Microsoft could end the free upgrade by either patching the Windows Installation Media so it rejects Windows 7 OEM keys and Windows 8.x OEM keys however this would likely lead to a rise in the number of technical support calls as end users install the wrong Edition of Windows 10 and have to call Microsoft for support (opposed to just inputting their Windows 7 OEM key manually or inputting the Windows 8.x OEM key automatically). While Microsoft continued to heavily market the 1 year free upgrade deadline in a move to entice as many people to upgrade as soon as possible I suspected that Windows 7 and Windows 8.x keys were so embedded as part of Windows 10's installation and activation mechanisms that the free upgrade would continue indefinitely. Windows 10 RS2 will ask for a Product Key and accept the Windows 7 OEM key on the COA when it is manually input: Windows 10 RS2 Installation Media is multi-Edition and should automatically input the SLP key from the MSDM for all the following OEM licenses: Following my advice (and the advice of numerous others) Microsoft made Windows 7 and Windows 8.x keys compatible with Windows 10 build 10586 installation media. This Activation Mechanism as I highlighted in the Windows Insider Program caused a lot of unnecessary grievances.
The initial release of Windows 10 build 10240 was however Upgrade only. Why Product Activation Should Still Work After 1 Year
All the activation mechanisms have been tested on the using Windows 10 RS3 Version 1709 (Build 16299). In practice Windows 7 and Windows 8.x keys still act as Windows 10 keys.
Theoretically the Free Upgrade should have ended on the 29th of July 2016 which has long passed.
Microsoft made it known that Windows 10 would be a Free Upgrade for those who took advantage of the Free Upgrade within the first year of release. Windows 10 was released on the 29th of July 2015. All the activation mechanisms have been retested on the using Windows 10 RS3 Version 1709 (Build 16299).
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