30$ Kinguin Windows 10

[potatob738]

Hello.

So I've got a small company and I have to buy window for the main pc.
Do I really have to pay almost 200$ for the retail version ? Or the OEM version from Kinguin is okay too (legal).Can I pass an inspection with it?
Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Hello.

So I've got a small company and I have to buy window for the main pc.
Do I really have to pay almost 200$ for the retail version ? Or the OEM version from Kinguin is okay too (legal).Can I pass an inspection with it?
Thanks!

You're going to get several competing opinions on this.
From me...Kinguin is not a valid source for licensed software.
For a company system, really, really not a valid source. At all.

Now...break out the popcorn and watch what happens.

 

[Barty1884]

"Legal" in the sense you won't get arrested, absolutely.

BUT, we do frequently see people who purchase from Kinguin (or similar sites) have their activation fail - either initially, or in time.

Kinguin et al are just marketplaces, where anybody can sell. Potential for the the keys to be volume licenses that are not allowed to be resold OR, have been legally purchased with stolen credit cards - in those scenarios (and others), you may activate initially, only to revert to unactivated in future.

I would highly recommend not going this route.

 

[USAFRet]

Hello.

So I've got a small company and I have to buy window for the main pc.
Do I really have to pay almost 200$ for the retail version ? Or the OEM version from Kinguin is okay too (legal).Can I pass an inspection with it?
Thanks!

Which version of Windows are you looking at, Home or Pro?

 

[jimmysmitty]

If you are a business do not purchase a key from a third party site that is not an official Microsoft reseller. Purchase a key from someone like Newegg, Amazon etc. A certified reseller.

The main reason is that even as a small business if Microsoft so wishes they will contact you to do an audit of what you have and if they find a key is invalid or incorrect they will fine you beyond just having you purchase a new key. This happens more often with businesses, small or large. DO NOT put yourself at risk.

You can get Pro OEM for less than $150 on Newegg:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832588491&cm_re=windows_10_pro-_-32-588-491-_-Product

Not worth the risk. The issue with the Kniguin, or similar keys, is the validity of them. There is a chance it is a Volume License key which can be deactivated at any time. At least with the one I linked its a guaranteed and official product and not a toss up.

 

[King_V]

And, should you need more than one license, as a business, you can probably get a reasonable deal from Microsoft with a Volume Licensing arrangement.

Disclaimer: I know that, in theory. I personally have never done so, so consider what I'm telling you to be secondhand information.

 

[jimmysmitty]

And, should you need more than one license, as a business, you can probably get a reasonable deal from Microsoft with a Volume Licensing arrangement.

Disclaimer: I know that, in theory. I personally have never done so, so consider what I'm telling you to be secondhand information.

This is correct. You become what is called a "Microsoft Partner" and get a key that works for what you need for so many activations.

I know this because I work in an IT department for a medium sized company (over 1K employees) and we have around 500 systems and maybe 20 or so servers and that is what we use for Office and Windows.

 

[mgallo848]

For a home PC I might consider it. For a business, I wouldn't take the chance. Plus:

1: You could write off the OS purchase as a business expense.
2: You could try to contact Microsoft directly. They may offer you a discount package depending on how many keys you need to buy.

 

[SkyBill40]

Yeah, no. Either buy it from a guaranteed and reputable seller or take your chances of being burned with no recourse. The choice seems obvious to me.

 

[mgallo848]

Just saw this Tom's Hardware article from last week. They reference buying keys from Kinguin in the article. I would read it and decide for yourself.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/get-windows-10-free-or-cheap,5717.html

 

[Onus]

The article contains sufficient [buried] caveats that, for a Home user, who know's what he's doing, a Kinguin key might be a reasonable choice; for a business user, I personally wouldn't do it, so can't in good conscience recommend that you (or anyone else) do it.

 

[jimmysmitty]

The article contains sufficient [buried] caveats that, for a Home user, who know's what he's doing, a Kinguin key might be a reasonable choice; for a business user, I personally wouldn't do it, so can't in good conscience recommend that you (or anyone else) do it.

This.

As a home user the worst that will happen is it gets deactivated and Microsoft will sell you a key for $X and it will be genuine.

As a business Microsoft will audit you then they will fine you $X amount on top of having to pay for a genuine license or licenses.