Microsoft tinkers with process of upgrading to Windows 10

Note that a lot of people have set “Recommended” updates to automatically download and install, which can be a problem for metered connections and those that do not want to upgrade to Windows 10. But Microsoft doesn’t explain what will happen with the Windows 10 prompt on machines that have not upgraded to Windows 10 and don’t qualify for a free update anymore.

Come the beginning of 2016, Microsoft will get much more assertive in distributing Windows 10 upgrades to consumers and small businesses, the company’s top OS executive said Thursday.

Microsoft has previously stated an ambition to get one billion devices across the globe running Windows 10 within two years of the operating system’s release. He said “starting next month, Microsoft will take a first stab” at providing more documentation to both consumers and business users about what the company is delivering with each new update for Windows 10. Now, when you make a reservation for Windows 10, it will be immediately available to you. That means that Windows 10 will download in the background (if it hasn’t already) and initiate the installation process the next time your computer performs automatic updates.

Soon, Microsoft says that Windows 10 upgrade will surface in Windows Update as an “Optional Update” for users with Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. Early next year, Windows 10 will become a “recommended update”, which, depending on a user’s settings, will automatically begin the download.

This is because Microsoft will soon add the Windows 10 Upgrade option to the system update feature of those earlier operating systems, and then at a few point next year change its status from “Optional” to “Recommended” (via Engadget).

Microsoft also is simplifying the way that users with “Non-Genuine” copies of Windows will be able to true up and get Genuine copies.

If those who do proceed with the installation of the new OS are not happy with it, they have a 31 day window in which they can revert to their old version. Non-genuine means that Microsoft wasn’t paid for it. Either it was pirated, stolen or just hasn’t gone through the right activation process. At last count, Microsoft reported that there were 110 million devices running Windows 10, due in large part to the free upgrade program the company kicked off on July 29.

Compared with the growth of Windows 7 and 8, these numbers are impressive, and they arguably contradict the narrative that consumers are no longer interested in PCs.

“We’d like to welcome as many of these customers as possible to the legitimate Windows ecosystem”, Microsoft’s Terry Myerson said in a blog post Thursday afternoon.