Upgrading to Windows 10 from pirated 8.1

[anoori9000]

I really do not understand why everyone has an issue with G2A.

He bought it, and it worked, that should have been the end of the story and not sparked more discussion.

It's not like he was put in danger, as he can get a refund if the key doesn't work AT ANY POINT IN TIME, whether it be 3 months, or the next day.

Those keys are probably NOT pirated. My assumption is that they are retail keys that no one wants anymore which they then sell, or students selling their keys they got for free. It is not really specified and no one has any evidence to call these pirated keys, nor I have evidence that they are retail or student keys.

I helped him get a real key instead of having a pirated one. What is so horrible about that?

 

[USAFRet]

Your 'assumption' is probably incorrect.
MSDN, TechNet, adademic, and corporate licenses are the norm. All of those Not For Resale.

In addition, per the MS licensing, you cannot sell 'just the key'. It must be accompanied with the COA, original receipt, and install media to transfer to another person.

You can read the relevant MS licensing here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx

 

[anoori9000]

Your 'assumption' is probably incorrect.
MSDN, TechNet, adademic, and corporate licenses are the norm. All of those Not For Resale.

In addition, per the MS licensing, you cannot sell 'just the key'. It must be accompanied with the COA, original receipt, and install media to transfer to another person.

You can read the relevant MS licensing here:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/IntellectualProperty/UseTerms/Default.aspx

Right. Like I said, none of us have evidence. I tried making that clear.

If it's such a big issue, then MS should do something about it, and you should close this thread...

 

[Someone Somewhere]

It's not like he was put in danger, as he can get a refund if the key doesn't work AT ANY POINT IN TIME, whether it be 3 months, or the next day.

I have seen several cases of people who talk to G2A about getting a refund, and are simply ignored.

Those keys are probably NOT pirated. My assumption is that they are retail keys that no one wants anymore which they then sell, or students selling their keys they got for free. It is not really specified and no one has any evidence to call these pirated keys, nor I have evidence that they are retail or student keys.

Extremely unlikely for them to be end users selling retail keys, and even if they are, as above you are forbidden to transfer just the key.

My guess would be that they're either MSDN keys, or bought with stolen credit cards to launder the funds. The latter is the cause of a bunch of game keys being revoked last year; I expect Windows is similar.

Would anyone with a G2A key mind posting their Product ID? This can show if it's MSDN or retail, but isn't enough to identify your key.

 

[Jonathan Cave]

USAFRet The key he bought is listed as OEM (as is mine) My key did not come with a COA.

When you buy a from someone like scan http://www.scan.co.uk/products/microsoft-windows-7-pro-sp1-64-bit-english-1pc-oem-dvd Does this come with a COA?

 

[Jonathan Cave]

Someone i will post you my Product ID private ok ?

 

[USAFRet]

Those keys are probably NOT pirated. My assumption is that they are retail keys that no one wants anymore which they then sell, or students selling their keys they got for free. It is not really specified and no one has any evidence to call these pirated keys, nor I have evidence that they are retail or student keys.

Some guy in Britain selling 8.1 with a 99% approval rating (27,763) is not someone selling a retail key they no longer want, nor a student selling a (not for resale) free student license.

 

[USAFRet]

USAFRet The key he bought is listed as OEM (as is mine) My key did not come with a COA.

When you buy a from someone like scan http://www.scan.co.uk/products/microsoft-windows-7-pro-sp1-64-bit-english-1pc-oem-dvd Does this come with a COA?

And OEM licenses are not transferable to someone else, without the original hardware, the COA, etc, etc.

Buying from a valid retailer (Amazon, for instance), yes it does come with the COA, etc.

 

[Jonathan Cave]

Those keys are probably NOT pirated. My assumption is that they are retail keys that no one wants anymore which they then sell, or students selling their keys they got for free. It is not really specified and no one has any evidence to call these pirated keys, nor I have evidence that they are retail or student keys.

Some guy in Britain selling 8.1 with a 99% approval rating (27,763) is not someone selling a retail key they no longer want, nor a student selling a (not for resale) free student license.

Let's track them down and ask him how he/she is selling so cheap

 

[freiord]

No, but you can buy 8.1 for only $25 here: https://www.g2a.com/microsoft-windows-8-1-professional-32-64-bit-oem-cd-key-global.html

Now these keys are from students selling them, but they have a money back guarantee so if it doesn't work they give you a new one or your money

This. ^

 

[Someone Somewhere]

USAFRet The key he bought is listed as OEM (as is mine) My key did not come with a COA.

When you buy a from someone like scan http://www.scan.co.uk/products/microsoft-windows-7-pro-sp1-64-bit-english-1pc-oem-dvd Does this come with a COA?

Yes. You're legally required to affix the CoA to the machine that you use the software on, or the license isn't valid.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Those keys are probably NOT pirated. My assumption is that they are retail keys that no one wants anymore which they then sell, or students selling their keys they got for free. It is not really specified and no one has any evidence to call these pirated keys, nor I have evidence that they are retail or student keys.

Some guy in Britain selling 8.1 with a 99% approval rating (27,763) is not someone selling a retail key they no longer want, nor a student selling a (not for resale) free student license.

Let's track them down and ask him how he/she is selling so cheap

Games not Windows, but:

before those keys were put up for sale on the secondary market, they were sourced with stolen credit cards on Electronic Arts' Origin service.

Source: http://www.polygon.com/2015/2/9/8006693/the-truth-behind-those-mysteriously-cheap-gray-market-game-codes

 

[USAFRet]

Timely comment in a similar thread

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2536786/g2a-windows-safe-buy.html

 

[sora]

Can someone who's got a pirated - activated version of Windows 8.1 pro upgrade to Windows 10 safely?

I think you will need a legitimate version to upgrade to Windows 10 safely.

 

[aocaocxbox]

I don't really see what the problem is.

Also, why should this thread be closed when the question I asked is a perfectly good question?

 

[USAFRet]

I don't really see what the problem is.

Also, why should this thread be closed when the question I asked is a perfectly good question?

Pirated software is a very touchy subject here.

But in answer to your question: "Can someone who's got a pirated - activated version of Windows 8.1 pro upgrade to Windows 10 safely? "

The only answer is 'maybe'
It may or may not upgrade, but a pirated Win 7 or 8.1, that does upgrade to Win 10, will remain pirated.
Upgrading to Win 10 does not change the legitimacy status.

 

[Jonathan Cave]

I have personally witnessed people upgrading from Windows 7 ultimate (Pirated) to Windows 10 FREE and the licence shows as 'Windows is Activated' under system. They have since formatted and reinstalled Windows 10 from scratch and it's still activated - and that was 5 months ago.

Makes me feel like MS don't care about piracy as the data they collect is worth more ?

Makes you think doesn't it...

 

[Saberus]

I think it's more they've done the math, and it has zero to do with the data collection. I think they've figured out to chase down pirated copies would cost $XX in assorted court costs, while it would generate an expected return of $YY, and project losses of $ZZ due to the bad PR generated. Why losses to bad PR? Because we know the media and public are going to look at it as the big corp picking on the little guy. After all is said and done, they find that $YY is less than $XX + $ZZ. They might not 'care' because it would only cost them more to chase them down.

I'd prefer to avoid the whole situation entirely by purchasing legal licenses if I'm using Windows.