# The Windows 10 free upgrade thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 1, 2015, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329 "2015-06-01T13:02:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 9
### Author:  [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/162 "2015-08-18T23:54:37Z")
I have a question sort-of related to Windows 10. I can’t remember if it was this thread or somewhere else that I posted I’m getting hard drive failure warnings on my Win 7 laptop. Everything is now panic-backed-up and a new hard drive is arriving tomorrow. I’m lucky I was able to back up because I’ve been a slacker on that for too long.
Anyway, since everything will be wiped anyway I’d like to do a clean install of Windows 10. However, from what I’ve read I have to install Windows 7, then upgrade to Windows 10, at which point I’ll have the product key for the upgrade and can actually install the clean version.
I have two questions and would appreciate insights into these scenarios:
1. Is it worth the hassle to do a clean install of 10? I won’t have any crap on 7 since it will be a new installation.
2. Is there anywhere I can download Windows 7 since I already have a product key? I have the emergency backup on DVDs, but I’ve had bad luck with DVD backups in the last year and have learned my lesson the hard way. I’m preparing myself for them to not work. I also wouldn’t mind having a version without the added bloatware. I suspect I may end up buying it.
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/163 "2015-08-19T00:14:26Z")
[quote=“ftg, post:129, topic:721329”]
Free! Woo-hoo. Free? Um, free???
The original [cartoon](http://geekandpoke.typepad.com/geekandpoke/2010/12/the-free-model.html).
The related
> [@](#):
>
> ([User-driven discontent | MetaFilter](http://www.metafilter.com/95152/Userdriven-discontent#32560467)): “If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold.”
>
> The ensuing [cartoon](http://www.brucebnews.com/2011/09/you-are-not-the-customer/).
>
> It’s amazing how many settings you have to go thru to turn off _some_ of the privacy mining stuff, and even then they are [still tracking you](http://yro.slashdot.org/story/15/08/14/1756220/windows-10-still-phones-home-with-data-in-spite-of-privacy-settings).
>
> Free? Right.
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#):
>
> This.
> Still waiting.
Yeah it’s pretty fucked up. I’m surprised there hasn’t been more fuss about it, but also not so surprised.
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2015, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/164 "2015-08-19T21:44:23Z")
> [@Ruken](#):
>
> Yeah it’s pretty fucked up. I’m surprised there hasn’t been more fuss about it, but also not so surprised.
I suspect that several tech sites have been financially greased by Microsoft to stay mum.
That will destroy them, in the end.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2015, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/165 "2015-08-19T23:20:01Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#):
>
> I suspect that several tech sites have been financially greased by Microsoft to stay mum.
>
> That will destroy them, in the end.
Microsoft or the tech sites?
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2015, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-windows-10-free-upgrade-thread/721329/166 "2015-08-20T21:53:48Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#):
>
> Microsoft or the tech sites?
Sadly, only the tech sites.☹
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