Hi all,
I downloaded the ISO of Windows 10 Pro from the Microsoft site (I preferred the ISO to the "Download Tool").
My precise question:
How many days I have before I NEED to insert the product key?
I read different things over internet...
No definite period known regarding Windows 10, except regarding trial versions.
Please give links to your various sources of information, which may help discount or credit them.
MS no longer use the old Vista style Reduced Functionality mode which forced PC to reboot every hour eventually.
With Windows 8, they changed to a notification mode and just nagged you periodically to get a licence.
With Windows 10, they have gone one stage further and just show a fairly non intrusive watermark.
If you check with slmgr/dlv, there is no actual expiry date anymore with release versions (Insider versions do have expiry dates).
So basically, if you can live without personalisation, there does not seem to be anything stopping you using an unlicenced copy for as long as you like. You still get updates, can join Insider Programme etc.
Obviously MS do not openly make this public knowledge.
They are more interested in getting users tied into their ecosphere at the end of the day.
Enterprise eval is 90 days and server 2012 is 180 days - see Windows 10 Enterprise | TechNet Evaluation Center
After this time the screen goes black and it shuts down every hour. Insider previews will not boot at all after the expiry date (but you can clean install and keep activation).
AFAIK there is no limit for Pro - you just can't do personalization and have the watermark. You do not need to Activate Windows 10 to install it, but this is how you can activate later | Windows Central
Agreed - basically same as my post posted at same time - only minor point is this applies to Home as well. If you intend to run long term without activating, then installing Home is pointless. If on the other hand, you intend to activate it, installing Home might be preferable as cheaper.
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