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Keep in mind this is a retail copy that usually retails for $339 at jb hi fi from an authorised dealer, not a grey market oem key
Woot has updated its description to say its an OEM key, but still should be legit, just a lesser discount :/
Mod note: This post is moved to forum for being unobtainable and a listing error. Users can discuss the merits of OEM keys, obtaining refunds, and return of the OEM keys here.
Retail versions are transferable across devices
And so are OEM versions, the activation wizard just doesn't care 👍
Well if Woot is owned by Amazon. Then these have got to be legit Windows product keys, right. Surely Amazon won't be selling dodgy Windows licenses.
Yup I’m sure woot is only supplied directly by amazon
I understand where you are coming from with that comment but these two are fundamentally different. Scams on amazon (or well, amazon.com marketplace) is due to third party sellers mixing their items withing legit listings and amazon not taking enough measure to prevent these dodgy third party sellers. Not the case here, woot is an amazon subsidary and all products are sold by woot themselves (some are fulfilled by amazon.com logistics, however, but thats not the case here).
Woot is a legit website. One day one deal sorta website. Used to buy from it all the time back in 2008-12 when i was in states.
how do windows keys be not legit? if you install windows directly from microsoft and then enter a non-legit key, what happens?
Non-legit means against the license terms. Those keys still work and will generally work indefinitely once tied to a digital license but you are essentially robbing Microsoft of its legitimate earnings (if anyone cares).
nothing, u can use windows without a key you just can’t change your wallpaper
and some features are disabled being unactivated
@bcYield: and you get a pops up saying you may be a victim of counterfeiting and to click here to enter your key
with a retail version, you can call microsoft for support ….with one you call the one who bought it from ….under EU ‘em licenses are transferable, not AU or US ….but im a global citizen of the EU …. if you swap hardware with oem , it asks if you swapped hardware, say yes and it’s all good again and allocates license to new hardware …. e.g like if you repaired your computer …..
MS license only for specific country but they dont care house uses.
If u use this in a company they may call you to buy AU version.
So this is same as u buy windows from brazil turkey agentina for 2 orn10 dollars unless u live in US
These license keys are digitally delivered. Which means you only get a license key emailed and no retail product box. It's not exactly the same as what you buy over the counter retail at a retailer. But it will still be a retail key.
I don't think people are buying them from physical retailers because they want the box.
LGR in shambles.
There's confidence that comes with the exchange described.
Just a few years ago, dodgy keys were US$12. I have zero confidence these "woot" keys are any different.
Am I'm using a 12$ key for the past 3 years, no problems. What's your point?
@bomberswarm2: Why pay for something that's not legal/part of the license T&C's? End of the day, these companies are selling volume/MSDN keys and are not authorised to do so.
@bomberswarm2: As Randolph says. If you’re not one for rules or legalities, just pirate for free.
I’ve seen dodgy keys work for months & years as well. But it can & will be pulled at some point… when it’s a PITA
@Ulysses31: I did pirate, then the cracker stopped working. Would rather just pay and get it working forever.
@bomberswarm2: There's no guarentee it will work forever though, which is why you may as well just pirate it.
There is also a similar deal in groupon for $29 https://www.groupon.com.au/deals/susanne-s-place?deal_option…
I wouldn't be buying a Windows key from some unknown seller through groupon at this 81% off. That's dodgy as.
You're better off buying it from Woot here as it's owned by Amazon. A much more reputable company.
I bought the MS office from them without issue.
Haven't had an issue yet you mean. It will take time for these dodgy product keys to become banned by Microsoft.
@hollykryten: Bad luck I guess… I also bought Windows License from eBay and haven't had issue with them for several years now.
@hollykryten: Don't know why you're being voted down. You're 100% right. It can just take 12+ months to finally get your key banned
Most of these dodgy keys are volume license keys (which is not allowed to be resold like this).
They'll potentially have X number of uses before the key is exhausted (which is why some people will report the keys working fine and others saying its invalid).
Then MS does one of its periodic checks of volume license keys and bans the ones that are being widely used by all different people and your product starts throwing annoying errors or refusing to update etc.
love this stuff …..if they just turn off keys , and it controls nuclear power plant might cause a problem …..so they don’t turn off activated keys…..if you have like MSDN …it stops allocating new machines if keys have been used …..
@garage sale: I have no idea why some one would control a nuclear power station on a Windows PC. That's just absolute stupidity so it doesn't happen.
You know it will more likely be a very highly customised Linux PC.
I've purchased about 8 off eBay for $10 each and that's never happened to me..
1.8 Stars, ehhhh, yeah I'm good…
The product came with not one, but two faulty product keys, which meant I had to spend a huge amount if time just to get the software up and running. And even after all that effort, I'm still not convinced that the product is worth the hassle. To make matters worse, the company has been badgering me to change my negative review of the product.
Took their time to send the product key. Sent a wrong Product Key. Still waiting for a reply and correct product key
Just sail the high seas, probably just as legal as buying from this seller.
I'd take gray market key for a couple dollars any day of the week. Or if you want to be real cheap just live with a watermark in the bottle right of your screen.
microsoft dont get a cent from these dollar store 'grey market keys' mate, they are as non-legimate as it gets. You are much better just pirating the thing and not give scammers a single cent.
Use this
Yup MAS is basically the same as grey market keys but free
microsoft dont get a cent from these dollar store 'grey market keys' mate
Depending on the source, some of those are just extra unused keys sold by big organisations that didn't end up needing them and such, often from cheaper regions.
If it's like those game key sites where the keys are bought from stolen credit cards, then the crack is better, as you say.
But it's so bizarre that in 2023 there's no better option for purchasing windows. It's already got lucrative ads in it, they make a nice profit from it overall. They could make it free with no significant loss in revenue (or ten bucks for a massive increase in revenue, since people will just buy from MS instead of key resellers).
It's not like anyone will ever pay 350 bucks for windows. If people are, MS should be ashamed of scamming them.
retail comes with telephone support, for people with out tech skills you can call microsoft and ask assistance rather than google ….it’s why they are so expensive vs oem keys ….
Microsoft probably have years of data showing home users will not pay, regardless of the price. Pricing 'home' editions very high makes the business licences seem like a discount for corporations
just live with a watermark in the bottle right of your screen
Works well for me.
you dont notice it after a while…lol
How do you not notice a bottle blocking the right of your screen?
I just put black electrical tape over it - can't see it at all now!
Go get MAS and rid yourself of that!
Need an US address…
One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052
or
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014
"ATTENTION: Your redemption code will be delivered as tracking number within a few business days. You will receive your serial number(s) to authorize and register your product as your tracking number.
You’ll receive a redemption number(s) to authorize and register your product as your tracking number."
Dodgy as!
Yeah i couldn't understand what it meant too.
Look it's not awful, but it's not great either. Given legitimacy of Windows keys is always questionable these days, if you're not going to buy a retail box for $100+ (and who would in the Windows 10 / 11 era any more? PC stores in bulk maybe). I'd just go to a site like kinguin etc, a lot of YT channels give discount codes for keys, but $30-40 AUD for a key, that seems what I'd be happy to spend, the going rate. I paid around that much, 5+ years ago, one time phone activation, no issue since. Also, if 10 is cheaper than 11, get 10, then upgrade, may as well. I'd be surprised if you did a fresh 11 install, used a 10 key and it didn't work honestly.
If you're going to buy from Kinguin, may as well just buy from eBay for a quarter of that.
Yeah maybe? I haven't tried it, if I use PayPal and it's $6 next time, no worries I'll give it a go, good idea.
I prefer tiny 11
With all the tracking and ad's that are slowly making their way into the OS I can see MS giving the OS away to home users and charging corp's lic fee's (which covers support and dev costs).
With the doggy sellers, and the high sea's alternatives, its pretty easy to get your OS for a small fee or free. It's like MS don't even bother spending time to stamp this out.
I did a fresh install of Win 11 on the weekend and so far I've had 6 marketing emails which have no way to unsubscribe and endless on screen adverts for OneDrive subscriptions and the like, it's genuinely shocking.
I took the time to switch off every possible option and most of it is just mandatory.
Junk like Netflix, LinkedIn, Skype etc all bundled in without any option to not install it.
I've reported the emails to the ACMA.
Official story from Microsoft (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/Shop.aspx)
"With the exception of Product Key Cards (PKC’s) distributed with COA’s, Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys for sale, it’s a good indication that the keys are likely stolen or counterfeit. If you were to purchase and use a stolen or counterfeit product key to activate Windows installed on your PC, the key may not work for activation, may already be in use on another PC, or it might be blocked from use later by Microsoft when the key is reported stolen. The best way to get everything you expect up front is to buy genuine Microsoft software preinstalled on a new PC or genuine Microsoft software from an authorized reseller."
So, Woot is selling dodgy keys and this thread should probably be taken down.
Those who risk it:
https://www.howtogeek.com/392080/cheap-windows-10-keys-do-th…
woot is most likely selling keys distributed for sale in other countries and not for the Australian market (so, grey market). Do some research on grey market keys to find out more. Microsoft may deactivate the key … or they may not. I wouldn't risk it.
All this talk of whether its legal or not reminds me of that scene in Pulp Fiction with Vincent and Jules
Vincent: Yeah, it's legal, but it ain't a hundred percent legal.
Also official story from Microsoft (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-window…):
"A digital copy of Windows 10 or Windows 11 from an authorized retailer: Find your product key in the confirmation email you received after buying Windows 10 or Windows 11 in a digital locker accessible through the retailer’s website."
Is there any reason to think that this product from woot isn't a "digital copy" from an "authorized retailer"?
I will pay this much for a key if it means my windows wont have tracking/ads/telemetry or any nasties for that matter
Why can't I tell if you're serious.
Does anyone know how to get a cheap copy of Ms office? Don't need 365 subscription.
I just use libreone, works fine with all the windows office stuffs
What is the file extension. I doubt it is .Doc or .Docx.
Trying to help someone work on resume etc as they don't have office and have lost a job.
So they need to email. Doc file
You can save as Excel or word and it will open when it's been viewed by someone using Microsoft office
@Aerith-Waifu: PDF is safer. I tailor the resume for every job application, removing bits that won't help or may even work against me (e.g. history of working for a competitor or working in a higher-paid job).
DOC files often contain traces of the bits you've deleted, so those bits can be recovered. Saving as PDF removes all traces of previous edits.
The read and save in the Microsoft formats like .doc etc.
Theres the home and student version 2021 which is a one-off payment.
Its not cheap though, but usually around 90-200 depending on what year/version, and the vendor.
Yes but price may be higher. Dont want them to spend too much.
Use the Microsoft Word online version for free.
I use libreoffice, works great
So in terms of security, MAS is same as this one here?
Never paid for windows. Never will
Is there a cheap genuine Windows 7 Pro license we can then upgrade up to 11 Pro?
If you have an OEM licence I believe you need the same motherboard (like my desktop machine) to upgrade. I am confident enough about that that I didn't even try transferring it to my Windows 11 Home laptop. It may work with an upgrade to Windows 10 if hardware supports it (my Win7 desktop won't upgrade to Win10). The hardware of a machine sold for Win 7 is highly unlikely to be compatible with Windows 11.
If you paid separately for a Windows 7 key, I believe you can transfer it to any machine at any time. The problem is finding someone willing to sell a key they paid for and being confident it is genuine and won't stop working.
You also only get a limited number of transfers (from memory only two) with a retail key before it stops activating. You can get a one time activation code from MS but it’s not straightforward like it used to be.
i've saved tens of thousands on operating systems, games, movies, music, tv shows, computer programs and mobile applications with one simple trick…
"pirate" was a hero in the sea ear
What about the sea nose?
we would know by the time they evolve to cope with in air breathing
By being born in 1770?
Ha!
Never paid more than 5$ for a key. As far as I remember windows 7 keys still work on windows 10.
and windows 10 can upgrade for free to 11
That is wow
Single-use digital keys?