[SOLVED] Is Kinguin legit?

[Dakeron]

So I've been thinking of building a PC and I've been seeing that Kinguin and other sites like those have way cheaper keys than Microsoft. Are these websites legit and do the keys work? Thanks for taking your time to answer if you choose to do so.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It's a risk whenever you buy from an unauthorized Microsoft reseller. Sometimes the keys get blacklisted.

 

[Dakeron]

It's a risk whenever you buy from an unauthorized Microsoft reseller. Sometimes the keys get blacklisted.

Ok, before I posted this I saw this https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/get-windows-10-free-or-cheap,5717.html and it talks about how kinguin has an open return policy and I was just wondering if that is true

 

[bignastyid]

Considering you have to pay for insurance/buyers protection for protection against buying a fake key, I'd say it can be sketchy.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

As I said earlier, the safest route is to buy from an official retailer like Newegg.

You may have luck you may not. Everyone experiences will be different.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

If you buy the insurance , they will send another key if yours is invalid or already used. That doesn't mean multiples won't get blacklisted. Can be blacklisted at any time. I never tread in those waters , waste of money.

 

[Dakeron]

If you buy the insurance , they will send another key if yours is invalid or already used. That doesn't mean multiples won't get blacklisted. Can be blacklisted at any time. I never tread in those waters , waste of money.

Ok, if I use an unactivated version of windows can anything bad happen?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Nope , you can run Windows 10 unactivated and all you lose is some customization features.

 

[Dakeron]

Nope , you can run Windows 10 unactivated and all you lose is some customization features.

Ok thanks, NightHawkRMX said the same thing but I just wanted to make sure, thanks.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

You can buy a cheapo key and if it works. Boom, money saved.

Or you can buy a cheapo key and it doesnt work. You can either contact support or buy another and risk it not working again. And then if that doesn't work you have to buy an expensive key and end up spending more money than buying an expensive key to begin with.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

https://www.windowscentral.com/you-do-not-need-activate-windows-10

 

[Dakeron]

You can buy a cheapo key and if it works. Boom, money saved.

Or you can buy a cheapo key and it doesnt work. You can either contact support or buy another and risk it not working again. And then if that doesn't work you have to buy an expensive key and end up spending more money than buying an expensive key to begin with.

Ok, so is it a good plan if I buy a cheap key, then if it doesn't work and then I contact support, and if that doesn't help then buy a Microsoft key?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I would just run it unactivated until you can buy a legit key.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I believe more times than not cheap keys work fine. People will have different opinions here, but I have multiple systems in my house running cheap keys for office or windows. These keys haven't failed me yet.

Its a plan for sure, but its arguable whether its a good one.

 

[Gam3r01]

Previous thread for transparency:
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/where-should-i-get-windows-10-from.3529077/#post-21320515

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

My son's friends have used them from those types of sites , some keys stayed legit , a few others weren't so lucky.

 

[Dakeron]

I believe more times than not cheap keys work fine. People will have different opinions here, but I have multiple systems in my house running cheap keys for office or windows. These keys haven't failed me yet.

Its a plan for sure, but its arguable whether its a good one.

Where did you get those keys? All from scdkey?

 

[NightHawkRMX]

The safest things would be to either run windows unactivated or buy a retail key from a site like newegg.

If you want to buy a cheap key, go ahead and you probably will get a working key.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

It doesn't matter where you purchase them from , those type of sites will produce hit and miss results.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Different places.

Ones on my brothers pc so idk where it came from, but he has said it was a cheap key. Still activated.

My windows 10 came from scd keys. Still activated.

The office key on another relatives laptop came from some site seller on bonanza marketplace. Still activated.

I even bought a $3 windows xp key and iso from ebay a while ago since there is no way to buy a key from Microsoft for xp anymore. Havent used the key yet but the iso is legit.

Also, ebay has a 30 day guarentee on everything so that may be a safer route.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...n-how-to/a14aeb57-53a6-4bc0-8cb0-6f62307348a7

 

[Gam3r01]

Different places.

Ones on my brothers pc so idk where it came from, but he has said it was a cheap key. Still activated.

My windows 10 came from scd keys. Still activated.

The office key on another relatives laptop came from some site seller on bonanza marketplace. Still activated.

I even bought a $3 windows xp key and iso from ebay a while ago since there is no way to buy a key from Microsoft for xp anymore. Havent used the key yet but the iso is legit.

Also, ebay has a 30 day guarentee on everything so that may be a safer route.

I doubt ebay's buyer protection applies to windows keys getting blacklisted by MS themselves.
While its still considered getting scammed by ebay's terms, its not like they are going to take your side against MS.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

It doesn't matter where you purchase them from , those type of sites will produce hit and miss results.

Even legit sites may have a hiccup occasionally.

These cheaper keys are a lot more sketcy tho.

As linus says "your milage may vary".
It may work it may not.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

It doesn't matter where you purchase them from , those type of sites will produce hit and miss results.

Even legit sites may have a hiccup occasionally.

These cheaper keys are a lot more sketcy tho.

As linus says "your milage may vary".
It may work it may not.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I doubt ebay's buyer protection applies to windows keys getting blacklisted by MS themselves.
While its still considered getting scammed by ebay's terms, its not like they are going to take your side against MS.

Not sure. They do usually side with the buyer.

I would assume if the seller straight up fakes a key and gives you a key that doesnt exist ebay would side with the buyer.