Windows 10 Pro - USB vs Official Download

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  1. Posts : 151
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #11

    I found what I am looking for:

    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro - Retail Box with Installation USB
    $239.99 ($10 off sale)
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro - Retail Box with Installation USB Microsoft



    | MyChoiceSoftware.com


    So hard to find might even become a collectors item. They also have the installation DVD and I will probably get that too when I purchase my next laptop with a disc tray in it. The key word here to find it is "retail box"

    Listed on Amazon but currently unavailable
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #12

    Sapien 1 said:
    I found what I am looking for:

    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro - Retail Box with Installation USB
    $239.99 ($10 off sale)
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro - Retail Box with Installation USB Microsoft



    | MyChoiceSoftware.com


    So hard to find might even become a collectors item. They also have the installation DVD and I will probably get that too when I purchase my next laptop with a disc tray in it. The key word here to find it is "retail box"

    Listed on Amazon but currently unavailable
    Fine but there are much cheaper options
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 151
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #13

    Steve C said:
    Fine but there are much cheaper options
    Those cheaper options are imitations.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #14

    Sapien 1 said:
    Those cheaper options are imitations.
    You only need to buy a valid key which activates
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 4,173
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #15

    You can also upgrade to Pro right from within Windows using the Microsoft Store. I'm already on the Pro edition of Windows so I visit the store it tells me that I'm all set with Pro and offers an upgrade to Workstation, as a result I cannot see what price they are quoting.

    https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=28fea...cGdyYWRl&ntb=1
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 151
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #16

    hsehestedt said:
    You can also upgrade to Pro right from within Windows using the Microsoft Store. I'm already on the Pro edition of Windows so I visit the store it tells me that I'm all set with Pro and offers an upgrade to Workstation, as a result I cannot see what price they are quoting.

    https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=28fea...cGdyYWRl&ntb=1
    Thats great but for me I need the hard edition to use on multiple computers and ensure a clean offline installation. And because of the OS corruption on my main laptop I need to completely wipe the drive "preOS" as AOMEI explains it and when you do that you cant reach the internet for anything.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,173
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #17

    Sapien 1 said:
    Thats great but for me I need the hard edition to use on multiple computers and ensure a clean offline installation. And because of the OS corruption on my main laptop I need to completely wipe the drive "preOS" as AOMEI explains it and when you do that you cant reach the internet for anything.
    Understood, but the point is that you can create your own hard edition by downloading it from Microsoft and making your own DVD, Flash Drive, HDD, or SSD to install from. EVERYTHING that you can do from media you purchase, you can do from media you create yourself including a complete clean installation on as many systems as you wish. In fact, it's even more versatile because you can update it anytime you want, and you cannot do that with the purchased media which means that it will quickly become obsolete. How you purchase it is irrelevant (so long as you are purchasing a legitimate copy). When you purchase it, the only important piece is the activation license key, and even that you only need once.

    In my case, I think it's probably been over 20 years since I purchased Windows on any physical media. It's completely unnecessary, only needed if you for some reason cannot create your own or you absolutely want a purchased copy which is less capable than media you make yourself. In fact, with Windows 11, Microsoft didn't even bother to release physical media until 7 months after initial release.

    Now you can buy Windows 11 on a USB flash drive (physical media arrives 7 months after digital downloads) - Liliputing

    I've installed Windows 10 and 11 to dozens of machines, all from the same flash drive . Plus, I can update my media with new updates so that I'm always installing the latest version (that's optional, I just like doing it that way).

    Note too that Microsoft will occasionally update the image available for download which may result in media that you create being newer and more up to date than the copy you purchase.

    While you certainly can purchase physical media if you prefer, I'm simply pointing out the fact that purchased media is LESS versatile than media that you create yourself, just so that you know what your options are .
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #18

    Sapien 1 said:
    Thats great but for me I need the hard edition to use on multiple computers and ensure a clean offline installation. And because of the OS corruption on my main laptop I need to completely wipe the drive "preOS" as AOMEI explains it and when you do that you cant reach the internet for anything.
    You already have a digital license for Windows on your main laptop. You can do a clean install on it for free. But it's your money to waste, not mine.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #19

    Sapien 1 said:
    Thats great but for me I need the hard edition to use on multiple computers and ensure a clean offline installation. And because of the OS corruption on my main laptop I need to completely wipe the drive "preOS" as AOMEI explains it and when you do that you cant reach the internet for anything.
    Let me try to explain things to you, @Sapien 1.

    To restore your main laptop:
    1. Create the Windows 10 installation USB flash drive by downloading it directly from Microsoft using any computer that has internet access:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

    2. Boot your main laptop from the flash drive that you created for free.

    3. Wipe the hard drive during the installation and do a clean install.

    4. If you are asked for a product key, select the option for "I don't have a product key" and then select the same edition of Windows 10 that was on the laptop before.

    5. After the installation is done, as soon as the newly installed Windows 10 connects to the internet, it will retrieve the digital license for Windows 10 for that laptop stored at Microsoft and activate.

    ALL OF THE ABOVE IS COMPLETELY FREE.

    On a new computer that has never had Windows 10 activated on it before the process is the same except that you do need a product key in order to get the digital license that will be issued by Microsoft. A $10 product key that Microsoft accepts is just as good as a $250 product key. It just has to be accepted by Microsoft once in order to get the digital license issued by Microsoft. Once you have the digital license for that computer for that edition of Windows 10, you can change the installed product key to the generic for that edition of Windows 10 and throw away the original product key if you want to, you will never need it again for that computer. Remember, according to the EULA, even a retail product key can only be used to activate a single computer at a time. It is not supposed to be used to keep 10 computers activated together. So, if you have 10 computers that you want to keep activated at the same time, according to the EULA you need 10 separate licenses anyway.

    But, it's up to you. It's your money you are wasting not mine. 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.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 13,895
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #20

    My take on the subject? I use the Media Creation Tool to create/download both the .iso file and the bootable USB Thumb drive for use on a different computer. The DVD used for burning the .iso file may need to be the DVD+R/DL [Dual Layer] due to the size and the USB Thumb drive is best at least 8GB, anything on it will be wiped off. A DVD holds 4.2GB and the DL is 8GB. I do save the x86/x64 version 'just in case'. Win11 is not offering the x86 version, those computers are no longer made anyway.

    Both methods are bootable and can wipe and install. With Windows running the drives can be Mounted and run the setup.exe file for Upgrading, more options for saving data.
      My Computers


 

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