Unlicensed Windows 8.1 to 10

[ANTHEMBUILDS]

Hey,

 

It's literally day 1 for me here so hello! 

 

So my neighbors stuck me with a laptop because they want to upgrade it from windows 8.1 to windows 10. Now, I see its an UNLICENSED version and they don't have the product keys anymore. Note, my neighbors are a group of old ladies who aren't much into tech. I'm also just learning about this stuff as well. So my question is, how do I go about doing this? Is it even possible to upgrade from an unlicensed copy?

 

Thanks!

[AMD A10-9600P]

Just now, ANTHEMBUILDS said:

Hey,

 

It's literally day 1 for me here so hello! 

 

So my neighbors stuck me with a laptop because they want to upgrade it from windows 8.1 to windows 10. Now, I see its an UNLICENSED version and they don't have the product keys anymore. Note, my neighbors are a group of old ladies who aren't much into tech. I'm also just learning about this stuff as well. So my question is, how do I go about doing this? Is it even possible to upgrade from an unlicensed copy?

 

Thanks!

It's possible to download the ISO from Microsoft for Windows 10 and install without having to pay a penny. You'll just have an annoying watermark in the bottom right and lose the ability to use personalisation.

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

[Nine Tailed Fox]

Just get a key from a cdkey store for like $10 or something

[TetraSky]

If they are willing to pay a couple bucks, you could get a key from Ebay. Last I checked it was like $2.

 

As for the key, this is a laptop, correct? Usually, the key should either be on the laptop itself or in the BIOS of the laptop.

[SansVarnic]

7 hours ago, ANTHEMBUILDS said:

Hey,

 

It's literally day 1 for me here so hello! 

 

So my neighbors stuck me with a laptop because they want to upgrade it from windows 8.1 to windows 10. Now, I see its an UNLICENSED version and they don't have the product keys anymore. Note, my neighbors are a group of old ladies who aren't much into tech. I'm also just learning about this stuff as well. So my question is, how do I go about doing this? Is it even possible to upgrade from an unlicensed copy?

 

Thanks!

 

7 hours ago, bengeoghegan11 said:

It's possible to download the ISO from Microsoft for Windows 10 and install without having to pay a penny. You'll just have an annoying watermark in the bottom right and lose the ability to use personalisation.

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

This would be the way to go about it. Unless the ladies need licensed featured other than using it to watch YouTube and Facebook etc. 

6 hours ago, Nine Tailed Fox said:

Just get a key from a cdkey store for like $10 or something

6 hours ago, TetraSky said:

If they are willing to pay a couple bucks, you could get a key from Ebay. Last I checked it was like $2.

 

As for the key, this is a laptop, correct? Usually, the key should either be on the laptop itself or in the BIOS of the laptop.

Not necessary, I cant see why the ladies would need any of the licensed features.

 

 

It would be a waste of their money really. imo

[Guest]

Check the bottom of the computer. Some laptops post the windows key on a sticker on the outside of the computer on the bottom.

[Marbo]

Back up their files, clean install 10 and put their files and apps back on. 

 

Then buy a cheap ebay key and suck up the $5 cost. Don't even tell then about the $5

 

Great neighbour, good karma. 

[bondoao1]

all my laptops have the windows key inside the bottom panel, where the battery and ram go. 
If you have a Win7 key it will work on Win10. 

[Doc Huckleberry]

3 hours ago, Marbo said:

Then buy a cheap ebay key and suck up the $5 cost. Don't even tell then about the $5

 

 

What is the deal with cheap ebay windows keys? Is it legit? Are they volume licences? 
I have windows 10 OEM version, and when I build another PC I dont want to have to pay the $160 CAD or whatever it is these days.
Having said that, I also dont want to get a cheap key, then spend hours setting up windows and customizing it, installing my programs ect, only to find out 6 months later the key is no longer valid. 

[Marbo]

3 hours ago, Doc Huckleberry said:

What is the deal with cheap ebay windows keys? Is it legit? Are they volume licences? 
I have windows 10 OEM version, and when I build another PC I dont want to have to pay the $160 CAD or whatever it is these days.
Having said that, I also dont want to get a cheap key, then spend hours setting up windows and customizing it, installing my programs ect, only to find out 6 months later the key is no longer valid. 

Yep, volume keys. 

It seems most people have success with them. I've had on on mine for a couple years with no issues. 

 

As for having to set up again if it does get blocked, I'd guess you could just enter another key. 

[Doc Huckleberry]

15 minutes ago, Marbo said:

Yep, volume keys. 

It seems most people have success with them. I've had on on mine for a couple years with no issues. 

 

As for having to set up again if it does get blocked, I'd guess you could just enter another key. 

Hmmm....Is it better to go THIS route then say something obtained from a P2P type of thing that uses an activator? (I should probably go read the terms of service again, I dont want to get in trouble)....

[Marbo]

1 hour ago, Doc Huckleberry said:

Hmmm....Is it better to go THIS route then say something obtained from a P2P type of thing that uses an activator? (I should probably go read the terms of service again, I dont want to get in trouble)....

Much better. Your copy of windows is genuine as is the key. 

 

The way look at it is similar to those multipacks that have a message that they're not for sale individually. Yet we'd all buy them individually from the corner shop if they were cheaper. 

 

P2p could be full of viruses especially with the activator.