I have been looking for the cheapest way to get any copy of windows legally. What would be the cheapest way to get it? I found this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Windows-7-Professional-SP1-32-64-bit-license-key-FREE-UPGRADE-TO-WINDOWS-10-/252118127392 but I really doubt its legal. Is it? Oh and no I am not a college student so I can't get it free.
Cheap Legal Windows License?
- Thread starter elliot123
- Start date
Solution
- Jul 27, 2011
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Those aren't really legitimate. They're pulled from deactivated licenses, enterprise and educational versions - all of which do not fall under the Microsoft EULA. The only cheap, fully legal version you can own is the OEM version. Pay $100 or use a freeware Linux. Anything key not directly obtained from Microsoft or an authorized OEM partner like Digital River is *NOT* legitimate.
- Jul 27, 2011
- 42,876
- 885
- 104,940
No - the keys sold on sites like G2A are recirculated keys (as in they were generated by non Microsoft verified sources), the warranty on the software will be voided by Microsoft because that's a direct EULA violation and you will not be able to get support for it.
jsmithepa
Polypheme
- Jun 14, 2014
- 13,091
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- 60,840
There are no cheap MS licenses. Whatever cheapy you get may work for a while, then at some point, MS catches up and then you stop.
I buy OEM from Amazon, look at the reviews, it should say it will install on a new machine. OEM says you get no support (who calls MS for support these days, be on hold for 45 mins, and only get the "company's line" anyways), and it suppose to work for your installed machine only and not transferrable, even if that box dies, but in reality I found it can be transferred, albeit needing a longish re-registration process, needless to say, one active box at a time.
You get a "student rate" from these OEM, 30-40% off retail. Don't jump on it right away, the prices go up and down.
I buy OEM from Amazon, look at the reviews, it should say it will install on a new machine. OEM says you get no support (who calls MS for support these days, be on hold for 45 mins, and only get the "company's line" anyways), and it suppose to work for your installed machine only and not transferrable, even if that box dies, but in reality I found it can be transferred, albeit needing a longish re-registration process, needless to say, one active box at a time.
You get a "student rate" from these OEM, 30-40% off retail. Don't jump on it right away, the prices go up and down.
- Jan 1, 2013
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Baumy15 - these keys from reddit & gta2 etc (3rd party vendors) have the ability to fail after a few months if they're flagged on ms servers.
Thing is though once you've updated to win10 I would say there's really no need to worry - if its activated its activated & the win8 key you purchased is now defunct anyway.
These 3 rd party keys come from various sources - some legit, some not but always a risk.
I bought a big batch of win7 keys ages ago from someone who bought 20 systems all with official OEM keys & labels but no preinstalled or activated windows os.
These were to be used as a Linux based server system so windows was not required - he removed the labels & physically sent them to me so I had physical copies of all registration keys which is obviously different to just buying a key via email.
Thing is though once you've updated to win10 I would say there's really no need to worry - if its activated its activated & the win8 key you purchased is now defunct anyway.
These 3 rd party keys come from various sources - some legit, some not but always a risk.
I bought a big batch of win7 keys ages ago from someone who bought 20 systems all with official OEM keys & labels but no preinstalled or activated windows os.
These were to be used as a Linux based server system so windows was not required - he removed the labels & physically sent them to me so I had physical copies of all registration keys which is obviously different to just buying a key via email.
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