Windows 10 (still) free?

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SlammedNiss:

--- Quote from: whammoed on September 23, 2020, 06:15:45 pm ---My son's laptop hard drive broke (again, HP used crappy HDs in this model...out of warranty so I installed a SSD). I could not get the windows recovery to work. It would not load the image to the new drive or any drive for that matter. After spending several hours trying different things I looked for another option and found you can create a usb drive install of Windows 10 from Microsoft's website. I went for it though I was worried about licensing since you don't get a Window's license key these days. Well I installed it and it is working and has not asked for any sort of license key. Either Window's somehow knows by the hardware that it is supposed to have Windows on it or perhaps it is just free to use? Not sure? Anyone in the know on this? just curious but mostly glad it is working...for now haha

--- End quote ---

I'm pretty sure licensing is digitally signed these days. My new Lenovo didn't come with a typical license key sticker, so I downloaded magicaljellybean to extract the key just in case.

javeryh:

--- Quote from: J_K_M_A_N on September 23, 2020, 09:08:20 pm ---
--- Quote from: Vigo on September 23, 2020, 08:58:06 pm ---If no luck, just pay a couple bucks on eBay for a key.

--- End quote ---

Have people here done this? Would you use one in a business (trying to keep costs down for a simple machine for shipping)? I have been curious about how those work.

J_K_M_A_N

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I built a PC for my office last year - I installed Windows from a USB stick following the instructions on the MS website. It was a full install and everything seemed to work - totally free - except there is a large watermark in the lower right corner of the screen. You need to buy a license to get rid of it. If the watermark doesn't bother you then you are good to go. If it does (and it eventually will if I had to guess) you can buy a license from CDKeys or wherever. I paid $12 for mine and have had no issues. I get all the updates, etc.

whammoed:
Thanks! Good info. I also found this where you can extract the key using powershell (before the PC dies of course haha)
https://www.howtogeek.com/206329/how-to-find-your-lost-windows-or-office-product-keys/

knave:

--- Quote from: whammoed on September 23, 2020, 06:15:45 pm ---My son's laptop hard drive broke (again, HP used crappy HDs in this model...out of warranty so I installed a SSD). I could not get the windows recovery to work. It would not load the image to the new drive or any drive for that matter. After spending several hours trying different things I looked for another option and found you can create a usb drive install of Windows 10 from Microsoft's website. I went for it though I was worried about licensing since you don't get a Window's license key these days. Well I installed it and it is working and has not asked for any sort of license key. Either Window's somehow knows by the hardware that it is supposed to have Windows on it or perhaps it is just free to use? Not sure? Anyone in the know on this? just curious but mostly glad it is working...for now haha

--- End quote ---

I do this at work all the time. Usually a new hard drive won't require a new windows activation. If Windows 10 was installed on the old Hard Drive the activation will be automatic. Microsoft creates a hardware Id for this weighted on the motherboard ID and the activation will only trigger if more hardware is changed...Usually...

If it does ask for activation, you can still use your windows 7 or windows 8 key. So if its an HP and it still has the windows 7/8 sticker on it that will work.

Finally, I've seen lots of Tech YouTubers report good luck buying keys for cheap. I think ETA Prime mentioned one or two sites where a Windows 10 key is under $20.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

Vocalitus:

--- Quote from: knave on September 24, 2020, 08:01:14 pm ---
--- Quote from: whammoed on September 23, 2020, 06:15:45 pm ---My son's laptop hard drive broke (again, HP used crappy HDs in this model...out of warranty so I installed a SSD). I could not get the windows recovery to work. It would not load the image to the new drive or any drive for that matter. After spending several hours trying different things I looked for another option and found you can create a usb drive install of Windows 10 from Microsoft's website. I went for it though I was worried about licensing since you don't get a Window's license key these days. Well I installed it and it is working and has not asked for any sort of license key. Either Window's somehow knows by the hardware that it is supposed to have Windows on it or perhaps it is just free to use? Not sure? Anyone in the know on this? just curious but mostly glad it is working...for now haha

--- End quote ---

I do this at work all the time. Usually a new hard drive won't require a new windows activation. If Windows 10 was installed on the old Hard Drive the activation will be automatic. Microsoft creates a hardware Id for this weighted on the motherboard ID and the activation will only trigger if more hardware is changed...Usually...

If it does ask for activation, you can still use your windows 7 or windows 8 key. So if its an HP and it still has the windows 7/8 sticker on it that will work.

Finally, I've seen lots of Tech YouTubers report good luck buying keys for cheap. I think ETA Prime mentioned one or two sites where a Windows 10 key is under $20.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

--- End quote ---

Its funny you should mention that as a certain someone (cannot mention their name due to rule 5) gave out the working OEM key for Windows 10. Boy didn't that create a sh*tstorm at Microsoft.

It's better to get a $20 key than getting a knock on your door by the FBI, while you are playing on your 10,000 game arcade cabinet. :laugh2:

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