How do I get windows 10 for free?

[ZestyLyme]

I need windows 10 for free

[maestro0428]

You can't get it free, but there are many resellers on the web where you can get it for $10.00

[boggy77]

if you are a student, you can get the student edition for free.

otherwise, you can run windows without introducing a key. it will have a watermark and some limits in functionality.

[r2724r16]

Just now, maestro0428 said:

You can't get it free

Yes you can.

[Donut417]

2 minutes ago, ZestyLyme said:

I need windows 10 for free

Download it from Microsoft and never activate it. 

[minibois]

2 minutes ago, ZestyLyme said:

I need windows 10 for free

You can download the installer for free here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

You just need a license key to adhere to their TOS and to remove the watermark.

 

The license keys can be bought from various places, like Microsoft themselves, retailers and of course 'other places'.

[maestro0428]

You lose features if you dont activate it for free.  $10, why not.

[FloRolf]

Just now, Donut417 said:

Download it from Microsoft and never activate it. 

Looks like this then. NOT my system!

 

 

who am i kidding, this is my system....

 

[ZestyLyme]

Ok

[Master Disaster]

If you have almost any Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key you can use it to activate Windows 10.

[Teddy07]

7 minutes ago, ZestyLyme said:

I need windows 10 for free

if you can afford a pc then you can afford 5 € for a third party key

[DavidKalinowski]

1 minute ago, Master Disaster said:

If you have almost any Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key you can use it to activate Windows 10.

Can confirm. I've used the windows 7 key from the sticker on the side panel of about 15 different computers now to do a fresh install of windows 10 and activate it. These where all OEM keys though. Not sure if an HP Key would work on non HP hardware (I assume it would, but I could see HP/M$ have some kind of check to stop that.)

[BrandonTech.05]

If you have any old windows 7 or 8 keys from old laptops or pc's, you might be able to take the keys from those and use the "Windows 10 installation media" thing to update it to windows 10.

[Mark Kaine]

23 minutes ago, maestro0428 said:

You can't get it free,

How so? It's freely available on Microsoft site. 

 

IF we're talking about licenses... this is against forum rules and not what was asked either... 

[dalekphalm]

33 minutes ago, ZestyLyme said:

I need windows 10 for free

You don't - at least, not a fully activated copy (not unless someone gives you a key for free anyway).

 

However, fortunately for you, you can install Windows 10 and run it unactivated indefinitely. You do lose a bit of customization, but it's a fair trade in my opinion.

[Sandro Linux]

2 hours ago, ZestyLyme said:

I need windows 10 for free

Just download it from the official Microsoft website and never enter in a activation key 

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

[TehDwonz]

1 hour ago, dalekphalm said:

You don't - at least, not a fully activated copy (not unless someone gives you a key for free anyway).

 

However, fortunately for you, you can install Windows 10 and run it unactivated indefinitely. You do lose a bit of customization, but it's a fair trade in my opinion.

Tech Tip: If you burn an install ISO to a USB stick, then unplug the PC from the network before installation and don't enter any keys, you get to the desktop with everything unlocked temporarily. Customize your desktop the way you like it, log off then shutdown. Re-connect it to your network/Internet access, and boot up. It'll eventually show the activate watermark, but your pre-network customizations will stick! Tada!

 

 

[dalekphalm]

2 minutes ago, TehDwonz said:

Tech Tip: If you burn an install ISO to a USB stick, then unplug the PC from the network before installation and don't enter any keys, you get to the desktop with everything unlocked temporarily. Customize your desktop the way you like it, log off then shutdown. Re-connect it to your network/Internet access, and boot up. It'll eventually show the activate watermark, but your pre-network customizations will stick! Tada!

 

 

That's all well and good - but I would never bother to follow that guide. Personally I prefer to pay for activation.

[Helpful Tech Witch]

2 minutes ago, TehDwonz said:

Tech Tip: If you burn an install ISO to a USB stick, then unplug the PC from the network before installation and don't enter any keys, you get to the desktop with everything unlocked temporarily. Customize your desktop the way you like it, log off then shutdown. Re-connect it to your network/Internet access, and boot up. It'll eventually show the activate watermark, but your pre-network customizations will stick! Tada!

 

 

There is a way to remove the watermark too, but I cant say how, or ill get more warning points

[TehDwonz]

1 minute ago, dalekphalm said:

That's all well and good - but I would never bother to follow that guide. Personally I prefer to pay for activation.

So do I. Just offering some help to those with no spare change... not everyone here has a payment method they can use online.

[dalekphalm]

Just now, TehDwonz said:

So do I. Just offering some help to those with no spare change... not everyone here has a payment method they can use online.

Typically if that's the case, they can just buy a license in-store (Places like Best Buy and Staples sell copies - hell Walmart might even).

 

In either case, that's good for those people that want to use such a method. I wouldn't.

[whm1974]

2 hours ago, Master Disaster said:

If you have almost any Windows 7, 8 or 8.1 key you can use it to activate Windows 10.

Well when I built my current system, I put both Windows 8.0 and Linux Mint on it. So I can reuse my 8 Key without having to buy another one?

[TehDwonz]

13 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

Typically if that's the case, they can just buy a license in-store (Places like Best Buy and Staples sell copies - hell Walmart might even).

 

In either case, that's good for those people that want to use such a method. I wouldn't.

You can't get the $5-$10 keys in stores - they sell the full retail licenses only. The cheaper keys, which are 100% legit, are re-sold and tend to be OEM lock-to-hardware licenses. So Paypal is usually needed. HTH!

[TehDwonz]

4 minutes ago, whm1974 said:

Well when I built my current system, I put both Windows 8.0 and Linux Mint on it. So I can reuse my 8 Key without having to buy another one?

Yes, Win 8 keys work too. During install, enter nothing for the key. Wait until you get to the desktop, then activate manually - enter your Win 8 key when prompted. It's possible that it will require telephone activation, but that's ok and it's automated.

 

edit: One thing to add, is that if you had Win 8 Pro, it should work as above, but if it was "Basic" or "home" or one of the limited ones, you will need to enter the generic install key for W10 Home during initial install, instead of leaving it blank. You can easily find this by using Google - it's legal, but I don't know if posting it here will get flagged.

[whm1974]

1 minute ago, TehDwonz said:

Yes, Win 8 keys work too. During install, enter nothing for the key. Wait until you get to the desktop, then activate manually - enter your Win 8 key when prompted. It's possible that it will require telephone activation, but that's ok and it's automated.

I already installed Win10... Do I need to do this again?