and disable everything, unless there are some things you really need.
While within the Privacy page, go to Feedback, select Never in the first box, and Basic in the second box.
Head to Settings > Update and Security > Advanced Options > Choose how updates are delivered, and turn the first switch off.
Disable Cortana by clicking the Search bar/icon.
(Optional) Disable web search in Search by going to Settings, and turning off Search online and include web results.
Change the name of your PC by going to Start (or hitting the Windows key), typing About PC, and clicking Rename PC.
Slightly Complex
Open up the Command Prompt by launching cmd as an administrator, and enter the following:
sc delete DiagTrack
sc delete dmwappushservice
echo "" > C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Diagnosis\ETLLogs\AutoLogger\AutoLogger-Diagtrack-Listener.etl
Open up the Group Policy Editor by launching gpedit.msc as an administrator. Go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Data Collection and Preview Builds. Double click Telemetry, hit Disabled, then apply. NOTE: This only truly works in the Enterprise edition, but the final step provides a decent enough workaround for Pro users.
While still in the Group Policy Editor, go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > OneDrive, double click Prevent the usage of OneDrive for file storage, hit Enabled, then apply.
While still in the Group Policy Editor, go through Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Defender, double click Turn Off Windows Defender, hit Enabled, then apply.
Open up the Registry Editor by launching regedit as an administrator. Go through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\DataCollection, select AllowTelemetry, change its value to 0, then apply.
First, download the Take Ownership tweak and enable it. Then, head to the Hosts File by going through C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\Etc, take ownership of the hosts file, and add all of the IPs from this page into the file.
Up To You
Replace Microsoft Edge/Internet Explorer with Firefox, Chromium, or any forks/variations of them.
Replace Windows Media Player with VLC or MPC-HC
Replace Groove Music with Foobar2000, Winamp, or MusicBee.
Replace Photos/Windows Photo Viewer with ImageGlass or IrfanView.


Making Cortana use google instead.

Install this google chrome extension...https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bing2google/mgoehlfmhfafaiepckjikpphoklijedl


Disable the new Quick access view
http://www.howtogeek.com/219936/how-to-disable-quick-access-in-file-explorer-on-windows-10/

[BrotherTobious]

Wow that's a great run down thanks kreg

Sent from my Nexus 5

[kregoron]

Ill expand it as i go through more of win10s subsystems

Sendt fra min LG-D855 med Tapatalk

[smilodon]

I gave it a fair go and I'm used to living with Microsoft's dumb ideas about how an OS should work but I'm going back to W8.1. Our of the box W8 is a dreadful UI but I had it set up just right and it was more stable than W10 and certainly there up less issues than W10. I drawn out a day when I can rid myself out Microsoft altogether but until then I'll stick with Windows 8 on a Windows 7 like UI.

[Liberator]

Have any of our guinea pigs had this happen to them yet.

[h=1]FAIL: Windows 10 bulk patch produces INFINITE CRASH LOOP[/h]

[TeaLeaf]

Nope.  Upgraded a work machine today with zero problems (apart from turning off all the MS-snooping).

[smilodon]

Not quite but W10 was a complete pain. While a lot better than Windows 8.1 it did introduce a lot of additional rubbish (privacy nonsense, forced updates, unwanted apps etc etc) I came to the conclusion that it was effectively a step down from my bespoke Windows 7.5 (Windows 8.1 with start menu addons etc) By adding these apps for the start menu and dual monitors W10 actually looked identical to my Windows 7.5 install. So I decided that as part of an upgrade to an SSD I'd have it loaded with 8.1 and not 10. It's a work machine and I can't afford to be part of whatever Microsoft catastrophe might be coming down the line such as the one Liberator linked to. As and when it all goes quiet and W10 settles down post a few rolling updates etc. then I might go for the update.

[Tutonic]

Not quite but W10 was a complete pain. While a lot better than Windows 8.1 it did introduce a lot of additional rubbish (privacy nonsense, forced updates, unwanted apps etc etc) I came to the conclusion that it was effectively a step down from my bespoke Windows 7.5 (Windows 8.1 with start menu addons etc) By adding these apps for the start menu and dual monitors W10 actually looked identical to my Windows 7.5 install. So I decided that as part of an upgrade to an SSD I'd have it loaded with 8.1 and not 10. It's a work machine and I can't afford to be part of whatever Microsoft catastrophe might be coming down the line such as the one Liberator linked to. As and when it all goes quiet and W10 settles down post a few rolling updates etc. then I might go for the update.

I wouldn't stick it onto a work/enterprise machine either, for exactly those reasons.

Also, in a completely bizarre twist of fate, IBM are into bed with Apple now so I'll be getting a Mac. Hmmm.

[kregoron]

I wouldn't stick it onto a work/enterprise machine either, for exactly those reasons.

Also, in a completely bizarre twist of fate, IBM are into bed with Apple now so I'll be getting a Mac. Hmmm.

where most of the reasons doesn't actually apply to a enterprise win10 setup.
As the privacy issues aren't there, forced updates arent there, unwanted apps aren't there. Even Wifi sense is gone.