Pre built PC Windows10

[equilibrium814]

The Pre built PC I plan to buy does not come with an OS. This means that when I turn the PC on, it has a trial of windows. To permanently get windows, do I have to either enter a windows10 product key or do I have to attain a windows10 licence and what is the difference between them?
Many websites like software geeks are selling the product keys for windows for £10-20. Are these legitimate? There are also websites that have a list of generic key codes. The main question is to permanently get windows do I need a product key or a licence and how do I do it and what is the difference between them. PS: I have never used windows10 before so have no previous product key.

 

[bignastyid]

The Pre built PC I plan to buy does not come with an OS. This means that when I turn the PC on, it has a trial of windows. To permanently get windows, do I have to either enter a windows10 product key or do I have to attain a windows10 licence and what is the difference between them?

The product key is a license

Many websites like software geeks are selling the product keys for windows for £10-20. Are these legitimate?

No, there are many many problems with these cheap key sites, non of which are authorized Microsoft resellers

There are also websites that have a list of generic key codes.

This is not legitimate at all.

The main question is to permanently get windows do I need a product key or a licence and how do I do it and what is the difference between them. PS: I have never used windows10 before so have no previous product key.

Buy a key from a legitimate Microsoft retailer which is going to cost ~$100 depending on version and any sales. If it is significantly cheaper it's like going to be bad or end up that way after some time.

 

[equilibrium814]

@bignastid
Aside from legitimacy, with or without a few phone calls, does it work? £10 and £100 is a lot, and getting the £10 code enables more to spend extra money to get a freesync monitor and an rx580 8gb but if I go for MS, I will get a gtx1050ti and v sync. I have seen on other threads people saying it worked and if it doesn't, I can always get a refund.

 

[USAFRet]

@bignastid
Aside from legitimacy, with or without a few phone calls, does it work? £10 and £100 is a lot, and getting the £10 code enables more to spend extra money to get a freesync monitor and an rx580 8gb but if I go for MS, I will get a gtx1050ti and v sync. I have seen on other threads people saying it worked and if it doesn't, I can always get a refund.

It might work for a while, then unactivate itself.
And "always get a refund" is absolutely not a truism.

We've seen cases here where they just give you a big runaround, or simply ignore.

Licensed software is no different than the hardware you're buying. If you see it significantly cheaper than retail, you have to ask yourself....why.
It costs what it costs.

 

[equilibrium814]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from equilibrium814 : "Win10- do I have to use a usb for product key activation?"

I have a PC with a trial of windows. To permanently have windows, I need a product key? By purchasing a cheap code from ebay, I will receive an emailed code. Can I just enter it or do I HAVE to convert it to an ISO file disc or enter a USB? I really don't want to go through that. I also don't have any other system to transfer the usb from. Is there any way of just going to settings and entering a code.

I have a PC with a trial of windows. To permanently have windows, I need a product key? By purchasing a cheap code from ebay, I will receive an emailed code. Can I just enter it or do I HAVE to convert it to an ISO file disc or enter a USB? I really don't want to go through that. I also don't have any other system to transfer the usb from. Is there any way of just going to settings and entering a code.

1. There is no "trial" version of Win 10.
There is only activated or unactivated.

2. A cheap license from fleabay is unlikely to be a valid license. Yes, it may work for a while, and yes, you'll get several comments in here saying "oh yeah...sure...I bought one and its fine"
It is not.

3. No, you do nott have to do a full reinstall, no matter where you obtain your license key from. You can apply a valid license key to a current install.
Assuming, of course, your current install came direct from Microsoft, and not from somewhere weird.

Where did this current install come from?

@USAFRet
Pc specialist's configure a pc section. Not getting an OS saves £100 enabling me to get an rx 580 8gb gpu instead of a 1050ti.So I basically get windows but I can't change the background I'm assuming?(an unactivated version).
If that's the case, I don't care... would upgrading ram be a hassle( do I need to install drivers or wait for windows to process the upgrade?

@USAFRet
Pc specialist's configure a pc section. Not getting an OS saves £100 enabling me to get an rx 580 8gb gpu instead of a 1050ti.So I basically get windows but I can't change the background I'm assuming?(an unactivated version).
If that's the case, I don't care... would upgrading ram be a hassle( do I need to install drivers or wait for windows to process the upgrade?

It "saves" £100, because that's what a valid Win 10 license costs.
It will run in its present Unactivated state, for seemingly forever.
I have an Unactivated Win 10 Pro installed in a VM instance to test exactly this.
Dec 8 2016, just short of 2 years. Works exactly the same as Day 1.

For RAM?
Mixing in new RAM sticks is always a crapshoot. It might work, it might fail.

@USAFRet
Great! I can just select "no OS".
Thanks!