Windows 10 Pro - USB vs Official Download

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  1. Posts : 151
    Windows 10 Home
       #1

    Windows 10 Pro - USB vs Official Download


    This Windows 10 Pro USB stick selling on Amazon looks great and at $129.99 its actually cheaper than the Microsoft Store download selling at $199.99. Here's the links.

    Microsoft.com https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/wi...ot:overviewtab
    Amazon.com Amazon.com

    I noticed though that this product isn't manufactured by Microsoft, it's supposedly licensed to a company named Univolo. But I am hesitant because they are selling this copy at a lower price. I want something physical that I can install without the need of an internet connection and this seems sketchy.

    I want the Bitlocker and encryption and that is the main reason why I am switching from Home to Pro.

    I didn't see the USB bubble there on the Microsoft page, so I guess that ends this topic. You'd be pretty dumb to get a discounted third party version over the actual official version, even if it saves you money. Fact is, this ISO courtesy download 21H2 can only do so much if your system is corrupted. You'll need a full clean install and most laptops these days dont have disc trays in them.
    Last edited by Sapien 1; 25 Jul 2022 at 01:12.
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  2. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #2

    That Amazon link now shows as unavailable. All you need is the key which you can find far cheaper than £129. You just install Windows from Microsoft from here creating your own USB if needed then activate using the key - see https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/soft...load/windows10
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  3. Posts : 16,784
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #3

    If you read the Amazon customer reviews you will see that the licence is not retail but OEM. There is no qualifying hardware purchase to justify that. It's a bit academic since they are now shown as out of stock.

    "I want something physical that I can install without the need of an internet connection"
    You can buy a licence from MS using their download option. For the initial installation USB & for future versions, you can make your own installation USB using the internet and the installation itself can then be done offline.
    1 Download the ISO - use one of the sources identified in Download Windows 10 ISO File -TenForumsTutorials [one of them, the MS MCT tool, achieves both steps 1 & 2]
    2 Create Bootable Installation USB - TenForumsTutorials

    "most laptops these days dont have disc trays in them"
    Making an installation USB, rather than a DVD, has become the norm.


    All the best,
    Denis
    Last edited by Try3; 29 Jul 2022 at 05:16.
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  4. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
       #4

    Something else to consider is that, that Microsoft branded USB stick / thumb drive is read only. At some point, the version on it will be outdated, and not able to be replaced with a newer version. And you can't use that thumb drive for anything else.
    I'm thinking this was done to make it safe, if it can't be written too it can't be infected with malware etc. Pro's and cons IMHO.
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  5. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #5

    Try3 said:
    If you read the Amazon customer reviews you will see that the licence is not retail but OEM.All the best,
    Denis
    That is very strange indeed, because genuine Windows 10 OEM comes on DVD, not on USB flash drive.
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  6. Posts : 2,177
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit v22H2
       #6

    NavyLCDR said:
    That is very strange indeed, because genuine Windows 10 OEM comes on DVD, not on USB flash drive.
    Not strange at all. It just means they are mass producing these in China. They are probably even using the official ISOs from Microsoft as a source. The only thing unique is the Product Key. The only important thing is what is the source of these Product Keys?

    This means that the flash drive are irrelevant. The same seller could have a batch of Product Keys and sell the keys with or without the flash drives. Getting a flash drive with Windows on it has nothing to do with whether it is legitimate or not.

    If you go onto the Microsoft Business site you will see that you can buy Windows 10 Pro. You have the option for either a digital download or a USB flash drive. However, the flash drive is currently out of stock.

    Windows 10 Pro (USB - English)
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/wi...ot:overviewtab

    Windows 10 Pro - USB vs  Official Download-buy-windows-10-pro-business-microsoft.jpg
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  7. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #7

    alphanumeric said:
    Something else to consider is that, that Microsoft branded USB stick / thumb drive is read only. At some point, the version on it will be outdated, and not able to be replaced with a newer version. And you can't use that thumb drive for anything else.
    I'm thinking this was done to make it safe, if it can't be written too it can't be infected with malware etc. Pro's and cons IMHO.
    More likely to prevent being sued by customers if drive go overwritten LOL.
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  8. Posts : 6,247
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #8

    Found this Win 11 pro upgrade for US$ 99.
    As Win 10 and win 11 share same license you can use on win 10.
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  9. Posts : 4,173
    Windows 11 Pro, 22H2
       #9

    Sapien 1 said:
    Fact is, this ISO courtesy download 21H2 can only do so much if your system is corrupted. You'll need a full clean install and most laptops these days dont have disc trays in them.
    I'm confused: What is it that you believe you cannot do with the downloaded version of Windows? You can create your own bootable flash drive from the Media Creation web site. In fact, to put an even finer point on this, there is NOTHING that a purchased copy of Windows can do that the download cannot do. This includes creating bootable media from which you could perform a complete clean install or troubleshoot startup issues, etc.
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  10. Posts : 31,470
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #10

    Sapien 1 said:
    I didn't see the USB bubble there on the Microsoft page, so I guess that ends this topic.
    If you want to make the USB directly, then you should download the Media Creation Tool from that page then run it. One of its options is to make the USB.

    Fact is, this ISO courtesy download 21H2 can only do so much if your system is corrupted. You'll need a full clean install and most laptops these days dont have disc trays in them.
    You can make a bootable USB from Microsoft's ISO.

    Option 4 here: Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

    Even if the ISO has an install.wim that's larger than the 4GB Fat32 file size limit it is still possible to make the USB.

    Create bootable USB installer if install.wim is greater than 4GB
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