Skip to main content

Microsoft to offer an ‘attractive’ Windows 10 upgrade to ‘non-genuine’ users

windows 10, microsoft, computing
Microsoft PR
As the old piracy motto goes, why buy it if you can get it for free? While the potential for jail time is one big reason, that isn’t always enough to make pirates think twice. Now, Microsoft hopes to win over some of these individuals in time for the release of Windows 10 this summer, according to PCGamer.com.

In an update posted to the Windows blog on May 15, Microsoft’s Terry Myerson wrote that the company will be releasing a “very attractive” Windows 10 upgrade offer to those running older devices in a “non-genuine” state. However, Myerson specified that a free upgrade will not be available on non-genuine Windows devices. He would not provide any more specifics at this point in time.

Non-genuine (or pirated) versions of Windows have a high risk of malware, fraud and exposure of private information, and Myerson reminded readers that Microsoft does not support pirated versions of the operating system.

“When we can’t verify that Windows is properly installed, licensed, and not tampered with, we create a desktop watermark to notify the user,” Myerson wrote. “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.”

On the official Microsoft website, the company encourages its customers to return any pirated software they may have accidentally purchased unlawfully and ask for a refund. In the event that a vendor won’t refund you, Microsoft suggests reporting the individual to the Consumer Affairs Office and the Better Business Bureau.

A survey of 15,000 people from 33 countries around the world found that 57 percent of computer users pirate software, according to The Huffington Post. About 5 percent of computer users say they’ve “always” pirated their software, highlighting the severity of the problem. Time will tell how many of these users Microsoft will be able to coax into compliance.

Krystle Vermes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in both online and print journalism. Her…
Microsoft is hindering Windows 11 on custom-built PCs
RTX 3090 installed inside a gaming PC.

I had an issue with my PC over the weekend. At some point, I noticed a bit of text in the bottom-right corner of my monitor that said: "System requirements not met. Go to Settings to learn more." Deep in raids in Destiny 2, I ignored the message, assuming it was related to Wallpaper Engine or one of the dozen other apps running in the background on my PC at any given time.

On Monday morning, I found out that this message comes from Microsoft on PCs running an unsupported Windows 11 install. But that's the problem -- my PC supports Windows 11.

Read more
This Windows 11 memory bug is exactly why I’m waiting to upgrade
A person using a laptop that is running Windows 11.

Windows 11 might have a memory leak problem. As various Windows Insiders have pointed out, the Windows 11 File Explorer seems to hog memory even after it's closed, slowly building a reserve of RAM that it's not using. After installing Windows 11 to give the release version a shot, I had to see if the problem was still present.

It seems like it is. I was able to reproduce the issue several times, always falling around the same utilization mark. There's a little more to the story, though. Windows 11 could have a memory leak problem, but it looks like Windows 10 does, too.
What even is a memory leak?

Read more
Windows 11 compatibility waiver warns of ‘damages’ that Microsoft could prevent
Unsupported Windows 11 waiver.

The Windows 11 launch is right around the corner. Devices featuring the new operating system are set to launch on October 5, and Microsoft is offering Insiders the opportunity to download and use the OS now.

If you have an unsupported processor, though, you'll need to sign a waiver accepting any possible "damages" to your PC -- but the real risk is the lack of updates.

Read more