The Only Safe Place to Buy a Windows PC is the Microsoft Store

[Victorious Secret]

 

Lenovo’s been shipping Superfish on their PCs for months. This is a security disaster, and it shows how little PC manufacturers actually care about your PC’s security. There’s only one way to ensure your new PC is actually safe to use.

 

Manufacturers truly don't care what kind of junk they shove on their computers. They never have, even with Lenovo shitting the bed they probably won't do much to stop including junk with their PCs. 

 

Probably the best part of the Microsoft stores is that they have their Signature Edition computers because they cut out all the useless junk for stuff that matters. Some people might say that borders on MS going back to "anti-trust" levels of shenanigans by deciding what a PC includes, but this only applies to stuff sold out of their stores and their stores carry all manner of manufacturers who are willing to comply with what they want. 

One of the more impressive parts of OS X and Chrome OS is that they just don't include junkware. They probably never will. And thats a good thing for consumers. 

 

 

But Microsoft does care about “Signature PCs” that you can buy from the Microsoft Store. When you buy a computer from the Microsoft Store — either one of Microsoft’s physical stores, or the Microsoft Store website online — you’re guaranteed to get a “Signature Edition” of that computer. Microsoft controls the software that ships on these PCs, and they strip out the worst stuff to ensure you have a clean copy of Windows with only useful utilities and drivers.

 

So, if you want a safe Windows PC, buy it from the Microsoft Store. And yes, Microsoft offers a wide variety of Windows PCs, not just their own Surface line.

 

No, we’re not bought and paid for by Microsoft. But, if you want a Windows PC, you might as well get it straight from Microsoft and prevent those Windows hardware manufacturers from messing things up too badly. Microsoft will only guarantee you a clean copy of Windows if you go through them.

 

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/210249/the-only-safe-place-to-buy-a-windows-pc-is-the-microsoft-store/

[TheSLSAMG]

I make my own Signature Editions, if you catch my drift.

 

But seriously, I like this approach. Probably won't buy a device there though, they don't have the next Windows device I'd like to buy.

[Trik'Stari]

 

 

Just build your own, buy the OS, and be happy. Prebuilts are shit.

[Victorious Secret]

 

 

 

Just build your own, buy the OS, and be happy. Prebuilts are shit.

 

Cause everyone who needs a laptop or tablet is building their own laptops and tablets, right? 

[DigitalHermit]

Why not find one without windows preinstalled and get the OS separately... sure it costs a bit more, but you'll be safer that way...

 

or switch over to linux...

 

 

 

...or just fresh install Windows?

 

Some manufacturers put the installer in a partition on the HDD... the installer comes pacakged with all your unwanted software... I had the misfortune of encountering such PCs in my work... and yes they are indeed a pain to work with...

[givingtnt]

its a good approche. for people who don'T know much about computers. if its free of charge when you buy it (not like 10$ extra for removing the junk) its good.

[cesrai]

-snip-

Yeah right because I can build a laptop, tablet, 3 in 1, 2 in 1 right ??

 

[Trik'Stari]

Cause everyone who needs a laptop or tablet is building their own laptops and tablets, right? 

Yeah right because I can build a laptop, tablet, 3 in 1, 2 in 1 right ??

 

-snip

forgive me, when I hear "buy your PC at a microsoft store only" I hear desktop. I don't do laptops, nothing wrong with others using them, I just have no need or desire for them.

 

Also, why would you buy a laptop directly from MS when there are obviously better ones from people like ASUS and MSI out there, just sayin...

[Syntaxvgm]

Cause everyone who needs a laptop or tablet is building their own laptops and tablets, right? 

I wipe every laptop I buy before using it. 

[euniqe]

forgive me, when I hear "buy your PC at a microsoft store only" I hear desktop. I don't do laptops, nothing wrong with others using them, I just have no need or desire for them

 

 

who the hell makes a pre-built Windows-based desktop PC? enlighten me please, I didn't know these existed. I thought it was just laptops and tablets that came pre-built... I mean I get pre-assembled, sure - but pre-BUILT!? As in sealed-for-life windows desktop machines!?

[Syntaxvgm]

Yeah right because I can build a laptop, tablet, 3 in 1, 2 in 1 right ??

 

wipe the laptop. Herp derp.

[Trik'Stari]

who the hell makes a pre-built Windows-based desktop PC? enlighten me please, I didn't know these existed. I thought it was just laptops and tablets that came pre-built... I mean I get pre-assembled, sure - but pre-BUILT!? As in sealed-for-life windows desktop machines!?

I didn't realize that prebuilt means something different than pre-assembled. This is news to me.

[DigitalHermit]

Download the ISO?

 

To do that, you'll either have to find some way to extract the license key (I've seen PCs with genuine windows without the stickers, especially the newer ones) or go full jack sparrow...

[Speedbird]

 

 

Just build your own, buy the OS, and be happy. Prebuilts are shit.

Good luck building your own laptop.

[Misanthrope]

I actually don't get why would you want to buy a windows PC. You should have the option to buy a PC only without OS or without it being preinstalled, fuck this concept of "windows PC" even if you ignore prebuilt manufacturer nonsense you're still not allowing me to buy a windows PC with the windows version I want which is Windows 7 so even Microsoft themselves get it wrong forcing people into windows 8 and cannot be trusted not to do the same after 10 for example if 11 turns out to be another piece of shit.

[Victorious Secret]

I actually don't get why would you want to buy a windows PC. You should have the option to buy a PC only without OS or without it being preinstalled, fuck this concept of "windows PC" even if you ignore prebuilt manufacturer nonsense you're still not allowing me to buy a windows PC with the windows version I want which is Windows 7 so even Microsoft themselves get it wrong forcing people into windows 8 and cannot be trusted not to do the same after 10 for example if 11 turns out to be another piece of shit.

 

Well, 8 wasn't a disaster. 10 is being well received by almost everyone and Windows 11 doesn't even exist right now so what are you on about? 

You want the option, thats fine. do you think the bulk of consumers want to put up with that kind of headache? No. They want to buy a box, open the box, plug in the power and have the laptop just work. Thats the market that you're after. You're not after tinkerers or enthusiasts. Those people come and go and you don't build empires based on people who are on the fringes. 

[Speedbird]

To do that, you'll either have to find some way to extract the license key (I've seen PCs with genuine windows without the stickers, especially the newer ones) or go full jack sparrow...

There's a lot of sofftware for extracting the key either from the BIOS or the existing install. The PCs that don't come with a CoA are actuyally the ones with the key in the BIOS, which the Windows installer will detect automagically.

[Speedbird]

Right-click on Computer and view Properties?

Product ID and Product Key are not the same thing.

[Victorious Secret]

To do that, you'll either have to find some way to extract the license key (I've seen PCs with genuine windows without the stickers, especially the newer ones) or go full jack sparrow...

 

The keys usually baked into the OS and can be read fairly easy either through the control panel or a 3rd party utility, which you can then use in your "new Windows install" and if its not accepted, you just tell MS that you had to do a restore and they'll activate it for you anyways. Thats how I used to do it on my very old Dell whenever I reinstalled a OS from scratch and used the original CD key. 

[cesrai]

forgive me, when I hear "buy your PC at a microsoft store only" I hear desktop. I don't do laptops, nothing wrong with others using them, I just have no need or desire for them.

 

Also, why would you buy a laptop directly from MS when there are obviously better ones from people like ASUS and MSI out there, just sayin...

I think you actually need to read this time as I think you read nothing and just jumped to conclusions, they don't just sell there devices they sell other manufactures devices like Acer or Asus source, why would by it from them ??? now you just proven that you read nothing, you would by from them to get the signature edition which has no junkware or trialware source.

 

Come on Trik you disappointed me.

[Trik'Stari]

Good luck building your own laptop.

Once again, I don't do laptops. I deem them to be a waste of my money, no problem with others using them, I just don't. I was talking about desktops.

 

Apparently Prebuilt only refers to laptops now, which doesn't make any sense to me.

[TheKDub]

Fresh install is the way to go when buying pre-built computers. (and kinda the only way when building one)

[cesrai]

I actually don't get why would you want to buy a windows PC. You should have the option to buy a PC only without OS or without it being preinstalled, fuck this concept of "windows PC" even if you ignore prebuilt manufacturer nonsense you're still not allowing me to buy a windows PC with the windows version I want which is Windows 7 so even Microsoft themselves get it wrong forcing people into windows 8 and cannot be trusted not to do the same after 10 for example if 11 turns out to be another piece of shit.

I get what you are saying, but .... fuck this @Victorious Secret already did a good job explaining.

[cesrai]

who the hell makes a pre-built Windows-based desktop PC? enlighten me please, I didn't know these existed. I thought it was just laptops and tablets that came pre-built... I mean I get pre-assembled, sure - but pre-BUILT!? As in sealed-for-life windows desktop machines!?

Dude or m8, HP PCs for example are pre-built as they come to you pre-built.

 

@Trik'Stari

 

I think he is wrong.

[Trik'Stari]

I think you actually need to read this time as I think you read nothing and just jumped to conclusions, they don't just sell there devices they sell other manufactures devices like Acer or Asus source, why would by it from them ??? no you just proven that you read nothing, you would by from them to get the signature edition which has no junkware or trialware source.

 

Come on Trik you disappointed me.

And I wonder what the markup on that "signature edition" is.

 

And no, I didn't read, I DO NOT CARE ABOUT LAPTOPS. My original comment was about desktops, which yes was inaccurate, but still a valid point.

 

 

Fresh install is the way to go when buying pre-built computers. (and kinda the only way when building one)

 

This^ although you'd probably have to buy an extra OS disk for a laptop, betting the "Recovery" disk comes with bloatware preinstalled.

 

Dude or m8, HP PCs for example are pre-built as they come to you pre-built.

 

@Trik'Stari

 

I think he is wrong.

 

That is exactly what my original comment was referring to. Those crap ass towers you see for 500-1200 in best buy, that are absolute junk.