Buying Windows 10 Key

[Cloudy]

So my friend is building a gaming PC and on a modest budget. Do I just tell him to get a retail USB key for Windows 10 at Walmart or Amazon? I know you can buy very cheap ones on eBay but I don't want him having any issue with getting OS updates. For the users here who bought Windows 10, how did you do it and what do you suggest for my friend?

[r.linder]

You can use Windows 10 without a product key and still get OS updates. The only thing that changes, usually, is the lack of personalization options, like controlling your Windows desktop color theme. As far as I can tell, Wallpaper Engine can get around some of that.

It's 100% optional, and many users that have more than one custom built system tend to not bother.

[tacoshy]

Hmm I bought large stock of COA's back a while then that I use to activate Windows 10. Sometimes I also use some keysellers not really on ebay. Had no issues with that so far with exeption of maybe once or twice in 100 cases. The low cost makes the risk still worth it.
However the EU has a certain law that legalize this practice which might not be the same for other countries.

I would stay away from USB keys as you dont need the USB drive when you can create your own for free with Media Creation Tool

[Omega]

You should tell him to just install Linux, would save him $100..


The only legit way of buying a key is by buying a full priced one which will be around $100 for Windows 10 Home. Those cheap keys on ebay are OEM keys which are sold there against EULA or normal keys which were bought with stolen credit cards and other shady stuff. You shouldn't knowingly support crime.

Buy the key from a reputable Microsoft partner or Microsoft itself.

[tacoshy]

Omega eredeti hozzászólása:

You should tell him to just install Linux, would save him $100..


The only legit way of buying a key is by buying a full priced one which will be around $100 for Windows 10 Home. Those cheap keys on ebay are OEM keys which are sold there against EULA or normal keys which were bought with stolen credit cards and other shady stuff. You shouldn't knowingly support crime.

Buy the key from a reputable Microsoft partner or Microsoft itself.

you're within the EU where it is by EU law legalized to resell product keys and software licenses.

Alot of them come from refurbished systems or office PC's that are discontinued.

[Xtynction]

I bought Windows 10 Pro off of Newegg, saved a few bucks there on it. I did find a place where it was cheaper but I wasn't sure how legit it would be to buy from there even though they offer you to buy a guarantee. I may try it out on my next build. Paul's Hardware on Youtube has a video and link for it.

[Omega]

tacoshy eredeti hozzászólása:

Omega eredeti hozzászólása:

You should tell him to just install Linux, would save him $100..


The only legit way of buying a key is by buying a full priced one which will be around $100 for Windows 10 Home. Those cheap keys on ebay are OEM keys which are sold there against EULA or normal keys which were bought with stolen credit cards and other shady stuff. You shouldn't knowingly support crime.

Buy the key from a reputable Microsoft partner or Microsoft itself.

you're within the EU where it is by EU law legalized to resell product keys and software licenses.

Alot of them come from refurbished systems or office PC's that are discontinued.

The majority of these keys come from large Microsoft partners which buy hundreds of keys + COAs and sell those which go unused. These large partners are OEMs and large businesses.

At the shop we had tons of these unused Windows 7 COAs which were bought for 5-15 euros per license. We bought these unused COAs in bulk from our suppliers like this:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/57/52/9c/57529c632bbfa905a0b5c4ffe5b14e7c.jpg

The difference between these licenses and those on Ebay is that the Ebay ones are sold by noname people and not large companies.

The majority of this stuff on Ebay is stolen. So avoid Ebay. Don't knowingly support crime.

[tacoshy]

I know thats how I bought my bulk of COA's. But I also know many stores that scratch the COA's of PC's that are discontinued or getting refurbished and used with refurbished COA's. THose COA's hit the market then again espacially from Win 7 to be used as upgrade for Win 10 3 times.

[CravenCoyote]

It's cheaper to buy a Windows 7 / Windows 8 key and activate with that. Microsoft now allow this.

[Omega]

Elk Cloner eredeti hozzászólása:

It's cheaper to buy a Windows 7 / Windows 8 key and activate with that. Microsoft now allow this.

This has been possible since day 1.

[tacoshy]

Elk Cloner eredeti hozzászólása:

It's cheaper to buy a Windows 7 / Windows 8 key and activate with that. Microsoft now allow this.

yes it has been possible since day 1 and you can use a Win 7, Win 8 and Win 8.1 Key 3 to upgrade 3 different PC's while your original license still stays active as the license is not transfered but a new license is generated. So you can use a COA for 4 PC's in total.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

First off you can freely install Win10 and use it all you want, no key, period.

But yes I would grab a Win7 Pro key and use it to activate Win10 64bit Pro

Make your own Win10 bootable install by using your own usb flash drive, 8gb minimum, and MS media creation tool

[CravenCoyote]

Omega eredeti hozzászólása:

Elk Cloner eredeti hozzászólása:

It's cheaper to buy a Windows 7 / Windows 8 key and activate with that. Microsoft now allow this.

This has been possible since day 1.

It used to be possible only with the free upgrade though, correct?

[Cloudy]

He does not want the free non customizable version that has a watermark. But alright thank you guys for your input, still not fully sure what I'm going to recommend for him to be honest...

[(N☆G) Jackal ★JJ★]

You can get a free Windows 10 OS directly from MS themselves.
You have to state you have some sort of disability (no further questions are asked WHAT SO EVER) so if you have to zoom in on your web browser because font is too small.... they deem that as a disability to give you an idea of how little they care.

Anyways, its free, its legal, its from MS themselves.

https://www.howtogeek.com/265409/you-can-still-get-windows-10-for-free-from-microsofts-accessibility-site/


(Its not the watermarked version either that he isnt wanting, it is the legit full windows 10 upgrade)

[-=SOF=-WID99]

well then tell him .....yo bite the bullet and buy win 10 Pro .. think i paid only $112..hell i paid more then that for my other software ..so for Windows ... for my copy at my local microcenter for an OEM WIN 10 Pro DVD .. only needed the key from the package seemed to be the wise choice .

then downloaded the latest version from the MS media creation tool site , put the iso on a thumb drive

.but at least i know i have a legit copy for my PC build .

then install classic shell .. boom win 10 pro looks just like win 7

one other point if he installs a NEW modern CPU many are not supported under win 7

hence ya need win 10 anyway ..think the cut off was with intel cpu 's was .... the 6th gen series ???

not sure on AMD's as i do not build with or buy AMD cpu's anymore but i'm sure ryzen is most likely not fully supported under win 7 ..and win 7 support runs out in jan 2020