[SOLVED] Questionable Amazon Seller Suspect Copy of Windows 10?

[ss_56]

Newegg wants $140 for a full version Retail copy of windows 10 Home with the activation key. After looking on Amazon for a retail version, I find a Pro full version with key for only $125. Now here is where it gets interesting.
I emailed the seller to find out about his return policy and i also mentioned how one of the reviewers said that he had received a Key that microsoft said 'was used too many times'; huh?
So this seller misreads my inquiry and writes back saying "please use this key" and he has sent me a win 10 activation key! Huh? His second email was to say that he had misread my question.

What's up with these product activation keys? Where do they come from? Is it possible that i could make my own ISO and use that key the seller mistakenly sent?
Thanks y'all

 

[howtobeironic]

Overall, yeah, suspicious.
Though it's not cheap, check this: https://www.howtogeek.com/392080/cheap-windows-10-keys-do-they-work/
Most of the times, the keys that are cheap (though I talk about 15-20 dollars) are stolen or fradulent keys, obtained from:
*Student versions
*Volume Licensing keys (intended for business use)
*Purchase via stolen credit cards
*Purchased from grayzone (another country where key is cheaper)
*Ripped-off OEM keys (computer repair shops sometimes rip the key from computers that come for repairs)
*Keygen keys (Illegitimate keys)
*Even the dummy key that's used to install but not activate (google "windows dummy keys" to compare)

These usually work for a bit (sometimes up to a year) before they are blacklisted by Microsoft.

If you have a year to give in you are free to make an ISO and install it in a VM. I'd not recommend using it as an actual key though, until you can verify the genuinity.

 

[DSzymborski]

Where are you located? NewEgg sells Windows 10 Home for $105 and Windows 10 Pro for $146 at the moment.

 

[ss_56]

I'd not recommend using it as an actual key though, until you can verify the genuinity.

Thanks, that's a very inlightning article. I read another while i was there that said there's a chance i could use my win 7 key to activate 10. I will try that first and one the key that seller sent, how can i verify it's genuineness? ask microsoft if it's good? Just try it and see what happens? thanks

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks, that's a very inlightning article. I read another while i was there that said there's a chance i could use my win 7 key to activate 10. I will try that first and one the key that seller sent, how can i verify it's genuineness? ask microsoft if it's good? Just try it and see what happens? thanks

You can't really verify its full genuineness.

It may work initially and report as Activated. Then, 6 months later, when it has failed to check in with its corporate license sever...poof...Unactivated.
Yes, this happens.

A valid Win 7 license should work to activate a new Win 10 install.

 

[ss_56]

Where are you located? NewEgg sells Windows 10 Home for $105 and Windows 10 Pro for $146 at the moment.

I'm in the u.s. looks like the oem or system builder version have the lower prices. here at newegg, the retail had the 139.99 price. Of course i'm still working to get it free and maybe just run it unactivated for a while

 

[ss_56]

A valid Win 7 license should work to activate a new Win 10 install.

Yep, i hope cause that's what i'll try first. Thanks!

 

[ss_56]

Hey guys; when i downloaded copy of 10 with the microsoft tool, i chose the option to get the 64 bit version but i never saw whether i was downloading the home or the pro. Is that part contained in the license? If so, and my windows 7 home key works then i'd be getting 10 home, right?

 

[howtobeironic]

Yeah, you can activate a Win10 with 7/8/8.1 key. I have done this on one of my laptops and had no complications, been one and a half year. https://www.howtogeek.com/266072/yo...ws-10-for-free-with-a-windows-7-8-or-8.1-key/ has the guide, make sure you get the license key ready if it asks you. You can find the key using LicenseCrawler or ProduKey. You install as usual (yes, it'll ask if you want to install Pro or Home while there)

For a Windows 7(or 8/8.1 if they have those stickers that has the code on them, or if you bought Windows boxed), you enter the key when it asks during the install.

For 8/8.1 where key is not on the sticker but etched on BIOS you choose "I don't have a product key" and Windows sorts you out in the first boot reading the key there.

If your OS was a Windows 8 in the start but you downgraded it to 7 (like I saw on a second-hand PC) download RWEverything, fire it up, ACPI>MSDM is where the key is.

Do a backup.

Keep in mind that this will tie that code to that PC, you won't be able to use it on another PC/even on same PC if you want to go back to the older OS (though Windows gives you 30 days to rewind if you do a upgrade install, but you should do a clean install after backup while there)

 

[ss_56]

Yeah, you can activate a Win10 with 7/8/8.1 key. I have done this on one of my laptops and had no complications, been one and a half year. https://www.howtogeek.com/266072/yo...ws-10-for-free-with-a-windows-7-8-or-8.1-key/ has the guide, make sure you get the license key ready if it asks you. You can find the key using LicenseCrawler or ProduKey. You install as usual (yes, it'll ask if you want to install Pro or Home while there)

For a Windows 7(or 8/8.1 if they have those stickers that has the code on them, or if you bought Windows boxed), you enter the key when it asks during the install.

For 8/8.1 where key is not on the sticker but etched on BIOS you choose "I don't have a product key" and Windows sorts you out in the first boot reading the key there.

If your OS was a Windows 8 in the start but you downgraded it to 7 (like I saw on a second-hand PC) download RWEverything, fire it up, ACPI>MSDM is where the key is.

Do a backup.

Keep in mind that this will tie that code to that PC, you won't be able to use it on another PC/even on same PC if you want to go back to the older OS (though Windows gives you 30 days to rewind if you do a upgrade install, but you should do a clean install after backup while there)

that's good news; i feel reassured. i think i may feel some excitement brewing over here Cheers

 

[ss_56]

Yeah, you can activate a Win10 with 7/8/8.1 key.

Still not clear on one point. If my Windows 7 64bit Home Premium Key does work, will i have to get windows 10 Home version or would my 7 home license let me get windows 10 Pro? The only reason i'd want Pro is for the Update feature. thanks

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Hey guys; when i downloaded copy of 10 with the microsoft tool, i chose the option to get the 64 bit version but i never saw whether i was downloading the home or the pro. Is that part contained in the license? If so, and my windows 7 home key works then i'd be getting 10 home, right?

Correct. The key used determines which version gets activated. Use a Home key, get Home.

 

[ss_56]

Correct. The key used determines which version gets activated. Use a Home key, get Home.

That makes too much sense; thanks. Do you happen to know about a freeware that lets you pick and choose when you want windows 10 updates to take place?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

That makes too much sense; thanks. Do you happen to know about a freeware that lets you pick and choose when you want windows 10 updates to take place?

Why do you want to use 3rd party software to do this when it's built into Windows 10?

 

[ss_56]

Why do you want to use 3rd party software to do this when it's built into Windows 10?

I had heard that Pro has a built in updates 'manager' but with the Home version, updates happen when MS sends them, which could interrupt my work. You say the home version has a way to deal with that? thanks

 

[Wolfshadw]

This article is pretty old and I'm not sure it's even valid anymore, but you used to be able to set up Windows Update for manual updates by setting your network connection to "Metered". Essentially, you're telling Windows that you're on a WiFi connection that costs you money and to NOT download any updates without your express permission. Now at the time this article came out, it didn't matter if you had an Ethernet connection or not. This setting overrode what Windows would detect.

Meter your Ethernet connection in Windows 10

A Registry Editor hack lets you limit your data usage over a wired connection.

www.cnet.com

-Wolf sends

Edit: This article deals with editing the registry, so take the normal precautions like backing it up before making any changes.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

1903 added additional control over when updates happen.

 

[ss_56]

This article is pretty old and I'm not sure it's even valid anymore, but you used to be able to set up Windows Update for manual updates by setting your network connection to "Metered". Essentially, you're telling Windows that you're on a WiFi connection that costs you money and to NOT download any updates without your express permission. Now at the time this article came out, it didn't matter if you had an Ethernet connection or not. This setting overrode what Windows would detect.

Meter your Ethernet connection in Windows 10

A Registry Editor hack lets you limit your data usage over a wired connection.

www.cnet.com

-Wolf sends

Edit: This article deals with editing the registry, so take the normal precautions like backing it up before making any changes.

Thank you; i also read another article on that but it was a year old. I'm sure there'll be a way to deal with it. We are supposed to at least get a restart notification. That freeware thing was probably the registry hack you mention. That would be a last resort for me Help appreciated! Cheers

 

[ss_56]

1903 added additional control over when updates happen.

Will that 1903 update package download automatically today? thanks

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Will that 1903 update package download automatically today? thanks

As 1903 is the current version, yes, that's what will be downloaded from the official site.

 

[britechguy]

To make @ex_bubblehead's statement even more definitive: Every time Microsoft does a Feature Update (which is what changes the Windows 10 Version and Build numbers) the ISO file that downloads or the bootable USB that is created via the Media Creation Tool (MCT) will be for that version.

It is easy to know which MCT version you have because Microsoft started attaching the version number to the MCT executable name as well. The only versions of the MCT that will work are for those Windows 10 versions still under support, and even those near the very end of their support life will end up with the MCT saying that you need to download a fresh copy of the MCT to get the latest Windows 10. When I last downloaded the MCT in May, its full name was MediaCreationTool1903.exe. In checking on the Windows 10 Download Page, it has unsurprisingly maintained that name up through the date of this writing. Once 1909 comes out the name will change accordingly.

 

[ss_56]

full name was MediaCreationTool1903.exe.

Thanks for that; i just looked and that's the one i just put onto my flash drive. Do you think the 1903 includes the 'anniversary' one? i heard it's needed if you want to do the windows 7 key trick

 

[britechguy]

There is no "Windows 7 Key Trick." Windows 10 will activate with an UNUSED Windows 7 key regardless of the version being installed.

If you have a system with Windows 7 already on it, you can still upgrade at no cost, and the installer takes care of converting the existing Windows 7 license into a Windows 10 license.

Note well, the Media Creation Tool is NOT what you use to install Windows 10, it's what you use to either download the ISO file or create bootable USB media directly.

 

[ss_56]

There is no "Windows 7 Key Trick." Windows 10 will activate with an UNUSED Windows 7 key regardless of the version being installed.

If you have a system with Windows 7 already on it, you can still upgrade at no cost, and the installer takes care of converting the existing Windows 7 license into a Windows 10 license.

Note well, the Media Creation Tool is NOT what you use to install Windows 10, it's what you use to either download the ISO file or create bootable USB media directly.

Yes, i used the creator tool and made a bootable usb and i will be doing a fresh install of windows 10 cause i'm getting a new motherboard, etc. I've reinstalled my copy of win7 a couple times on my current pc, so when you said "unused' 7 key then that means i won't be able to use it to install 10. aargh

 

[Jason H.]

I just buy OEM keys as I dont change hardware a lot and windows allows you to connect your microsoft account to your license which means anytime you re-install, u just have to log into your microsoft account to get your activation back instead of entering a code again.

I paid 12$ with a discount and have had no issues so far. but thats just me.