Are cheap windows keys legit?

[Kirsche]

Saw some for 5$ on ebay. Friend says they work. How are these so cheap?

[Snapjak]

They're bulk keys meant for enterprises. They may get revoked at any time.

[Hanomaly]

because people are selling their own keys.

Like say i buy a legit windows key. i am allowed to have like X number of installs with it.

So i "sell you" one of my installs. It's fine to me if i sell it cheap, because why do i care about getting full price, it's already a copy i paid for, i'm just getting some of my money back.

OR...

imagine worse...

i am selling *random people's* windows keys/installs. Why do i care how much i get for it, anything is better than nothing as these are keys i didn't even pay for. So if i sell for $5 or $10 it's still higher than the $0 i spent to sell the windows keys/installs i stole from other people.

Edit: Never considered Snapjak's suggestion of how they are enterprise keys, but that's very likely too! And probably makes it even more cost effective for the seller to sell the grey market keys that way.

So this "cheap window's key" market is part of what they call the "Grey Market". So not necessarily black market, but not 100% legit either.

This doesn't mean the keys won't work. Most often they will work. Just means they aren't acquired legitimately (by you) and they most definitely aren't just "unique for you" keys. You'll be sold a key that's also getting sold to dozens of other people, potentially. So none of you will be able to get official Microsoft help or whatever, that specifically requires key-verification or whatever, since none of you legit have that key registered to you.

Tho even that doesn't really matter, 'cause how often do you need to do that anyways?

As far as whether you want to get a Windows key that way or not? That's for you to decide if it fits within your ethics or not. No one else can tell you what is Ethically right for you.

[Zekiran]

The short and long answer is:


NO.

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

Автор сообщения: Snapjak

They're bulk keys meant for enterprises. They may get revoked at any time.

^This.

[Снюс Уиллис]

Legit if microsoft partner like -hypestkey, got win 11 pro retail, activated without any problem

[_I_]

yes there are
thats how system builders and oems get their keys in groups at huge discounts from ms

you can get a builder key (limited to one mobo) for around $10
or the retail version, good for many mobos, is around $100

and the os install from ms for free, use the creation tool
to burn a dvd, or usb stick installer

[Electric Cupcake]

I've never had a greymarket key deactivated on me.

[Iron Knights]

I don't like E-Bay, but if they sell the key with the CD install package, intact. Then it is an OEM retailer that bought more than needed packages and is selling them.
Bought a Win 7 Pro CD a few years back & Key was fine.

[_I_]

dvd or ms usb is a retail key, not oem or builder

never buy any kind of cd key from ebay

a little old but still applies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm3mLBJWBhc

[76561198343548661]

Mine is with a DVD and it s OEM . 130 euro , kind of love Microsotf , lol , kidding . i didnt know how to make purchases online . Also i wished to thank Microsoft .

The risk with cheap keys is acceptable . What can you lose - 5-10 bucks , almost nothing . Moreover sellers with 4.5 /5 rating at Trustpilot should be trustworthy .

[Soulreaver]

Can't say much about legitimacy but they all worked for me and non of them has ever been deactivated.

Always worked as intended.

[Lupinus Rictus]

This tech streamer has reputable keys for win 10 pro in the vid description

about 20 dollars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCc0xPCiK6M

[Rexali_]

It depends on the retailer's validation. Most of the cheap Windows license keys are cheaper because they are OEM licenses. 

It's like some devices, like laptops and minicomputers, have had an original Windows license on them since day 1 when you purchased them. So these retailers will erase those licenses, which are by default registered on those computers, and sell them separately for a cheaper price. 

To remove a license from Windows and reuse it, you should type this short command on CMD:

slmgr /upk

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another trick for retailers like digital game stores is that, in sales like Steam Global Sales, EA, Uplay, Battlenet Sales, etc., they will purchase tons of CD keys for a game with discounts and hold them to sell in times when there is no discount on the Steam Store.

For example, you see that the Stronghold series went on sale from May 13th to May 20th, but you can always find a discounted price of Stronghold to purchase anytime if you explore retailers. 

This website can help you find valid retailers: IsThereAnyDeal [isthereanydeal.com]

[Zef]

Автор сообщения: Snapjak

They're bulk keys meant for enterprises. They may get revoked at any time.

Litterally never happens, i've been using OEM/ROK keys for over 2 decades.

Although 5 dorra is a bit sketchy, usually these type of keys go for somewhere around 15 to 30$.

[N3tRunn3r]

There are volume, oem and retail keys available . . .

oem is bound to your hardware, you want to get a RETAIL key.
RETAIL keys can be acquired between 10 EUR - 25 EUR and upwards . .
OEM (throwaway keys) and Volume keys from 2 EUR upwards . . .

some "reliable" enterprise volume keys can be acquired from 25 EUR and upwards . . .

so if you have applied an OEM key to your system, it is legit . . .

if you have acquired a RETAIL key, this one can be used for many machines, but not at once.

you need to be aware, volume keys are those tricky keys which you dont want to get.

to check which license key is in use type into cmd:

slmgr /dli

-- and/or --

slmgr /dlv

it should put out at best "RETAIL channel"