Keysfan

[stinger608]

Okay, another one of those "cheap" key sites that we see all the time on the TPU main page.

So, I figured I'd give em a shot and grabbed a 2019 LTSC key from them........

Yep, here we go. Of course when I went to activate it, Windows states it has "already been used on another system"

What's up with supporting these kinds of sites @W1zzard ?????

Of course I have contacted there "support" email. Probably won't hear from them, or they will not send me a unactivated key.

This honestly doesn't surprise me with these types of sites, as I'm sure they are just using a stupid keygen to create keys.

Which, is illegal as hell!!!! I'm surprised that TPU would even advertise such sites, no matter how much money they support the site with.

 

[Toothless]

Okay, another one of those "cheap" key sites that we see all the time on the TPU main page.

So, I figured I'd give em a shot and grabbed a 2019 LTSC key from them........

Yep, here we go. Of course when I went to activate it, Windows states it has "already been used on another system"

What's up with supporting these kinds of sites @W1zzard ?????

Of course I have contacted there "support" email. Probably won't hear from them, or they will not send me a unactivated key.

This honestly doesn't surprise me with these types of sites, as I'm sure they are just using a stupid keygen to create keys.

Which, is illegal as hell!!!! I'm surprised that TPU would even advertise such sites, no matter how much money they support the site with.

W1z has been fantastic at helping fix these issues. He's let it be known that if a site causes issues he'll step in.

 

[cvaldes]

I've used several of these sites: Keysfan, Keysoff, Godeals and all of the licenses worked fine. Note that all of these retailers advertise on similar tech news sites all over the Internet, including PC hardware sites, software sites, major gaming news sites, etc. TPU is just one of the sites they advertise on. They go from site to site with different pricing every time. When I'm in the market for a software key (Windows, Office, whatever) I'll typically visit 6-7 sites to check on current offers and just buy the license key from the retailer with the best deal.

I've purchased Windows 10 Pro keys averaging $7 per license. My last MS Office Professional Plus 2021 key was $25. I just exited Excel half an hour ago.

These aren't ultra sketchy fly-by-nighters on FleaBay.

If there really was a problem with these companies, the Internet would be flooded by negative stories but many of these sites have been around for years and years. And W1zzard would have terminated his association with any swindlers a long time ago. It's not in his best interest to keep dodgy retailers posting sponsored content.

Just work with the retailer. If they give you any lip, ask W1zzard to intervene but you should be able to work it out with the retailer's support person like two mature adults.

It is important to note that OEM/volume Windows keys are tied to a unique system ID, typically keyed off the motherboard. The OEM keys are not portable. They are the same type of discount Windows OEM key that a mom-and-pop PC store would have sold to you 25 years ago with the purchase of a CPU, motherboard, PSU, etc. Only now the retailer doesn't check to see if this is an OEM installation. Microsoft never cared.

I can't recall ever paying for a retail Windows key.

 

[Marcus L]

Only had 1 issue with a key not working, emailed support got a quick reply and got it sorted pretty quick, I mean he has a patreon, I see you're not a supporter, so what do you suggest @W1zzard does to make a living when you won't even pay a couple of bucks a month to support his work

 

[stinger608]

I mean he has a patreon, I see you're not a supporter, so what do you suggest @W1zzard does to make a living when you won't even pay a couple of bucks a month to support his work

Well, living on a fixed income makes it very very hard to send out money when the wife and I struggle to keep food in the house, power on, and a damn roof over our heads.................

 

[cvaldes]

Only had 1 issue with a key not working, emailed support got a quick reply and got it sorted pretty quick, I mean he has a patreon, I see you're not a supporter, so what do you suggest @W1zzard does to make a living when you won't even pay a couple of bucks a month to support his work

Whether or not W1zzard has a Patreon account is irrelevant to him letting reputable retailers advertise on his site.

Because ultimately one fraudulent retailer on TPU would likely cause way more monetary and reputation damage to W1zzard than what Patreon donors could offer to make up.

Remember that people purchasing through a sponsored post here on TPU likely kick back a small amount to TPU. He's not letting these people advertise here for free that's for sure.

And berating someone for not being a Patreon supporter is not a warm fuzzy community vibe. People in glass houses...

 

[Marcus L]

Well, living on a fixed income makes it very very hard to send out money when the wife and I struggle to keep food in the house, power on, and a damn roof over our heads.................

I know, we are all in the same boat, sorry came off harsher than I meant, no offence intended, though @W1zzard also needs to make a living, so he has advertising partners that some people will find questionable, I am not a supporter myself, in the same boat though I have had a few keys off the sites that sponsor TPU and for the most part have had 0 issues, maybe just email support and get it worked out, I am sure they will.

Whether or not W1zzard has a Patreon account is irrelevant to him letting reputable retailers advertise on his site.

Because ultimately one fraudulent retailer on TPU would likely cause way more monetary and reputation damage to W1zzard than what Patreon donors could offer to make up.

You should be careful before accusing someone of being fraudulent unless you have unequivocal proof that that statement is 100% correct from a legal standpoint

 

[cvaldes]

You should be careful before accusing someone of being fraudulent unless you have unequivocal proof that that statement is 100% correct from a legal standpoint

That's why I stress that OP should work with the retailer first. This particular retailer has advertised here before at TPU and has advertised elsewhere.

Most likely it's just a silly human error, like someone at the retailer who forgot to cross off that particular license key as sold. A lot of these software stores are one-man operations. Maybe he/she was distracted. It happens to all of us.

A problem with a key store here reflects on W1zzard as well. He obviously wants everyone to have a pleasant and friction-free purchase. We all want to buy a cheap license key from one of these vendors and say "Hey, that was easy, I'll definitely buy from them again when I need another piece of software!"

 

[LabRat 891]

'Bought 2 3 keys off the sites advertised on TPU.

1st, I had an issue with, and in less than 12hours I had a reply w/ detailed instructions, that worked. No new key needed.
WS2019, IIRC.

2nd, was 100% fine.
Win 10 Pro, IIRC.

3rd, I bought, expecting to have a problem. Specifically purchased a W10 Ent LTSC key to see if it would activate Ent IoT LTSC. It did not.
What the key did, was convert the install to non-IoT LTSC. So, the lic. was as-advertised.

From what I've experienced, heard, and read, the keysites that W1zzard allows, are VERY customer friendly. AFAIK, if you can prove the key will not activate, they'll just issue you another.

 

[tabascosauz]

Okay, another one of those "cheap" key sites that we see all the time on the TPU main page.

So, I figured I'd give em a shot and grabbed a 2019 LTSC key from them........

Yep, here we go. Of course when I went to activate it, Windows states it has "already been used on another system"

What's up with supporting these kinds of sites @W1zzard ?????

Of course I have contacted there "support" email. Probably won't hear from them, or they will not send me a unactivated key.

This honestly doesn't surprise me with these types of sites, as I'm sure they are just using a stupid keygen to create keys.

Which, is illegal as hell!!!! I'm surprised that TPU would even advertise such sites, no matter how much money they support the site with.

Hmmm sounds similar to mine. I got a Win11 Pro key from one of these sites and had to contact support as the key didn't work iirc. Sorted it out quick though

 

[neatfeatguy]

I've picked up 3 win 10 pro keys off the site over the past couple years with no issues.

 

[W1zzard]

Of course I have contacted there "support" email. Probably won't hear from them, or they will not send me a unactivated key.

Let's wait until Monday and see what their response is, then I'll be happy to ping them and ask what's going on. If we don't find a solution I'll pay you the money back

 

[taka]

Was about to buy a Office 2021 yesterday, but was a mixed feeling. Let us know about what answer you got from them.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Was about to buy a Office 2021 yesterday, but was a mixed feeling. Let us know about what answer you got from them.

Bought office 2021 from them previously. Activated fine and still working

 

[P4-630]

My last w11 Pro license with DVD was 140 EUR...

 

[faye]

Only had 1 issue with a key not working, emailed support got a quick reply and got it sorted pretty quick, I mean he has a patreon, I see you're not a supporter, so what do you suggest @W1zzard does to make a living when you won't even pay a couple of bucks a month to support his work

You're seriously going to shame someone for not paying in to Patreon when they complain about getting what amounts to a fake product that was advertised on this site?

Sorry, but I don't typically support people/endeavors that are actively letting me down in the moment, and I doubt the OP does, either. Some people's attitude towards the site founder here borders on cult-like.

I do see he responded, and I don't doubt he'll make it right one way or the other, but "you aren't actively supporting him so you don't deserve to have an opinion when your money is effectively stolen" is an impressively bad take.

Edit: ... And you don't even pay in to the Patreon you made a point of checking and shaming the OP over? This has real "dirt poor people worshiping billionaires" vibes to it.

 

[stinger608]

Let's wait until Monday and see what their response is, then I'll be happy to ping them and ask what's going on. If we don't find a solution I'll pay you the money back

Thanks W1z.
They emailed me back yesterday and require two screen shots of the issue. One being the error that the key has been used, and one with the key being used.

I'll do that and see how it goes.

 

[thesmokingman]

I've had this happen before, after contact issued new keys.

 

[stinger608]

Sent them to 2 screenshots that they stated I needed to send them.

Will see what happens.

 

[P4-630]

Curious where these key sellers get their keys from....

 

[stinger608]

Curious where these key sellers get their keys from....

I personally think it comes from a key generator.

 

[cvaldes]

I personally think it comes from a key generator.

Well, yes.

Whether it's a standalone desktop application or some sort of web tool, they are generating keys. This is the same sort of tool that some enterprise customer would use. User generates a bunch of keys for which Microsoft bills them. In 2024, this is most likely some sort of web-based tool.

While we will never know the details, my guess is that whoever runs this key store generates a bunch of keys for each store SKU and keeps a list of which keys have been sold and which keys are still available. So if this guy is distracted he may forget to cross off a particular key as being sold.

Remember that bulk key generation is not new. Enterprise customers/OEM partners/etc. have been doing this for decades. Today it's not delivered on the back label of some data CD or on a slip of paper but just cut-and-pasted into an e-mail template.

Maybe the Keysfan guy forgot to change the license key string on the template e-mail. Who knows?

 

[stinger608]

Well, got a replacement key yesterday while I was at work.

Will see if it works @W1zzard

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

I just got one from KeysOff, and had a similar issue. Have reached out to the support email but wanted to let you know @W1zzard just in case I don't hear anything back.

Update: They got back practically immediately and sent me a new one that worked.

 

[stinger608]

Update: They got back practically immediately and sent me a new one that worked.

Very awesome!!!!!!

I haven't tried the new key that Keysfan sent me yet.
Probably tonight or tomorrow though.