Buying Windows

[tofuwannabe]

I need a version of W10 to install on a new build. Where should I be buying from? Obviously I can spend the £70 or whatever and do it officially but theres cheaper keys on amazon and even ebay, but they all seem slightly dodgey. Is it even legal to buy windows like that?

 

- should I buy windows cheap, or spend the full amount?

[191x7]

You can go cheap and get the key on eBay. Or some key selling site like G2A, Kinguin, HRK-game, g2play, etc.

If a key activates Windows without any issues, it's a legal key.

[goto10]

the unoficial official information about keys sold by scdkey and similar sites is that those are cheap oem keys meant to be sold on markets where the cost of such keys is appropiate, supposedly tjose keys should not be sold online outside the countries where that price is correct, but it seems that the keys are not only valid but tehcnically legal

 

those sold on ebay no idea, if you see someone selling old win 7 keys, those can be used to activate windows 10, but yes, you could get a key that ends not working after a couple months, so buy on a site where you can get your money back if the key all of a sudden stops working

 

also you can run windows 10 without a license, you get a nice watermark on the screen telling you to buy a license untill you buy a license

[Churl]

3 hours ago, tofuwannabe said:

cheaper keys on amazon and even ebay

I've gotten them from web sites like scdkey and ebay without problem.

[SupaKomputa]

News to you: Windows 10 doesn't need to be activated.

 

What you'll loose without activation? Personalization and watermark. If you like to personalize the looks, like change color or the wallpaper, yeah, you should activate. And also the nagging "please activate" watermark. Eveything else should be working like the normal one, including updates.

 

So about the grey market (ebay) CD key. Often times the cd key are for OEM / Volume based activation.

They will also work, no problem. Even if it doesn't you can just try another seller.

 

 

[SuperCloneRanger]

I also recommend scdkey i've had over 10 keys off them and have never had one go bad.

 

win 10 home

https://www.scdkey.com/software/win-pc-10-home-oem_1379-20.html

 

win 10 pro

https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-oem-cd-key-global_1227-20.html

[Random_User]

Do you have any real old laptops laying around that you don't use or know someone who might? There's a good chance you don't need to spend anything. I just built a PC and grabbed a key off of the back of some decade old laptop that doesn't work anymore that I forgot I had and it worked fine :')

[homeap5]

I still don't understand - discussing about piracy is bad, but discussing about breaking eula by using not activated Windows is not? Or suggesting to find "magically" serial on old laptop? This is all piracy.

 

I think this forum should not block discussion at all - imo "oldschool piracy" (activators, cracks, whatever) is better than pretend that used keys or using not activated system is somehow different and ok. Want to be a pirate? Buy some parrot, wooden leg and crack everything. Want to be legal? Buy license.

[goto10]

who said something about pirated stuff?

 

we are talking about new licenses, about old licenses, if windows servers allow the activation, then it is ok for them, otherwise alot of people who migrated from win7 to win 10 would have the activate windows watermark

 

about those keygens and activators, no one is talking about that and is asking for problems when you run those, so dont even mention them

[homeap5]

Windows activation server is not proof that you system is legal. I'm not recommending any activators, I'm just saying they are the same piracy as using not activated Windows. It's against eula. If anyone read it.

[goto10]

12 minutes ago, homeap5 said:

Windows activation server is not proof that you system is legal. I'm not recommending any activators, I'm just saying they are the same piracy as using not activated Windows. It's against eula. If anyone read it.

well, who has the last word is microsoft there, if it was for them, you cant reuse old keys ever, so buy one on their store at the price they want and thats it

 

in the end, if license is activated and microsoft doesnt complain, that is what the end user sees, there is so many detials about licenses that fee microsoft employees understand, if you ask them, all you can do is buy the license from the store and nothing more

 

peace of mind comes from their store, the rest depends on users having good experiences and a purchase supported by a store, if key stops working, you should ask for a full money refund, so buy the license key on a site that supports the buyer completelly

[Joluch]

Interestingly, LTT posted a video about this topic not long ago. 

Instead of engaging in those dodgy deals, see if there are any discounts that Microsoft may provide through organizations, schools, or even place of employment that you belong to. It's not universal, but many schools and some professional organizations have agreements with Microsoft to provide their students, members, or staff with discounted licenses. I've encountered people getting their discounts on software from Microsoft through their school as a student, as an alumni after they graduated, through their professional association (Nurse's Union), and work (Charity organization). You can usually check with your school, work or organization's IT, or the treasurer if there is no IT. It doesn't hurt to ask, if it can give you more (legal) options.

Cheers and good luck with Boris.

[Ravenbear]

I have bought all mine plus a couple of extra off eBay, have had no issues with them.

[Donut417]

On 7/25/2019 at 1:00 AM, tofuwannabe said:

I need a version of W10 to install on a new build. Where should I be buying from? Obviously I can spend the £70 or whatever and do it officially but theres cheaper keys on amazon and even ebay, but they all seem slightly dodgey. Is it even legal to buy windows like that?

 

- should I buy windows cheap, or spend the full amount?

I know I have seen OEM Windows keys for like $80 USD, I would look in to those. The only downside to OEM is the key is locked to that motherboard. So you cant transfer it to a new system. However, I have heard cases where the Microsoft Gods have shown pitty on some and have transferred the key. 

[homeap5]

8 hours ago, Donut417 said:

I know I have seen OEM Windows keys for like $80 USD, I would look in to those. The only downside to OEM is the key is locked to that motherboard. So you cant transfer it to a new system. However, I have heard cases where the Microsoft Gods have shown pitty on some and have transferred the key. 

It's no longer tied to motherboard. Or at least don't must be. Update your informations, there was few topics about it on this forum.

[Donut417]

4 hours ago, homeap5 said:

It's no longer tied to motherboard. Or at least don't must be. Update your informations, there was few topics about it on this forum.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

 

You might want to check your information. Microsoft says Windows installs are tied to the motherboard. OEM copies are tied to the first computer you install on, if you change the motherboard Microsoft considers that a new computer. Been this way since Microsoft started product activation. 

[goto10]

1 hour ago, Donut417 said:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

 

You might want to check your information. Microsoft says Windows installs are tied to the motherboard. OEM copies are tied to the first computer you install on, if you change the motherboard Microsoft considers that a new computer. Been this way since Microsoft started product activation. 

this is correct, however, if you call support, they might allow you the hardware change if you claim that you made a motherboard change under warranty, i heard people that they claim ram or gpu changes and they allow the reactivation, no matter how much hardware you changed

 

i wish microsoft stopped selling those licenses, they should give them for free, so all this license nigthmare would go away, have to keep up with the details of the licenses, conditions and costs involved, they should just give them for free, most of us just use windows for go online and for games

 

very few of us get any money from using windows, is not like we are on a enterprise network or something like that generating millions of dollars per month

[homeap5]

@Donut417:

 

My OEM was reactivated without problem after I changed motherboard, cpu, ram etc.

Linking local account to microsoft account is the key here - and your copy of Windows is no longer linked to hardware, but to user.

 

Your link was ok, but you need to read it more carefully. OEM after install is tied to your motherboard, until you change it to Microsoft Account.

 

[Donut417]

3 hours ago, goto10 said:

this is correct, however, if you call support, they might allow you the hardware change if you claim that you made a motherboard change under warranty, i heard people that they claim ram or gpu changes and they allow the reactivation, no matter how much hardware you changed

 

i wish microsoft stopped selling those licenses, they should give them for free, so all this license nigthmare would go away, have to keep up with the details of the licenses, conditions and costs involved, they should just give them for free, most of us just use windows for go online and for games

 

very few of us get any money from using windows, is not like we are on a enterprise network or something like that generating millions of dollars per month

OEM licenses are not supposed to be sold to consumers. They are for system builders like Dell. But retailers decided to sell them regardless. Because OEM copies have no technical support from Microsoft. Though who the fuck calls Microsoft for technical assistance? 

[goto10]

16 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

OEM licenses are not supposed to be sold to consumers. They are for system builders like Dell. But retailers decided to sell them regardless. Because OEM copies have no technical support from Microsoft. Though who the fuck calls Microsoft for technical assistance? 

i call microsoft when a license refuses to activate, or when i am trying to migrate a pc from win 8 to win 10 and pc refuses to activate, also when i have problems with outlook mail, sometimes you end up calling them, and they do help! 

[Donut417]

1 hour ago, goto10 said:

i call microsoft when a license refuses to activate, or when i am trying to migrate a pc from win 8 to win 10 and pc refuses to activate, also when i have problems with outlook mail, sometimes you end up calling them, and they do help! 

They don’t have to. I called Microsoft with an issue with internet explorer. They asked for the product key and due to the fact it was an OEM key they nicely told me to fuck off. Thought that was back in the day. They are treating Windows 10 different most likely due to the loss of total market share ( going from 96% to like 88%) and they want people to be happy with Windows 10, as it did not have a warm reception when it first came out. 

[homeap5]

2 hours ago, Donut417 said:

OEM licenses are not supposed to be sold to consumers. They are for system builders like Dell. But retailers decided to sell them regardless. Because OEM copies have no technical support from Microsoft. Though who the fuck calls Microsoft for technical assistance? 

Not really. If you buy computer parts and made your own computer, you're system builder. That is why you can buy boxed oem Windows in shops that are official Microsoft partners.