Source claims that a fresh install will be required

Sep 30, 2014 13:54 GMT  ·  By

While Microsoft is expected to share more information on Windows 9 preview later today, the first public build of the operating system should see daylight in early October, thus giving everyone a chance to try out what’s new on the platform.

There’s no doubt that millions of users across the world will download this preview version of Windows 9 simply because they’re curious to see the changes that Microsoft made to the operating system, but there’s one thing that everyone should take into account when deciding to run it on a regular basis.

Microsoft won’t allow those who install Windows 9 preview to upgrade to the stable build directly when it comes out, so a fresh install will be required at that point.

The information comes via Russian Windows leaker WZor, who also claims that an installation from scratch will be required to all user categories installing the preview.

Direct upgrade for Windows 8.1 could be offered

What’s really interesting is that even though users might have to install Windows 9 from scratch when it becomes available, Windows 8.1 customers might be provided with a direct upgrade method that would bring the operating system on their PCs all automatically.

The reason is that Microsoft reportedly wants to make Windows 9 free for Windows 8.1 users, thus boosting adoption of the new operating system and encouraging more customers to upgrade from the heavily criticized platform.

Users running Windows 8.1 and planning to install Windows 9 preview are obviously recommended to make a backup of their existing installation, thus being able to upgrade automatically when the stable version of the next operating system becomes available.

Cheap upgrades for Windows 7 users

While Windows 8.1 users could get Windows 9 for free, the word is that Microsoft might actually provide a very affordable way for Windows 7 users to move to the new OS too.

The same aforementioned source has recently revealed that the company is thinking about offering an upgrade for Windows 7 users, that would cost somewhere around $30 (€23), again in an attempt to bring more customers to its newly released platform, but also to speed up the demise of older operating system.

All these details are yet to be confirmed by Microsoft itself, but there’s no doubt that special price cuts and promos will be offered once Windows 9 comes out.

According to people close to the matter, Windows 9 is expected to hit the shelves in stable form in April 2015, approximately one year after the release of Windows 8.1 Update.