The discontinuation of the free migration program from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 seems to cause some collateral damage. In fact, several Windows 10 users who have benefited from Microsoft’s program are experiencing activation issues after updating the motherboard BIOS or their hardware.
When we equipped our graphics card and processor test bench with a new mainboard, we faced the same problem and were immediately forced to buy an activation key.
A complaint filed with the FTC
Several users quoted by our colleagues at The Verge encountered the same activation denial and even urged one of them to file a complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), the American competition regulator, in the United States.
Bill Babonas, principal program manager at Microsoft, says the Seattle company is aware of user complaints and is investigating the matter. It encourages users with activation issues to contact Microsoft customer support.
With the termination of the migration program from Windows 7 and 8 to Windows 10, Microsoft apparently did not anticipate that users who benefited from the program may have to reactivate their hardware. It might be time for the company to review its operating system’s economic model and terms of service, for example with Windows 12.
Originally posted 2023-11-16 10:24:24.