Windows OS Activation

[dexter123]

I have a doubt regarding windows activation.

If a random code I entered activates windows succesfully, then can I use the OS. Is there any problem?
What if someone buys that code and couldn't get activated?

 

[Barty1884]

A random code you made up? Or a keygen?

Either way, if you haven't purchased a legit key; I wouldn't bank on the activation remaining for any period of time at all.

 

[dexter123]

Random code not with keygen.

Keygen can't be activated successfully.

 

[USAFRet]

I have a doubt regarding windows activation.

If a random code I entered activates windows succesfully, then can I use the OS. Is there any problem?
What if someone buys that code and couldn't get activated?

Please describe this "random code".

Some otherwise valid license key you found online? If so, someone else already used it.
If it is 'activated' today...before long it WILL return as unactivated.

Some random bunch of characters? It won't read as a valid license key.

Again...please describe.

 

[derekullo]

There are 3 possibilities of you entering a random code.

1. You choose random letters and numbers and your code isn't valid. "Microsoft Laughs"

2. You choose random letters and numbers and your code happens to be valid but it was used by some one else already. Meaning you can't use it. "Microsoft Laughs"

3. You choose random letters and numbers and your code happens to be valid and no one has used it yet. You claim this code for your own and weeks, months, years go by and some one buys the code from newegg and goes to use it and it is taken. "Other user cries"

The biggest problem with #3 is you have a larger chance of winning the lottery than randomly entering a correct code.

Each key is 25 digits long.

Each character can be A-Z (26), only capital, and 0-9 (10) giving a total of 36 values for each of the 25 digits.

25^36 is a very large number ... 2.1175824e+50

2 followed by 50 zeroes

 

[dexter123]

3. That's what I asked

 

[dexter123]

But will I have a problem on using such code?

 

[USAFRet]

3. That's what I asked

Highly unlikely you can choose some random combination of 25 characters that would pass as a "valid" license key.
And in the 0.0000001% chance it does, that it would stay activated.

That's like going to some site, and entering a random bunch of characters for a username, and a random bunch of characters for the password.
And hoping the site would give you access to an existing account.

 

[derekullo]

My googlefu tells me that your chance of winning the lottery is 1 in 175 million or 1 in 1.75e8

Your chance of guessing a correct number is the number of valid codes / 2.1175824e50.

Lets say Microsoft made 1 trillion codes, 1e12.

That would be 2.1175824e50 / 1e12 or roughly 1 in 2.1175824e38 chance of guessing the correct code.

You are roughly 2.1175824e38 / 1.75e8 or 1.2100471e42 times more likely to win the lottery than to guess the code.

1.21 Tredecillions lol
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_large_numbers

Assuming 1 trillion is close to the available amount of codes and this isn't taking into account codes that have already been used, but I can't see any number being significant since we are using a hypothetical 1 trillion codes.

My advise is to start guessing lottery numbers instead.


PS: A slightly more humorous way to say it would be 1 in 0.42 googol

 

[Rogue Leader]

Also little fun fact about windows keys, while there is of course a certain number of combinations that could fit the number of characters of a windows key. There are also certain rules like certain letters that can only be combined with a number, etc. It limits the number of keys available but also makes sure that any random number will not work.

 

[USAFRet]

Also, there are some characters that are NOT used.

It is a complex algorithm for a valid license. It is not just 25 random characters.

 

[starfola]

I'd just rather <REDACTED by Moderator>

 

[USAFRet]

I'd just rather <REDACTED by Moderator>

Yeah...around here, we don't recommend most of what you said.

 

[DSzymborski]

It's no different than putting in random credit card numbers in the hope you can find the right number so some poor sucker can pay for your online order rather than you. Buy stuff that you're going to use instead of stealing; that you appear to be trying to steal in a very ineffective manner doesn't make what you wish to do legit.

 

[USAFRet]

I think this has run its course.

OP...what you seek will not work.