Amazon etc Cheap Windows 10 PRO Licenses --beware


  1. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #1

    Amazon etc Cheap Windows 10 PRO Licenses --beware


    Hi there

    I've seen a report somewhere -- not sure exactly of the provenance of it but I can well believe it - that some of the cheap license keys for Windows 10 being offered on sites like Amazon (e.g W10 pro for around 30 EUR !!) are actually old keys from W7 / W8 / W8.1 as the update from those still works.

    I'm not sure if there's any way to check if the key is an old one or legitimate new one -- but as those old keys work I'm sure there are always unscrupulous operators out there looking for a fast buck.

    Discounting is not unknown but to me it seems suspicious that there would be such a huge discount on the W10 retail price.

    While people report that these licenses do activate (not always but generally) I'm sure these come from dubious sources so I'd be extremely careful if you buy any of these products.

    I'm surprised that Ms hasn't yet shut down the free upgrade program -- that would I think stop a lot of these "rogue keys" if indeed they are from being sold on.

    Some of the old TechNet keys were VL or multi activation even if not VL and could be activated hundreds of times so I'm sure there are definitely some slick operators out there now.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,680
    X
       #2

    That scammers are out there is no surprise.
    That Microsoft hasn't made noise about it is.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5,442
    Windows 11 Home
       #3

    MS made it clear, they are glad even if people are using pirated Windows rather than something else. With pushing 10, they are even more tolerant, since XP/7 and are still pretty popular. MS gives away 10 for free as much as possible, yet hardly anyone wants it. Cheap licences (Pro for $3) are the last of their concerns, especially since they help them to achieve their goal. Once 10 gets ~90%, it might change, but till then ... .
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31,468
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    jimbo45 said:
    I'm not sure if there's any way to check if the key is an old one or legitimate new one
    You can type a product key into ShowKeyPlus and it will tell you exactly what it is for.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       #5

    Hi,
    Yep kind of a joke to buy from ms expensive so called retail self activating keys with no key at all anymore from ms store

    Bought a couple 7 and 10 pro's from an unnamed place for 20.us worked like a charm.
      My Computers


 

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