Has anybody seen that on some of LTT's pc's, Windows 10 isn't activated and why?

[Dogmander25]

Has anybody seen that on some of LTT's pc's, Windows 10 isn't activated and why? Just take a look at some of their videos on pc's.

[Phate.exe]

If I had to guess, they've got a couple of SSD's ready to go with Win10 already installed on them.  When Windows detects a significant hardware change, it de-activates.  Things that it doesn't care about:  Swapping out/adding more ram, swapping out the GPU, adding drives.  Things that it very much cares about:  Swapping out a processor or motherboard, and usually any change to the boot drive.

[GBELILREESE]

THE MAC CONSPIRACY IS CONFIRMED!!!!!!! 

 

 

 

[idontknowwhy]

probably because they dont want to pay $100 for every video so they keep ssds with windows on them and just run it with deactivated windows for benchmarks. if it is a personal rig video then i would assume they activate windows as they plan on using the pc often after the video. 

[Lurick]

You have 30 days from the install of windows to activate it.

Much easier to blast it away and reinstall each video that pay for activation everything the hardware changes  

[DildorTheDecent]

There's not really much point activating Windows on a test bench. 

[AshleyAshes]

A lot of the PCs seen in LTT don't exist for long.  They build them, they do the video, they disassemble them and the parts are used elsewhere.  I wouldn't be surprised if LTT has enough actual license keys in the office for the current number of builds operational, but with how activation works, it'd a big time sink to ACTUALLY update the the activation for each arrangement of hardware that is built on a deadline and short lived.

[Tsuki]

cuz hes not going to pay for a windows license for every single build that he's just going to scrap in 2 weeks

[TheGleaner]

7 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

A lot of the PCs seen in LTT don't exist for long.  They build them, they do the video, they disassemble them and the parts are used elsewhere.  I wouldn't be surprised if LTT has enough actual license keys in the office for the current number of builds operational, but with how activation works, it'd a big time sink to ACTUALLY update the the activation for each arrangement of hardware that is built on a deadline and short lived.

In a wan show Linus did say that he/lmg bought enough licences in case "someone" comes in then they can say "here are the licences"

[demonix00]

On 08/08/2017 at 10:43 PM, Lurick said:

You have 30 days from the install of windows to activate it.

Much easier to blast it away and reinstall each video that pay for activation everything the hardware changes  

Windows 10 can be used without activating it indefinitely since only one item is locked out (that being customisation) and MS is still making money from those installs from all the telemetry they're harvesting and selling on to whomever will pay good money for it.

[Lurick]

Just now, demonix00 said:

Windows 10 can be used without activating it indefinitely since only one item is locked out (that being customisation) and MS is still making money from those installs from all the telemetry they're harvesting and selling on to whomever will pay good money for it.

It can be used indefinitely but I think (could be wrong) you get a grace period without the activation background and whatnot. Maybe it's 3 days and not 30

[rn8686]

I think they explain on the WAN show once, they have to keep calling up MS to get it activated which is pointless given that they will have to disassemble it again shortly after. 

[Donut417]

On 8/8/2017 at 5:15 PM, Dogmander25 said:

Has anybody seen that on some of LTT's pc's, Windows 10 isn't activated and why? Just take a look at some of their videos on pc's.

Its because they are always changing hardware. Windows does not like it when you change it ton of hardware. Remember on test benches and such they are testing hardware all the time, plus when they do builds and shit, they tear it down later. I doubt they actually even activate Windows when they do a non permanent build. 

[Kamina]

Clean install for benchmarking.

[MartyT]

Don't know about Canadian Law, but in the States under Microsoft Trial Licencing you are allowed to have "Test Rigs." This is even true if you are testing out a config in your company's IT Department. You just can't permanently install on your Production Servers/Client machines. You can also use this for the purpose of setting up different configs in your own Learning Lab. Of course time limitations do apply to each setup. 

[SCHISCHKA]

It is because they are too cheap to buy a MSDN subscription and because they are not knowledgeable of what they should be paying for.

[Zodiark1593]

On 8/9/2017 at 3:32 PM, Lurick said:

It can be used indefinitely but I think (could be wrong) you get a grace period without the activation background and whatnot. Maybe it's 3 days and not 30

If I recall correctly, there is also a readily available means of bypassing the background lock. Perhaps I'll test it and report back.

 

Edit: the customization menu is disabled but simply right clicking a picture and selecting Use As Desktop Background will change the background without complaint. Since no crack or third party software was involved, I feel I'm not breaking any rules by posting this.

[dewuevnoc]

FWIW I actually couldn't even activate a W10 Key I've had for several years now (an upgraded 8.1 key actually) when I tried using it for my now new rig.

 

I was told that I would have to buy a new key, that I had reached the 'maximum number of installs' on new hardware(I had to reinstall on my iMac.. a lot) and that I would suddenly have to go about installing it as 8.1 first then 'upgrade' to W10.

 

It felt like a BS answer at the time but, I had 4-5 other key's I've collected over the years so I just gave up at that point. 

 

In other words at some point their activation servers probably flag the keys as likely stolen and it would be a lot of hassell to try to activate it with no benefit otherwise.