Windows keys

[Svtethan]

I’m new to the world of building and just tech related subjects in general. I’m wondering, cause I just built a pc if those 5$ windows keys for pro or home are a scam. Or perhaps I’d need to worry about them in the future. I don’t want to pay the outrageous prices that Microsoft offer for their operating systems.

[C2dan88]

There is no risk of buying those keys they either work or they dont and you waste $5. You cant complain about.

 

if you dont want to take the risk then buy from MS or other reauthorized resellers newegg, amazon, best buy etc the full price.

[tatte]

They're a scam in terms of legality, but you have very little to lose using them. Microsoft isn't going to punish you for them, at most they'll prompt you again to enter a new genuine key. Your data will be safe.

[Curious Pineapple]

I've used a few, one was a blocked volume key, another was a volume that worked and a couple were retail that worked fine.

 

Worst case is that they're stolen or generated keys and eventually someone will pay for it geniunely, call Microsoft after it says it's already in use and MS will deactivate your machine and give the customer a new key.

 

Costs you for another key, thats about it.

[Touch My Hamm]

Where are you finding the keys for $5? Unless its a key you own or one that is purchased through an authorized seller it could lead to trouble. I doubt Microsoft would act on it but in IT its always to be better safe than sorry. Any non authorized sellers like newegg, amazon, bestbuy, etc you do not know where the keys came from which could lead to having a computer key become unusable days/months down the line. When building a computer unless you can reuse your old Keys always factor in the cost of the operating system. 

 

 

[Svtethan]

3 minutes ago, GodSeph said:

Where are you finding the keys for $5? Unless its a key you own or one that is purchased through an authorized seller it could lead to trouble. I doubt Microsoft would act on it but in IT its always to be better safe than sorry. Any non authorized sellers like newegg, amazon, bestbuy, etc you do not know where the keys came from which could lead to having a computer key become unusable days/months down the line. When building a computer unless you can reuse your old Keys always factor in the cost of the operating system. 

 

 

Mostly those unauthorized sellers. I’m just very off put by those big prices and wanted to know another solution to an annoying watermark and a couple of locked features. If need be I’d spend the extra 100 just to be safe than sorry.

[Touch My Hamm]

3 minutes ago, Svtethan said:

Mostly those unauthorized sellers. I’m just very off put by those big prices and wanted to know another solution to an annoying watermark and a couple of locked features. If need be I’d spend the extra 100 just to be safe than sorry.

Using a key that has features locked would block you from having security updates which could leave you vulnerable for known attacks.

There are places to purchase cheap keys but I do not link any. The company that created X product demand X price, you can either buy it for that price or you do not. Nobody is above taking the property of the company for less then what they want to charge for it. 

 

If you have an old computer that you do not use you could re purpose the windows key from that machine as if you get issues you can open a ticket with Microsoft and say you replaced the motherboard and processor and they usually renew the key. 

 

 

[Curious Pineapple]

10 minutes ago, GodSeph said:

Using a key that has features locked would block you from having security updates which could leave you vulnerable for known attacks.

There are places to purchase cheap keys but I do not link any. The company that created X product demand X price, you can either buy it for that price or you do not. Nobody is above taking the property of the company for less then what they want to charge for it. 

 

If you have an old computer that you do not use you could re purpose the windows key from that machine as if you get issues you can open a ticket with Microsoft and say you replaced the motherboard and processor and they usually renew the key. 

 

 

Microsoft provide all updates to unlicensed Windows installations. They just restrict personalisation options and watermark the screen.

[LogicalDrm]

14 hours ago, Svtethan said:

I don’t want to pay the outrageous prices that Microsoft offer for their operating systems.

Those prices have remained same for 10+ years. Only now when license is digital has the grey market taken more space as resellers. If you are willing to pay outrageous prices for RAM, GPUs and software/games you are going to be using, I suggest that you pay that one $150 price for Home version which is good for you for at least next 5 years. Maybe more as Microsoft has yet to announce next OS version. If you calculate, thats $30 per year. You pay much more for games with less playtime or any streaming service yearly. Or GPU which is good for about same timeframe.