Microsoft will not be providing the free
Windows 10 upgrade to owners of pirated operating systems, the software giant has clarified. A blog post by operating systems vice president Terry Myerson doubles back from
earlier comments suggesting users of
pirated software would receive the update, with the affected users now being required to pay for a full Windows license before receiving Windows 10.
The
blog post advises that the offer will apply to "Genuine Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 customers," not pirates. "These customers purchased their Genuine Windows license from our valued OEM partners, which ensures Windows is properly installed, licensed, and not tampered with." These users will be able to perform an in-place upgrade that will be "seamless," regardless of whether it is performed on Windows 7 or later versions.
If Microsoft is unable to verify that the installation of Windows is "properly installed, licensed, and not tampered with," users will see a desktop watermark advising them of this fact. "If you ever encounter this watermark on a new machine, I encourage you to return the device immediately to the retailer from whom you purchased it and request a Genuine Windows device," Myerson urges, citing higher risks of malware and potential performance issues.
Pirates may not be able to upgrade to a Genuine Windows 10 installation without paying, but they may get some help. "In partnership with some of our valued OEM partners, we are planning very attractive Windows 10 upgrade offers for their customers running one of their older devices in a Non-Genuine state," writes Myerson.