Windows 10 activation codes

[Xcelsior86]

I've seen some sites where you can get windows product keys for cheap and want to know if they are actually valid and safe to use.

[Anghammarad]

There some sites where you get valid keys, and others where you might get non valid keys. 

Even on ebay some of the really cheap ones are legit OEM / Systembuilders licences, while others are more kind of scammy.

 

You should always see that you get an installation media and the COA sticker with the licence key... 

 

I personally would not buy digital licences only from resellers. 

 

If you get sticker and DVD, you are mostly good to go. And if you get a receipt as well for your purchase and can show ms support the sticker as well as the receipt, they'll generate you a new one... happened to me once. Took a few minutes on the phone.

[Crunchy Dragon]

They do work, however it's outside our Community Standards to recommend them.

Quote

• Talking about piracy in general, broad details, is acceptable however the posting or discussing pirated/hacked/cracked or otherwise nefariously obtained content is not. This includes Windows content, games, hackintosh, etc. Also discussions regarding ways to avoid or block legitimately installed monitoring/tracking software or the like is also not allowed.

 

[TRITIUMNITR0X]

My opinion: Always steer far, far away from people who ask for money in return for keys because there's a high chance that the seller has already sold that key. You'll be out the money anyway. As well, this is one of those "don't talk about Fight Club" rules. Listing websites that sell keys are both out terms in the community guidelines and doing so will also put a target on the seller website's back.

[Xcelsior86]

Thanks for the input.  Figured they were hit and miss.  I'll just get a valid key from Microsoft.  Wanting to upgrade one of my PC's from 10 home to pro.

[BlueChinchillaEatingDorito]

6 minutes ago, Crunchy Dragon said:

They do work, however it's outside our Community Standards to recommend them.

 

Does the Reddit Microsoft Software Swap page also fall under that? If so, I'll stop recommending that on here. 

[onlybuilt4cubanxlinx]

Never had one issue with any keys I've bought knock on wood. I'd never pay retail or close to retail for a *valid* key. $15 is the max I'd pay.

[Crunchy Dragon]

Just now, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Does the Reddit Microsoft Software Swap page also fall under that? If so, I'll stop recommending that on here. 

It's a gray area, honestly. People may be selling legitimate software/activation keys, they may be selling cracked ones.

 

So yeah, it's a gray area but leaning more towards not allowed purely because there's no real way to tell the difference.

[NumLock21]

Under system there is a link that lets you change the editions of your Windows. Type in your CC and it should let you update to Pro. All it does it add the Pro features and takes like 5 to 10 minutes.

 

[LogicalDrm]

12 hours ago, onlybuilt4cubanxlinx said:

 I'd never pay retail or close to retail for a *valid* key. $15 is the max I'd pay.

I would like to hear reason why and is this same for all software and games you use? I've heard really hilarious reasons in past, maybe yours actually is intelligent.

[onlybuilt4cubanxlinx]

3 hours ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

I would like to hear reason why and is this same for all software and games you use? I've heard really hilarious reasons in past, maybe yours actually is intelligent.

Because Windows is bloatware and trash. Would you pay full price for something that you thought sucked? I purchase 95% of my games through Steam. Use alternative sites for the other 5%. Granted I hardly buy games outside of the big sales on Steam, but in a pinch I will go another route. At the end of the day it's to save money.. and it's worked. 

[WkdPaul]

16 hours ago, BlueChinchillaEatingDorito said:

Does the Reddit Microsoft Software Swap page also fall under that? If so, I'll stop recommending that on here. 

What @Crunchy Dragon said, grey areas aren't the best place. While the majority of license keys will work, those are most often VLK, and selling those are actually against MS terms of service, so if caught (it happened before) the employee in charge of that and the company can be thrown into a huge lawsuit, and the sold keys will get voided.

 

So worst case scenario for the buyer is having to buy a Windows key again.

Edited April 17, 2018 by wkdpaul

[TopHatProductions115]

I've done this through eBay on many occasions. Just make sure that the seller is selling them as keys from scrap PCs and can accept refunds. If so, you should be just fine.

 

 - https://www.groovypost.com/howto/transfer-windows-10-license-new-pc/

 - https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/is-it-legal-to-buy-windows-10-pro-oem-scrap-pc/02b8fea8-67f9-4e7f-b45e-d286ede730dd?auth=1

 

If you actually want to know whether your license key is valid/not blacklisted, I suggest simply calling Microsoft (on the phone). I've done this multiple times, and it works. 

[LogicalDrm]

47 minutes ago, onlybuilt4cubanxlinx said:

Because Windows is bloatware and trash. Would you pay full price for something that you thought sucked? I purchase 95% of my games through Steam. Use alternative sites for the other 5%. Granted I hardly buy games outside of the big sales on Steam, but in a pinch I will go another route. At the end of the day it's to save money.. and it's worked. 

Why then use such trash? You've just wasted $15 to something you knew to be trash. That doesn't sound practical or wise purchase. There are options. macOS for about same price (when you take off hardware, build quality and branding) or Linux/BSD for free. Granted one is bit of investment and other lacks still mainstream support. It actually sounds like you are paying for Windows because its cheap and shit. Rather than saving money by using alternative source.

[onlybuilt4cubanxlinx]

12 minutes ago, LoGiCalDrm said:

Granted one is bit of investment and other lacks still mainstream support.

Exactly. I'm not going to restrict myself on content or usability, but I will restrict the amount of money I'm willing to pay for something.

I'll just stick to paying $15 and disabling a shit load of features. 

[LogicalDrm]

6 minutes ago, onlybuilt4cubanxlinx said:

Exactly. I'm not going to restrict myself on content or usability, but I will restrict the amount of money I'm willing to pay for something.

I'll just stick to paying $15 and disabling a shit load of features. 

Gotta admit that your "Paying for shit because I like it" is better than my previous favorite "paying less than retail for usability and full price for Mac because I can".

[BeefyMeats]

Do you or any family / friends go to school? Usually grade school and universities have something in place to where you can get an Education licence for under $20 dollars its basically enterprise edition / pro.

 

I regret to say this, but If your really hard up for cash than you could just use it for awhile than pay later (not the best idea). I know of many people who simply never activated and nothing happens.