Can I get an opinion on this PC World link

I believe you need to be a subscribing member of PC World. When I went down to purchase it, I have an "X" instead of being able to "ADD" it to the cart. I used to subscribe to the Magazine years ago. Never re-upped. I tried to see what the cost for a subscription, but that part was down. I'll check it out tomorrow.

No need to be a subscriber.

You see the "X" only so that you can remove it because it is already in your cart when you get to that page. Go ahead and enter your address and payment info at the bottom and click "Next".

ignatzatsonic said:

Is Group Policy the best added feature not found in Home for an ordinary user?

No, in my opinion that is Hyper-V....

Does Pro still provide more worthwhile control over Windows Update?

Since Feature Updates became fully optional and Pause updates for up to 35 days was added in Home it has a lot more control now. There's not much more control in Pro. The only extras in Pro are to defer Quality and Feature updates, and the group policies, in particular to notify for updates, but not download and install until you say so.

Windows Update - Defer Feature and Quality Updates in Windows 10
Enable or Disable Windows Update Automatic Updates in Windows 10

storageman said:

I believe you need to be a subscribing member of PC World. When I went down to purchase it, I have an "X" instead of being able to "ADD" it to the cart. ..

That's because it is already in the cart. Click the X and it removes it from the cart. BTW, the offer seems to be available in the UK too...



The shop site has a Cleverbridge url. This is the same online portal I was sent to when I bought Macrium Reflect, so they are are using a reputable site to process the transactions.

I'd be interested in what others say about this link.
It is allegedly full retail Pro, not an upgrade, not OEM.
I'm wondering what hoops you have to jump through to actually get it downloaded and installed?
Paypal?
"Sign up" for something?
Make an account of some type?

It looks genuine, no hoops to jump through, Card payment, Paypal or electronic transfer accepted. I would expect for download it would give a link to the Microsoft MCT page.

I just bought a copy and I am not a member. $39.99 is too good to pass up. I have no immediate need for it but who knows what the future may bring.

You get two download buttons, one for the Windows 10 Installation Guide (PDF) and one for the Media Creation Tool.
The Installation Guide is pretty good and should be helpful to novice to normal users. MCT give you the latest released version of Windows 10.



No need to download anything until you're ready to install the key provided which is all you're really buying.

The ISO download is a muti-version install.esd:

dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:L:\sources\install.esd

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.329

Details for image : L:\sources\install.esd

Index : 1
Name : Windows 10 Home
Description : Windows 10 Home
Size : 14,212,376,596 bytes

Index : 2
Name : Windows 10 Home N
Description : Windows 10 Home N
Size : 13,441,677,475 bytes

Index : 3
Name : Windows 10 Home Single Language
Description : Windows 10 Home Single Language
Size : 14,211,972,277 bytes

Index : 4
Name : Windows 10 Education
Description : Windows 10 Education
Size : 14,450,251,000 bytes

Index : 5
Name : Windows 10 Education N
Description : Windows 10 Education N
Size : 13,693,633,242 bytes

Index : 6
Name : Windows 10 Pro
Description : Windows 10 Pro
Size : 14,450,428,963 bytes

Index : 7
Name : Windows 10 Pro N
Description : Windows 10 Pro N
Size : 13,691,468,430 bytes

The operation completed successfully.

dism /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:L:\sources\install.esd /index=6

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.329

Details for image : L:\sources\install.esd

Index : 6
Name : Windows 10 Pro
Description : Windows 10 Pro
Size : 14,450,428,963 bytes
WIM Bootable : No
Architecture : x64
Hal : <undefined>
Version : 10.0.19041
ServicePack Build : 264
ServicePack Level : 0
Edition : Professional
Installation : Client
ProductType : WinNT
ProductSuite : Terminal Server
System Root : WINDOWS
Directories : 20445
Files : 89139
Created : 05/11/2020 - 1:50:14 AM
Modified : 06/11/2020 - 10:49:32 PM
Languages :
en-US (Default)

The operation completed successfully.

Save 20-25% in the UK: A useful trick if you're in the UK is to specify the price in US $ and pay with a card that makes no charge for foreign currency transactions.

The price in $ is 39.99 as in the price in £ - making the UK price a quarter or so more.

That makes it about as cheap as my existing Win 10 Pro license was (via Win 8.1 Pro).

When I click on the link I get this: Cheap but not much substance