Yes, the pre-release of Windows 10 have an expiration date – ZDNet France

Does Panic will seize the prerelease Windows 10 users? One might be tempted to believe. Many French and English websites advertise in a tone sometimes overly alarmist, the impending expiry (immediate) from “builds” of the OS.

In fact, it is even aujourd ‘hui October 15 that multiple pre-release of Windows 10 expire. And not only do they have reached maturity, but the PC and tablets must stop using the boot.

User frozen for months on a test Windows 10

A blow from Microsoft? User held hostage? No, not exaggerate. It is appropriate to relativize. A priori, no users have been taken by surprise. Yes, they can no longer start their machines. But they can not say they did not know.

The principle expiration “Technical Preview” does not emerge from limbo. It was defined from the start. A table also summarizes for each of the builds associated deadlines. On October 15, the expiry thus relates to prerelease 9926 to 10166.

However, note that the last, the build 10166, dates back to July 9. That is to say that users who are concerned have not been updates since, at the earliest date, and therefore since the release of the final version of Windows 10.

The rules of Microsoft were clear on this point. Members of Windows Insider test program can remain free under Windows 10 provided to install new Builds As. If they wish to leave the program, they must switch back to their previous OS – then possibly migrate to Windows 10.

Alerts on the screen for several weeks

Finally, users affected by this information can not be found overnight facing a black screen. Indeed, they received directly on the Windows desktop 10 messages warning them of the expiration of the versions they use.

A terminal still under the build 10166, which can be traced back to early July, displays alerts on the screen since September 17. The termination became effective on 1 October. The inability to start is enabled from October 15. Clearly, a user is warned of this risk in a month.

And if he had a genuine Windows license, it will return to the OS that previously used . In short, this is not a cataclysm. And Microsoft is merely applying known rules from the start

Recall further that the migration to Windows 10 is free for individuals since July 29, under certain conditions, however. Have a genuine license of Windows 7 or 8.x Remaining in the Windows Insider program, the user continues to benefit from the OS.