Windows 10 Pro - USB vs Official Download

Sapien 1 said:

Thats great but for me I need the hard edition to use on multiple computers and ensure a clean offline installation...

You don't need to buy a USB or DVD. The free USB from Microsoft, made using their Media Creation Tool can do that. And unless you intend to clean install on some old machines, built for Win7 or earlier, then it's rare to find a PC that does not already have a Windows key embedded in it's bios.

So you won't need to buy any new keys either. All machines originally supplied with an OEM install of Windows 8/8.1/10/11 have a key in the bios. In a clean install of Windows 10 Setup.exe will read the embedded key and use it to activate Windows.

NavyLCDR said:

And here is the reason why Microsoft does not care if you activate Windows with a $10 product key or a $250 product key: it generates more value to Microsoft Corporation to have a digital license for Windows 10 on a computer than it does for them to sell the product key. It's called market share. And the more market share that Microsoft gets from Windows 10 or 11, the more powerful they become. The value from selling a product key is a momentary value that only contributes to the income statement for the month the sale is made - and Microsoft only gets to claim the wholesale price, not the retail price the customer pays. But the market share value of the digital license installed on a computer extends for years.

So why doesn't Microsoft charge only $10 for a retail PRO license? [Yes, I know that is a provocative question.]

To @NavyLCDR's point above, I can only guess that Microsoft "monetizes" each installed copy of Windows through ad revenues, etc.

x509 said:

So why doesn't Microsoft charge only $10 for a retail PRO license? [Yes, I know that is a provocative question.]

To @NavyLCDR's point above, I can only guess that Microsoft "monetizes" each installed copy of Windows through ad revenues, etc.

Because it's easy to part fools from their money

Sapien 1 said:

Well, I did find a rich resource for used Pro 10 retail boxes at Ebay but wyou know what risk there is getting used software, especially a used flash drive. Might be modified orworse. I might get these anyways. less than half price of unopened 10 Pro boxes

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw...+box&_osacat=0

Message the seller before you buy to ask them to guarantee the code will activate. Don't buy unless they say yes. If it doesn't activate you are on firm ground to get a refund, although this is easier done with Amazon rather than eBay.

You could get Windows 11 for £15. I wonder if that key would activate Windows 10? Dr Google says yes but experts here will know better.

Windows 11 Professional 32 / 64 bit - License Only : Amazon.co.uk: Software

I always get the software using the MCT/Media Creation Tool. Granted, it not the most current Build but since several years ago the update sizes were reduced from 1+ GB to half that it doesn't take long to get fully up-to-date.

Computer manufacturers are dictating what we use by leaving out the ODD on the lighter thinner Notebooks so USB becomes necessary. Just saw a new Notebook offered with USB-C ports, the newest type.