Why would my laptop be eligible for a free windows 10 upgrade if it wasn't compatible?
Good question. You will run around in circles, trying to get a positive answer, but, as I understand it, the so.called check, which is offered, merely checks your computer for the minimum requirements. You probably know these:
You must be running the latest version of either Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 Update.
1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor
1 gigabyte (GB) for 32-bit or 2 GB for 64-bit
16 GB for 32-bit OS 20 GB for 64-bit OS
DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver 800x600
But, Quote from the MS recommendations:
"The upgradeability of a device includes factors beyond the system specification. This includes driver and firmware support, application compatibility and feature support, regardless of whether or not the device meets the minimum system specification for Windows 10"
I would interpret this as meaning that, although a computer may meet those minimum requirements, it may not have some of the necessary hardware, or planned upgrades, to run Windows 10. This is a bad feature and, I would say, one of the main reasons that forums such as these are receiving requests for help with failed installations.
The ordinary user, does not read the entire smallprint in any instructions or documentation, but, for what it's worth, Microsoft do, in the compatibility test, recommend that a check is made with the computer/harware manufacturers for added compatibility now and in the future, of there products.
Domestically, I run all Dell computers. Two of my Laptops are not, according to Dell's homepage, supported in terms of hardware. Bothe run Windows 10 100%