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Almost tempted to blow $20 just to see if it works.
There are several $20-$30 W10 key offers on Amazon
Gotta be a catch somewhere here.
Sure beats spending $150-$200 for an OEM or FULL version.

Thoughts welcome!

https://www.amazon.com/windows10-Profes ... ofessional

If you have to ask...

I'm pretty sure you can't legitimately buy Windows for Education if you're not a school.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessi ... s10upgrade

You can still upgrade Windows 7 or 8.1 for free. I have a feeling MS isn't going to close this loophole until they see adoption rate and marketshare numbers they can live with.

bthylafh wrote:

If you have to ask...
I'm pretty sure you can't legitimately buy Windows for Education if you're not a school.

That is the whole point of asking...
I don't want anything to come around in the future and bite me.
Thanks.

I've picked up cheap keys from Amazon and eBay before and they activate just fine.

ozzuneoj wrote:

I've picked up cheap keys from Amazon and eBay before and they activate just fine.

Good to know.

I know, I'll take the Retail W10 off my 1700 Ryzen and put it on my
Threadripper build next month in Sept.
And for only $20 vs $149 OEM, I'll put this $20 key on the Ryzen 1700.

You can put W7 on Ryzen but you will get no Microsoft updates.

Thanks.

jmc2 wrote:

I know, I'll take the Retail W10 off my 1700 Ryzen and put it on my
Threadripper build next month in Sept.
And for only $20 vs $149 OEM, I'll put this $20 key on the Ryzen 1700.

Microsoft has tightened the screws on Windows Activation in one of the recent updates, if you do this you may end up permanently breaking the license you already have. The old Windows Vista/7/8 method of spitting out that eight-block hash and then phoning the automated service for a new hash has been deprecated.

If you want to skirt the hairy edge of legality but at least have a legit license key that won't raise any flags, search "Windows 10 Pro OEM 64" on eBay and then pick any high-rated seller that is offering sealed OEM/system builder packs for less than $50. So far I've found these copies to be legit. The seller might be violating their contract by reselling them, but at least you will get an envelope with a DVD and activation code that won't raise any red flags on a custom-built system, because it's being installed the way Microsoft intended.

ludi wrote:

Microsoft has tightened the screws on Windows Activation in one of the recent updates, if you do this you may end up permanently breaking the license you already have. The old Windows Vista/7/8 method of spitting out that eight-block hash and then phoning the automated service for a new hash has been deprecated.

If you want to skirt the hairy edge of legality but at least have a legit license key that won't raise any flags, search "Windows 10 Pro OEM 64" on eBay and then pick any high-rated seller that is offering sealed OEM/system builder packs for less than $50. So far I've found these copies to be legit. The seller might be violating their contract by reselling them, but at least you will get an envelope with a DVD and activation code that won't raise any red flags on a custom-built system, because it's being installed the way Microsoft intended.

Ouch, there is always something. Will look into that $50 Disk&key.
Would be really unhappy to lose my Retail full 7/10 key.

Thanks.

I think that it's really too good to be true because its too far from the regular price. Maybe there could be problems that accompany the system in the future. However, if you're willing to try and lose 20 bucks then it's fine so we could see how it works. If you're opting for something for real, then get W10 on its regular pricing in a direct method.

NOT too good to be true. Check out www.bonanza.com and see what you get. I've bought W10 Pro, MSFT Office 2016 and antivirus from there and never been burned. I bought Office 2016 from MSFT for about $227, then from another site for about $147 and then bought it from bonanza for $17. All legit, all work fine. They may have fallen off a truck somewhere, but I don't care. BUT W10 IS still free, as has been pointed out. You just have to claim assistive difficulties.

i use these keys all the time.

https://www.hrkgame.com/games/product/windows-10-professional-oem-pc-cd-key/

i buy all my steam codes there as well.