Windows 10, looks like BOX but have card with OEM licensed key - legal or not?

[atari144khz]

Hi Guys

I just bought from eBay Windows 10 Pro in french language. From the outside, it looks like a typical BOX, like this one for example: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/05vl06yMdRQ/maxresdefault.jpg , but it contains OEM licensed key (I was aiming at BOX license). Sticker from the box informs that this is 32-BIT/64-BIT system. There is everything inside like in typical Win 10 BOX. The card with the key has a printed text "RETAIL" but I don't know if this is a information relating directly to the key or just some production information. No matter how I did not check this key, it always comes out that it is an OEM licensed key. I checked it through the Windows Product ID, the "slmgr /dli" command in cmd.exe, and in ShowKey Plus program. I also checked code "FQC-09104" from the box's sticker, in the Google, but different sellers have different information about license. Sometimes according to them it's BOX or Retail license, sometimes it's just a OEM license. I meet with version like this for the first time and I don't know if it is legal or maybe not and I should open a dispute? So far I have known that only 32-BIT / 64-BIT versions are sold under the BOX license, but maybe I was wrong?

 

[Colif]

Retail = full version of Win 10. For instance, Microsoft Retail 32/64Bit MS Windows Home 10 (KW9-00017) USB Flash Drive is available online, in a box that looks alot like the example you showed.

Two versions of Windows you can buy, Retail & OEM. Difference is packaging, and retail may allow you to move the install to more than one PC over time.

So all box had in it was the key? no USB? You can download a program that creates the USB but I would have thought it would be in box already.

I would ask Microsoft direct, they are the best ones to answer questions about legality of what you got.

 

[The Paladin]

call Microsoft and ask them about the license validity https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/10749/windows-product-key