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If you have Windows 7 or 8.1, you may see an icon on your toolbar allowing you to reserve a spot for upgrading. Windows Blog

Reserved a copy of Windows 10? You might not get it on the release date

Microsoft is releasing the update in phases, starting off with those involved with its Windows Insider programme.

THE NEXT VERSION of Windows will arrive on the 29th July, but you may have to wait a little longer before you get your hands on it.

Microsoft announced it will be rolling out Windows 10 Home and Pro in phases as a way of coping with demand.

The first users to get it will be those involved with Windows Insider, a programme which allows people to test out the beta version of Windows 10 and highlighting bugs and problems that may emerge. Currently, there are five million people signed up to this.

After that, it will be rolled out to those who reserved a place on the waiting list (the easiest way to do this is to check your toolbar for a Windows icon), where Microsoft will be “slowly scaling up” the number of people who have access to the upgrade.

What that means is even if you are on the waiting list, you could be waiting a few more days before you get the chance to download it, and even longer if you’re not.

Before the upgrade arrives, it will soon give a build of Windows 10 to manufacturers so they can include it with new devices. Retailers will also get a build which will allow them to upgrade devices that originally ran with Windows 8.1.

Upgrading to Windows 10 is free for the first year and is available to those who have devices running Windows 7 or 8.1. According to Microsoft, the majority of Windows 7 and 8 devices are compatible with the new update.

Read: Here’s what you need to know about Windows 10 before it arrives* >

Read: Google apologises after app mistakenly tags black people as ‘Gorillas’ >

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39 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Northern Craic
    Favourite Northern Craic
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 4:45 PM

    If I get it for free I’ll not be complaining when I get it as long as it works and doesn’t feck up my computer.

    102
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trish Prendiville
    Favourite Trish Prendiville
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 4:50 PM

    I have reserved a copy, but am dubious about downloading it……..all I can think is Vista!?

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Northern Craic
    Favourite Northern Craic
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 4:52 PM

    There’s a chance it might install itself

    33
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fozz
    Favourite Fozz
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 4:57 PM

    It won’t install itself without your accepting the t&c’s etc and this is not gonna be a Vista. All info out thus far is positive.

    54
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Guy Incognito
    Favourite Guy Incognito
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 5:04 PM

    I’ve been running the preview for a while now, and I can assure you that this is the Windows 7 to 8.1′s Vista.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trish Prendiville
    Favourite Trish Prendiville
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 5:08 PM

    @Fozz I’m sure it will be fine…..just a niggly thought in the back of my brain

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Trish Prendiville
    Favourite Trish Prendiville
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 5:11 PM

    @Guy – well that’s good news; thanks!

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Railton
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 6:59 PM

    @Trish, going on the MS release cycles alone this is set to be a good OS. I’ve been beta testing it on and off and I’m pretty happy with it, prefer it over windows 7 which I loved. I also tend to be extremely critical of operating systems etc due to my line of work (programmer)

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darren Mulligan
    Favourite Darren Mulligan
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 7:08 PM

    I have been using it since January and its great it’s a nicer looking and much faster windows 7 basically with a little of 8 thrown in so don’t worry about downloading

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Itsthe Law
    Favourite Itsthe Law
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 8:46 PM

    Always keep a pc with Xp for backup

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cram Wood
    Favourite Cram Wood
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 10:15 PM

    If you have reserved a copy, it will automatically download it’s self.
    There is no escape, you are fecked.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Meagher
    Favourite Dave Meagher
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 10:07 AM

    Nothing wrong with windows 8, 3mb file and bingo you have windows 7. Since running windows 8, I have not had a single issue on the two PC’s I have built since 20212, it’s very stable.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bill Rabbitte
    Favourite Bill Rabbitte
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 5:56 PM

    free for a year…what happens after the year?

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute little jim
    Favourite little jim
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 6:47 PM

    It’s not free.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brendan Hughes
    Favourite Brendan Hughes
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 6:49 PM

    No no. Its freely available for the first year. If you miss the 12 month window its 100 dollars for the basic version. But if you get it within the timeframe ifs free to keep no charge. Unless you upgrade to win 10 pro . Business or educate.

    30
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    Mute Sean D
    Favourite Sean D
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 6:49 PM

    Then it won’t be free I would suspect.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rod_TenⒸ
    Favourite Rod_TenⒸ
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 4:57 PM

    It’s going to be a pain when it fails and needs be reinstalled with no disks.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin C
    Favourite Colin C
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 5:11 PM

    Disks went out with the ark. Now you’re missing discs.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Cummins
    Favourite Robert Cummins
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 9:54 PM

    most new laptop’s don’t even have cd drives.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rusty3578 ^
    Favourite Rusty3578 ^
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 7:51 PM

    I’m happy with windows 7 anyways :)

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Jones
    Favourite Chris Jones
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 6:30 PM

    Get Linux. It’s faster than Windows and everything is free.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam McCormack
    Favourite Sam McCormack
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 11:34 PM

    But its shite.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Jones
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    Jul 3rd 2015, 2:55 AM

    Says the guy who’s obviously never used it.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall Lonergan
    Favourite Niall Lonergan
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 5:10 PM

    And here we were thinking they were turning a new leaf. Usual Microsoft.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sam McCormack
    Favourite Sam McCormack
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 5:35 PM

    How dare they give us a slightly delayed *free* upgrade!

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 9:01 PM

    Wtf are you talking about haha

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tap Solny
    Favourite Tap Solny
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 7:34 PM

    Apple.

    5
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    Mute Alan Lawlor
    Favourite Alan Lawlor
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 8:13 PM

    Orange?

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Lawlor
    Favourite Alan Lawlor
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 8:13 PM

    Banana?

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Montgomery
    Favourite Montgomery
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 7:05 PM

    I got a message saying I’m getting this free. Surely there’s some sort of a catch?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darragh O Meara
    Favourite Darragh O Meara
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 7:22 PM

    Free until the next version of Windows 10 comes out, then you’ll have to pay.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmuid O'Meara
    Favourite Diarmuid O'Meara
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 11:28 PM

    Windows 10 will be the last major iteration of Windows. If you upgrade within the first year you get it free. If you upgrade more than a year after it is released you pay for it.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Hall
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 8:12 PM

    The article says it’s free for the first year..and thereafter?? Not upgrading just so I can pay for it next year…

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dubby Tom
    Favourite Dubby Tom
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    Jul 2nd 2015, 6:27 PM

    Does free for one year mean ‘ you get it free for one year, after that you will have to buy a copy, or after one year you will be charged for the copy you have. I assume Microsoft have the ability to remotely switch off an o’s if the want? ?

    1
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