$12 windows 10 pro key

[Laurijan]

On that note. If anybody's wondering whether the version of Windows 10 you got from upgrading W7/W8 OEM is really retail(like it says it is) or not. It is. And if you link it to your M$ account before swapping motherboards, you be able to activate it again on the new motherboard. Provided you still have your key for W7/W8. I know because I just did it. And that was all I needed. After a call to India for an explanation of what I needed to do with it. The fact that I was needing to reactivate due to a hardware change was never even discussed. It was as simple as "did you uprade from W7/W8?", "do you have your key?", "here's what you need to do to reactivate W10 with it", "thank you for choosing Microsoft".

I noticed same thing:
with z77 mobo and windows 7 key that was used to install win10 back in the days i connected it with my microsoft account and then years after that i updated mobo cpu and ram but same windows 7 key still worked for new win10 install even tough i had changed mobo. Key was OEM but still worked in 2 mobos

PS: when installing windows 10 with my microsoft account it was not atomatically activated but i had to give the win7 key to get it working with new mobo

 

[sepheronx]

I actually used this promotion from tweak town to buy a windows 10 pro key.. Didn't get scammed so I assume it's a legit website even though it looks a bit fishy. Absolutely use paypal though.

Coupon code: software12%

https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-oem-cd-key-global_1227-20.html?tweaktown

Original article https://www.tweaktown.com/news/62321/windows-10-pro-oem-cd-key-global-12-32/index.html

thank you very much for this. Will be purchasing some keys.

 

[cadaveca]

If that key is OEM and being sold without hardware, then I'm pretty sure that it's illegal, especially with such a suspiciously low price.

It's possible that Microsoft said it was legit (poster above) because it either didn't realise what was happening, or is looking the other way in the interests of market penetration.

Technically, if you build your own PC, you are an OEM? I believe that's how this works.

Microsoft cares about marketshare, they don't care. Might as well make it free to use. I guess beta ring is free?

You can run Win10 without a key forever without any problems, unlike past version that would "expire" after 90 days without activation. I know this, because I have a build going over a year now without activation, and is missing no features I would use compared to my activated machines. Just every once in a while you have the "Windows is not activated" watermark on the screen... and it's actually pretty rare that I see that, even. People who value security will buy a key anyway, so I really think Microsoft doesn't care these days about keys and such as much as they used to. I do have a retail copy of windows for each of my non-activated devices, but I see no reason to enter the keys and activate them.

 

[qubit]

Technically, if you build your own PC, you are an OEM? I believe that's how this works.

Yeah true, but it also has to be supplied with hardware, even a mouse will do. Perhaps MS changed the rules since, I'm not sure.

@newtekie1 knows the finer points of MS licencing if he can shed light on this one.

 

[Laurijan]

Yeah true, but it also has to be supplied with hardware, even a mouse will do. Perhaps MS changed the rules since, I'm not sure.

@newtekie1 knows the finer points of MS licencing if he can shed light on this one.

I heard there were even court cases about this and the one selling oem without hardware won

 

[cadaveca]

I heard there were even court cases about this and the one selling oem without hardware won

Well sure, because if you need a key... obviously you already bought hardware... that restriction is rather silly.

 

[qubit]

I heard there were even court cases about this and the one selling oem without hardware won

I like the sound of that.

 

[John Naylor]

1. I have been building PCs for 25 years and I have never had a system fail to auto activate when changing the motherboard. Done it over half a dozen times. Staring with XP, the authentication process checks hardware rags and would not activate if the targeted limit number was exceeded. Yes, we have all heard the stories about calling MS and giving sob story, but these are never from the person who actually did it. My 1st experience here was with an 1156 MoBo and CPU. The user had installed a budget r3d party CPU cooler on a system I built, When I opened the box, discovered that the user had skipped the plastic washers that would have protected the mobo and one of the metal ones had a burr on the other side which damaged the circuit traces in the PCB. MoBo was under warranty and when I called for an RMA they no longer had any stock left so they sent the 155 version of the same model. Unfortunately that cost him the purchase of a CPU but I was able to sell off the old one for just $5 less.

Booted the box w/o plugging in ethernet cable, set BIOS to defaults, copied off data, then wiped the drive and reinstalled windows..... After installing all drivers on the CDs, plugged in ethernet cable and booted to Windows ... system activated online no issue, did WU and updated drivers. The reason this happens id the MS doesn't want to have staff manually authorizing license keys all day long. Did this also with Win7 and Z87 / Z97 replacement after user cracked the MoBo. Both MoBos where MS Gaming 5s or something similar with only different chipset. Note also, that the hardware chnage check looks at changes over last 6 months ... so you could chnage out 1 or 2 things at a time and never have a problem.

2. Yes, MS did change the rules. The have to by hardware piece thing was dropped. I used to buy Windows OEM in 3-paks as a single purchase all the time. Every lapop we have ever owned since year 2000 was custom built to our specs and we've installed the OS ourselves , again a single item purchase.

 

[lexluthermiester]

It was a general reply to the thread. I've used it here, because I've replied to you.

Might have come off a bit more harsh than was intended. Sorry about that.

 

[qubit]

Might have come off a bit more harsh than was intended. Sorry about that.

S'ok, no offense taken.

 

[Melvis]

A cheaper way is to find a Windows 7 key from a dead PC and then just do the update to W10 from it. Free!

 

[jboydgolfer]

A cheaper way is to find a Windows 7 key from a dead PC and then just do the update to W10 from it. Free!

Unless im mistaken and I could swear that I remember hearing Microsoft no longer was allowing the upgrade path, but I know the media creation tool still has an upgrade option, and I know it still works because I've done it three times in the last year, most recently a few days ago. I purchased two windows 10 pro retail keys a few months ago because they were a great deal ,and I anticipated requiring them because I was building a couple PCs. I never used them , because the windows 7 key in both of them worked for the windows 10 new install. I'm not complaining, I was just surprised.

 

[las]

You can run Win10 without a key forever without any problems, unlike past version that would "expire" after 90 days without activation. I know this, because I have a build going over a year now without activation, and is missing no features I would use compared to my activated machines.

You don't have watermark in bottom right corner?

Also, I've seen missing features on non-activated Windows 10 devices after a while. Like no theme changing or lock screen options (these are greyed out and says windows is not activated) + more.
And you automatically use the beta ring for updates, rather than the main channel.

 

[qubit]

Unless im mistaken and I could swear that I remember hearing Microsoft no longer was allowing the upgrade path, but I know the media creation tool still has an upgrade option, and I know it still works because I've done it three times in the last year, most recently a few days ago. I purchased two windows 10 pro retail keys a few months ago because they were a great deal ,and I anticipated requiring them because I was building a couple PCs. I never used them , because the windows 7 key in both of them worked for the windows 10 new install. I'm not complaining, I was just surprised.

I remember MS keeping the upgrade program open for disabled users and still hasn't given an expiry date for it, so that must be why it still works. They don't advertise it hoping that people will buy it instead, I guess. Personally, I think they never intended to kill off the free upgrades and continue to allow it in the interests of market share.

 

[Komshija]

Yeah true, but it also has to be supplied with hardware, even a mouse will do. Perhaps MS changed the rules since, I'm not sure.

@newtekie1 knows the finer points of MS licencing if he can shed light on this one.

That's really stupid from Microsoft and that's one out of few reasons why I will not downgrade to windows 10.

One should be able to install a single copy of Windows countless times on a single PC, regardless of hardware changes/upgrades and without any complications.
Of course, biometric data should be taken out of the equasion, because that will be serious invasion on privacy. Sheep will not mind (as usual), but other individuals certainly will.

 

[Caring1]

That's really stupid from Microsoft and that's one out of few reasons why I will not downgrade to windows 10.
One should be able to install a single copy of Windows countless times on a single PC, regardless of hardware changes/upgrades and without any complications......

When I bought a used X99 Motherboard I thought I would have to install, and use, a key to activate. It turned out the previous owner had used W10 so it auto activated based on the product key stored in the BIOS. So in effect I am using their product key on their Motherboard with probably totally different hardware.
It was hassle free for me.
p.s. I used Magic Jellybean to confirm the key was different to the ones I have.

 

[qubit]

When I bought a used X99 Motherboard I thought I would have to install, and use, a key to activate. It turned out the previous owner had used W10 so it auto activated based on the product key stored in the BIOS. So in effect I am using their product key on their Motherboard with probably totally different hardware.
It was hassle free for me.
p.s. I used Magic Jellybean to confirm the key was different to the ones I have.

That's a sweet deal.

 

[cadaveca]

You don't have watermark in bottom right corner?

Also, I've seen missing features on non-activated Windows 10 devices after a while. Like no theme changing or lock screen options (these are greyed out and says windows is not activated) + more.
And you automatically use the beta ring for updates, rather than the main channel.

I can set those things on one of my boxes that ARE activated, and the settings transfer over, so nope, not missing that at all, but for sure you do lose customization options. Annd no.. for example, I do not see that watermark right this moment, and I'm on an un-activated box. I might see it once a week. But do keep in mind this OS has been running for months and months. I run the beta ring anyway. Customization options for desktop wallpaper and such don't really affect how the OS works but yeah, you're right about that.

 

[Jetster]

I hate my moral compass. As good as these deals sound.....I can't do it. Not because some of these sites can't be trusted or that I might get screwed out a few bucks should it not go through, but because I always feel if it is something I can and will use, then I'll go through the appropriate channels.

I use Winrar - purchased a key.
I use MakeMKV - purchased a key.
SecurityTaskManager - purchased a key (haven't used it for a while)
UniBlue - haven't used it since XP days, but purchased a key.
UltraMon - haven't used it since I moved from 2 to 3 monitors, but I still have my key.

A few other programs out there that I used in the past that I don't remember....I'd have to go through my registration key list to see others, but I know there are a few more.

.....just a poor sap, I am, when it comes to things like this.

Good for you, nothing wrong with having a constitution. I completely agree

 

[qubit]

I hate my moral compass. As good as these deals sound.....I can't do it. Not because some of these sites can't be trusted or that I might get screwed out a few bucks should it not go through, but because I always feel if it is something I can and will use, then I'll go through the appropriate channels.

This reminds me of the time I went shopping at the supermarket recently.

I put a couple of packets of painkillers from the pharmacy in the trolley. I then did the rest of the shopping, paid for it, left the store and had nearly reached my car, wheeling the trolley with everything now packed up in bags and noticed that I'd "successfully stolen" the pills. These were sitting in the trolley outside of the bags as they hadn't gone through the till. I turned round and paid the £2.50 for those pills. Stealing isn't cool, even if it's from a big multinational like Tesco.

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

This reminds me of the time I went shopping at the supermarket recently.

I put a couple of packets of painkillers from the pharmacy in the trolley. I then did the rest of the shopping, paid for it, left the store and had nearly reached my car, wheeling the trolley with everything now packed up in bags and noticed that I'd "successfully stolen" the pills. These were sitting in the trolley outside of the bags as they hadn't gone through the till. I turned round and paid the £2.50 for those pills. Stealing isn't cool, even if it's from a big multinational like Tesco.

You are a better person than I.

 

[sepheronx]

So far I purchased 4 of these keys for 4 separate systems. All works perfect.

 

[StrayKAT]

Then again given their recent behavior all I can do is say I'm not surprised.

What'd they do?

 

[Liquid Cool]

I need a Win 10 Pro key, so I thought I'd take a look...it appears as though they've raised the price to $14.

Best,

Liquid Cool

 

[king of swag187]

I've boughten various OEM systems (mainly Dell's) and all of the except my laptop have auto activated W10 Pro with a W7 Pro license, the laptop's code had to be entered manually from the battery compartment but it still worked. As for OEM key pull's, I found myself in the same scenario, I bought two, one I gave to friend because of what was previously mentioned, another is just plain broken ($2.54 well spent)