Johanno@feddit.de 1 year ago
You guys are using keys?
My first legit Windows Version I installed(not pre-installed) was when my university gave keys out for free.
Before that I used sketchy tools to activate my Windows. Since I am using Linux only my vms don’t get activated. Windows 10 runs fine without activation.
thecrotch@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
neshura@bookwormstory.social 1 year ago
I’ve got an unactivated VM I abuse as a server that’s been running for half a year now, no idea what you are talking about
icedterminal@lemmy.world 1 year ago
He’s actually partly correct. VMs of Windows 10 or 11 are supposed to shut down hourly if not activated. It’s been present since Windows 10 released.
Here’s a reference in case you need one: superuser.com/…/why-does-windows-10-shut-down-hou…
You either have the registry key unset, or are experiencing a bug of the software protection mechanism.
vox@sopuli.xyz 1 year ago
windows…as a server…?
neshura@bookwormstory.social 1 year ago
Space Engineers has no Linux Dedicated Server so I’m forced to run a Windows VM. It’s the only piece of software I’ve encountered that problem with and it boggles my mind why they chose to do that
tony@lemmy.hoyle.me.uk 1 year ago
I’ve got an entire set of windows test VMs running unactivated for about 4 years now.
The worst that happens is you can’t set a desktop background.
icedterminal@lemmy.world 1 year ago
What you’re describing is for bare metal Windows Server only or all editions in a VM. And that’s on purpose. You can probably guess why. Windows Home through Enterprise will run indefinitely on bare metal. It just locks down personalisation. Microsoft explicitly offers a VHD of Windows that doesn’t require activation.
vox@sopuli.xyz 1 year ago
that applies to vm images only
dangblingus@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Nope. On all of my machines I installed Windows 10 using an official usb boot disk with a distro straight from Microsoft. It was 100% free, I didn’t need an account, and I’m not being prompted to activate, nor do I have the annoying little watermark in the bottom right of my screen.
I seriously don’t understand how people are paying to use Windows when Microsoft gives it away for free.
Trollception@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Were those OEM machines? Often times OEM computers will come with a Windows OS license during purchase and I think Windows may check the hardware thumbprint of the machine and license it automatically. Windows 10/11 is certainly not free for people who build their own machine from parts.