Hi, I'm building a PC and wondering what is the best way to get Windows 11.
I find it annoying to have to pay $170 for Windows on top of the cost of the build. But I noticed you can get old 2nd hand/refurb PCs with Windows 11 for not much more than that.
Is it possible to transfer the Windows 11 license from one PC to another?
If not, how did you get Windows 11, do you just go to the Microsoft site, pay $170 and download it to a USB drive then stick it in the new PC?
Don't get the point of these expensive but still unofficial keys. Either buy a ~$15 one off eBay or the cheapest place you can find it (they're all the same) or just use MAS.
Is it possible to transfer the Windows 11 license from one PC to another?
The licence that comes with those PCs are OEM licences, they are linked to the hardware and not transferable.
So, you can just technically install Windows 10 or 11 from the official installation media and run it unactivated as long as you don't mind the watermark in the bottom right hand corner. There are alternate methods to activating Windows without spending the full retail price on a license too.
I've been running my PC's like this for a few years and at some point just stoped "seeing" the water mark haha
Call Microsoft and ask them if they can transfer the license to your new PC. If they won’t you should shell out the retail price for a legit license. All these sellers on key sites and eBay and stuff are selling dodgy keys which are no better than straight up DRM bypass (which is free).
All these sellers on key sites and eBay and stuff are selling dodgy keys which are no better than straight up DRM bypass (which is free).
100% dodgy yes, but if they work via the legit channels to activate the licence than that is better than installing some unknown software to bypass it.
MAS is the 59th most starred project on GitHub. Just below the Rust programming language. Not exactly unknown software.
Not exactly unknown software
Not exactly legit either if you don't own a valid licence.
Still doesn't change the point of need to install software that runs to bypass the DRM etc vs using a key that appears 'legit' to the OS.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@JimmyF: Yeah look its a pretty well known technique, and the software to achieve it in this case is a PowerShell script which is pretty easy to verify isn't doing bad stuff if you have a level of familiarity with it. Its hardly rocket science. I don't advocate for doing it, but I'm just pointing out that buying resoled msdn keys is no better than just using the aforementioned PowerShell script. Not that I advocate for doing either.
@djsweet: I totally advocate for doing it considering what Microsoft has done forcing subscriptions onto everyone and slashing their testing division by 90% so "insiders" can be their test dummies. There's only so much greed I can tolerate.
@JimmyF: Both ways give you a key that appears legit to the OS.
Either give money to MS for creating the software or don't, but don't pay for basically pirated software.
XZ Utils was compromised for years and that's basically the root of all Linux compression. If it wasn't for Microsoft using it in Windows and M$'s contributions to Redhat/Debian, it probably would've gone undetected.
Just because the code is hosted by GitHub doesn't mean someone hasn't snuck something in nefariously - especially in the case of using binaries.
There's two ways. Legit and not-legit.
If you're buying a "cheap" key from wherever - be it for $2 or for $30, you may as well just activate it for free, it's very easy to do and can be found with google no hassles (no software, just a couple of cmd lines in terminal). Microsoft doesn't care about home users, it's just enterprises and wholesalers so you're at little to no risk.
Otherwise, yes get it from a legit retailer, or just download and make a bootable installer from their website, and then buy a license from the MS Store and it'll link to your Microsoft account, it will follow your account to any new / other PC (obvs only one license) but that's the legit way and yes it's $170+. And no you don't need the pro version or whatever, Home is more than enough.
I bought it and have a license linked to my MS account and it's very hassle free when I upgrade, change components, re-install etc. But honestly, activating for free is just as easy so next time I'd probably do that.
first thing when you get into windows, move the start menu back to the left side. it can be moved and should be moved!
And M$ will move it back next H2 update, because M$ knows better than you do.
If you want UI customisation go back to XP.
cdkeysales.com
Thats part of the reason why all the second hand office PCs are such bargains.
Many come with a Windows licence thats costs MORE standalone from Aussie shops lol.
As otherrs have mentioned, activation scripts.
The amount of ad delivery and spyware on Windows 11 that Microsoft would be making money off more than pays for the license. Don't give them money on top of that for what is a bloated worse version of Windows 10.
To take your old key, Open Command Prompt and enter the command "wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey" to display the original Windows key stored in your computer's BIOS or UEFI firmware
Then use this after the installation process to activate it.
You can also use the auto upgrade script to update it to the latest Windows version, even if win update is being difficult:
https://github.com/AveYo/MediaCreationTool.bat
You dont need a key.
Just install Linux - more reliable, just as easy to use, no f#$kin' advertising…
Win, win (without the 'dows)
Flaming begin….
Wasn’t there a site on reddit?
Can’t remember but similar (non)legitimacy to some of the sources posted here
Not sure if it’s still around and can’t check atm sorry
Anytime a Microsoft product is being sold for a fraction of the normal retail price, it is being sold illegally. You'll get a genuine product key, but the keys are being sold illegally. Every single time without exception. You can choose not to believe me if you want, but this has been discussed here before. I've also spent many hours Googling trying find if any cheap product keys are being sold legally. But the reality if that they never are.
While in this case, the the offer is coming from StackSocial which is a legit website, the keys themselves will be coming from some little known seller of cheap product keys.
Something else to add too, is that this deal is a ripoff. You can buy the same dodgy Windows 11 product keys elsewhere for less than $2.
Go to https://massgrave.dev/genuine-installation-media and follow the instructions. Easy as. I've been using this for years to get people's old PCs back up and running. I assume Microsoft are mainly interested in people using their operating system so data can be mined from the end user. If people choose to buy it as well, that's just a bonus.
You can download win11 and install it without an active licence for as long as you like.
I've been running a non activated version for over a year and all I've found is that you won't be able to change the theme colour and use the native remote desktop software. Literally everything else works as normal.
? Vaguely remember something like this when I built my Ryzen PC. It seemed like you needed to pay, but you just install and run unactivated.
https://brytesoft.com/