Which option is best? Help picking right option.

Shzzit · December 2, 2022

I was gonna buy windows 11 home for 99, but then I seen windows keys for 15

bucks and they say they are genuine.

Are those ok to use ? What’s the benefit or any of buying a real windows for 99?

If I did get the cheap key is that 1 time use and done and the 99 dollar one is unlimited?

where would I get the windows 11 install at?

191x7 · December 2, 2022

For home use, yes.

The benefit? The genuine package, sticker (maybe), receipt, knowledge that you overpaid, ...

No, it's not 1-time use. You can use it as many times you like on the same PC, and if you activate (or login into) Windows with your Microsoft account while it's activated with the key it gets stored i nthe cloud and the next time you reinstal lwindows you don't need the key - simply login as that user activates the OS.

The "99$" version is the same. The Retail box, which you can deactivate on one machine and transfer to another, that costs a lot more.

You can download the installation media creation tool for 10 and 11 online from Microsoft for free.

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

mariushm · December 2, 2022

The cheap Windows keys are not the same as genuine full retail / $99 keys, and the legality is somewhat debatable.

Think of it as something like this: Someone buys a business license of Windows with 100 windows keys for $1000 and then they sell those 100 licenses for $15 each and make $1500 - your license is valid, it's a valid one license out of those 100 in the package, but technically would only be legal if you would be an employee of that company that bought the business license of Windows and (maybe) if the computer was owned by that business (purchased by that business, in that business inventory etc)

Technically, Microsoft has no way of knowing if you're employed to that business or not, you could be a remote worker of that company, so the license is valid as long as you don't move it to another computer

That's one possibility ... others could be the keys are recovered from OEM computers that are refurbished/recycled, could be the keys are bought from countries where the price is much cheaper or heavily discounted (Asia etc)