Comment on Microsoft no longer permits local Windows 10 accounts if you want Consumer Extended Security Updates — support beyond EOL requires a Microsoft Account link-up even if you pay $30

artyom@piefed.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

• Taldan@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  A key, exactly like they did it for decades? Same way they verified you paid forbthat copy of Windows?

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  • Kolanaki@pawb.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    I mean… I have valid keys for various Windows versions I never paid for 🤷‍♂️

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  • JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    As someone who has actually never paid for a Windows key even though I started with Win 98, and I before this Win 10 installation have never genuinely activated any them, I quite easily understand why they don’t do it that way any more. I also do remember back when Windows 7 was going through this exact same thing how trivially easy it was to get those updates without paying - so easy in fact that most people assumed MS did it on purpose just so that people would rather pirate them than run an unpatched installation for three years.

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    • HertzDentalBar@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      It’s not an assumption, it’s the reality. They made it easy so they could obtain marketshare, same shit every company does before they bend you over.

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  • artyom@piefed.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    Don't you need a Windows account to buy a key?

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    • FauxLiving@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Back in the days of Dinosaurs and AOL CDs, you could just go to Best Buy and buy a CD with the Windows software and a key was printed on a scratch-off panel.

      You could even just buy a key electronically from some grey market websites.

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      • swelter_spark@reddthat.com ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        It was still like that up until Windows 8, at least.

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      • artyom@piefed.social ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

        Right, well, its not 2003 anymore

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