$2 For Windows 10 Pro
This is interesting. At least from being outside the black box that is Microsoft. A number of people have been reporting (and I can confirm) that from inside the 10158 build of Windows 10 it presents you an option to upgrade to the Pro edition for next to nothing. Some are reporting $1, some $2.
Could this just be a test? Sure. Is it a scam? Depends on your definition, but I think in all critical ways the answer is no.
Firstly, Microsoft didn't advertise this or tell you to do it. If you did this, you chose to do it and weren't "conned" into doing it. Furthermore, it seems highly unlikely that this is a fraud perpetrated by some extraneous entity. The means of getting to this screen requires you to use built-in screens in the OS to land at a Store page in the Windows Store. Frankly, if someone had infiltrated the OS to this degree, you're probably at risk anyway.
Beyond that, after completing the purchase I can confirm that my legit Windows 10 Core Insider Preview the button changed from a purchase button to an install button and my system was upgraded to Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview as evidenced by now being able to do things such as RDP to my desktop. What is less clear is whether or not these changes will persist beyond the final release. Oddly, I haven't seen a single thread mention that the OS actually DOES get upgraded. I presume because most are simply attempting to activate illegal copies of the OS and are already on the Pro version.
Many are pointing out that all machines still activate with the same key. But I don't think that is important to note. Once again, the pirates wouldn't notice this, while others might, ALL Windows 10 insider preview releases are running generic keys. EVEN the ones issued to devices which came from a genuine Windows 7 or 8.1 license. Not sure what people were expecting here, but I doubt anyone will see anything other than a generic key until after the final version drops.
And this comes back to the question; just how will Microsoft be determining which insiders get a legit copy of Windows 10? As I said before, it wasn't until Windows 8 that OEMs started storing the keys in the BIOS. So, people who built computers or who had Windows 7 OEM machines could easily have lost their keys. I don't really think Microsoft wants to be trying to tell people "If you lost the keys you are screwed, but hey! Thanks for helping test the OS".
Also, while Microsoft may have adjusted their stance on license activation, one things remains. They have never actually, explicitly said how they will verify that an Insider copy of Windows has a legitimate license or not.
In fact, if you look at the updated blog post and read it you'll notice some strange wording choices. Despite being backed into a corner enough to feel forced to alter the post, it still doesn't really explicitly state very much. For instance, if you want to stay in the insider program, it states that it will continue to use a pre-release key, rather than a legit key. This right away explains why even those who purchased the $2 key still have a generic key. It IS that pre-release key. It also implies that a legit key isn't actually needed to stay in the Insider program.
So, if those who upgraded to Pro or activated a pirated copy with this $2 offer then choose to stay in the Slow ring (or Fast) they will actually continue to have a quasi-legitimate Windows 10 copy. And a Pro copy at that. Honestly, if the only caveat is that you need to remain in the Insider Program, that is actually a pretty damn sweet deal. Especially for people who got screwed over and sold a computer with a hacked Windows install. Slow ring seems like a fairly safe balance for those people.
As for those like me who have a legit Core/Home edition and upgraded to Pro? I don't know what will happen if I choose to convert it back to a retail edition of the OS honestly. I'm guessing this whole ordeal IS just a test and that $2 will never actually get processed and if I convert to retail I'll be downgraded to the appropriate version based on my retail key. I hadn't really decided yet what I was going to do.
The reality is, I probably will stay on with the Insider Program. I may opt out long enough to get my key converted. But I generally prefer Pro just for the RDP capabilities and both of my current machines are running Home editions. Needing to stay in the Insider program to save me $200 worth of Pro upgrades for my 2 machines is well worth it. And I imagine that pirates will feel the same regarding the Preview program being an acceptable alternative to paying for a retail copy of the OS.
You may actually find people (enthusiasts) with new, legit PCs switching over to the Insider Program if, after release, it becomes much like the Xbox Preview program where being in the Preview program gets you access to new goodies a month or more ahead of time. "Legitimate" Windows 10 and advanced features for free? Sounds pretty good.
Could this just be a test? Sure. Is it a scam? Depends on your definition, but I think in all critical ways the answer is no.
Firstly, Microsoft didn't advertise this or tell you to do it. If you did this, you chose to do it and weren't "conned" into doing it. Furthermore, it seems highly unlikely that this is a fraud perpetrated by some extraneous entity. The means of getting to this screen requires you to use built-in screens in the OS to land at a Store page in the Windows Store. Frankly, if someone had infiltrated the OS to this degree, you're probably at risk anyway.
Beyond that, after completing the purchase I can confirm that my legit Windows 10 Core Insider Preview the button changed from a purchase button to an install button and my system was upgraded to Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview as evidenced by now being able to do things such as RDP to my desktop. What is less clear is whether or not these changes will persist beyond the final release. Oddly, I haven't seen a single thread mention that the OS actually DOES get upgraded. I presume because most are simply attempting to activate illegal copies of the OS and are already on the Pro version.
Many are pointing out that all machines still activate with the same key. But I don't think that is important to note. Once again, the pirates wouldn't notice this, while others might, ALL Windows 10 insider preview releases are running generic keys. EVEN the ones issued to devices which came from a genuine Windows 7 or 8.1 license. Not sure what people were expecting here, but I doubt anyone will see anything other than a generic key until after the final version drops.
And this comes back to the question; just how will Microsoft be determining which insiders get a legit copy of Windows 10? As I said before, it wasn't until Windows 8 that OEMs started storing the keys in the BIOS. So, people who built computers or who had Windows 7 OEM machines could easily have lost their keys. I don't really think Microsoft wants to be trying to tell people "If you lost the keys you are screwed, but hey! Thanks for helping test the OS".
Also, while Microsoft may have adjusted their stance on license activation, one things remains. They have never actually, explicitly said how they will verify that an Insider copy of Windows has a legitimate license or not.
In fact, if you look at the updated blog post and read it you'll notice some strange wording choices. Despite being backed into a corner enough to feel forced to alter the post, it still doesn't really explicitly state very much. For instance, if you want to stay in the insider program, it states that it will continue to use a pre-release key, rather than a legit key. This right away explains why even those who purchased the $2 key still have a generic key. It IS that pre-release key. It also implies that a legit key isn't actually needed to stay in the Insider program.
So, if those who upgraded to Pro or activated a pirated copy with this $2 offer then choose to stay in the Slow ring (or Fast) they will actually continue to have a quasi-legitimate Windows 10 copy. And a Pro copy at that. Honestly, if the only caveat is that you need to remain in the Insider Program, that is actually a pretty damn sweet deal. Especially for people who got screwed over and sold a computer with a hacked Windows install. Slow ring seems like a fairly safe balance for those people.
As for those like me who have a legit Core/Home edition and upgraded to Pro? I don't know what will happen if I choose to convert it back to a retail edition of the OS honestly. I'm guessing this whole ordeal IS just a test and that $2 will never actually get processed and if I convert to retail I'll be downgraded to the appropriate version based on my retail key. I hadn't really decided yet what I was going to do.
The reality is, I probably will stay on with the Insider Program. I may opt out long enough to get my key converted. But I generally prefer Pro just for the RDP capabilities and both of my current machines are running Home editions. Needing to stay in the Insider program to save me $200 worth of Pro upgrades for my 2 machines is well worth it. And I imagine that pirates will feel the same regarding the Preview program being an acceptable alternative to paying for a retail copy of the OS.
You may actually find people (enthusiasts) with new, legit PCs switching over to the Insider Program if, after release, it becomes much like the Xbox Preview program where being in the Preview program gets you access to new goodies a month or more ahead of time. "Legitimate" Windows 10 and advanced features for free? Sounds pretty good.
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