PC with illegal Windows is still illegal after Windows 10 update

Microsoft has revealed more details about its plan to also offer Windows 10 as an update to users with a pirated version of Windows 7 or 8.1. After the update, Microsoft will still mark the Windows installation as illegal.

This prevents users from ‘laundering’ PCs by updating to Windows 10 in due course, according to a statement from Microsoft to Ars Technica. “If a device was considered non-legal before the update, that device will continue to be considered non-legal after the update.” Microsoft released the news about the updates on Wednesday.

Microsoft says it wants to update illegal Windows installations to ensure that people with illegal Windows versions also have “the best possible experience”. Presumably, after the update, they also want to persuade people to buy a license in some way.

If many people upgrade with a pirated version of Windows, the move will at least prevent Windows 7 from becoming the next Windows XP. That version of the operating system is still in use in many places, even after Microsoft ended support.