You can buy a used mini PC for less than the price of a new Windows 11 license. I know there are cheaper license sites out there (unclear how legit they are) but this way you get a Windows license and a spare PC to run Linux!
You can no longer activate new Windows 11 builds with Windows 7 or 8 keys; maybe last chance to activate using Windows 7 or 8 keys, for 22H2.
Submitted 1 year ago by Raisin8659@monyet.cc to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
Giblets4all@lemmy.world 1 year ago
confusedwiseman@lemmy.world 1 year ago
There could be a bit of a caveat here. I when I purchased my laptop it had windows 10 installed. When I installed Mint, I could not reuse that key in a VM because it was “different hardware”. The license, could not be transferred under any circumstance. I had also purchased the upgrade to Pro through the windows store. That’s also lost.
I seldom run windows, even in the VM, but it still leaves one a bit bitter.
pjhenry1216@kbin.social 1 year ago
Usually calling Windows support, they'll give you a key if you just tell them you replaced some piece of hardware due to failure, assuming you haven't been transferring the same key around for awhile. They tend to be more invested in keeping you in the Windows ecosystem than they are are just getting one more license sold.
Kepabar@startrek.website 1 year ago
Yes, an OEM license is not transferable from the hardware the OEM originally installed it on, even to a VM running on that hardware.
Giblets4all@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I reused a Win10 Pro key from a mini PC from 2015 onto a brand new build and it worked right away. Not sure what the difference is with your situation. Maybe it was your license type?
Honytawk@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Windows 10 links their license to the motherboard.
So as long as you use the same motherboard, the key will work.
This isn’t possible with VMs sadly.
SavinDWhales@lemmy.world 1 year ago
When I build a new PC, I could not transfer my old 7 pro retail license, even though it worked fine on my old PC running Windows 10 and it even said it was a digital license connected to my MS account.
So I bought a Win 10 pro key from one of the ebay resellers aber everything was fine… until it wasn’t. I updated the firmware for my mainboard and Windows took that for a replacement of hardware. Troubleshooter did not show three option “I recently changed my hardware” and did not give me the option to call Microsoft’s support.
Turns out it was a “one time install” key which was invalidated by changing the hardware. So it couldn’t activate a second time. And since the key seller was out of business at that time (they’ll change accounts every few months), I had no way of getting the key replaced.
Luckily, I still had an old Windows 7 COA with key and CD lying around from an old Dell business Workstation. That activated just fine.
But yeah, even if you have a valid license connected to your Microsoft account, there’s no way of seeing it in your account, and it’s not guaranteed MS will honor it.
TheGreatFox@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Cheap license sites (windows, games, etc) usually use keys bought via stolen credit cards. Pirating it is much better than buying from those sites, including for the devs that get punished for chargebacks from those keys.
jarfil@lemmy.world 1 year ago
the devs that get punished for chargebacks from those keys.
Just to be clear… in the case of Windows, that would be M$…?
vimdiesel@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Or just install Linux and never worry about that shit again lol
londos@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I agree, I don’t plan to go back! Just don’t like giving up the option.
londos@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Dumb q, if I install Linux and later decide to reinstall Windows, is that OEM license still good?
pjhenry1216@kbin.social 1 year ago
The answer is a resounding maybe. If you activated with a Microsoft account or if there's a TPM chip, the chances of it still working increases. There are different kinds of licenses, but if it fails, there's a better than not chance calling MS support and just telling them you had a hardware failure on your laptop and you need to reinstall, they'll get you going. Not a guarantee though. And I'll caveat and say this information is a couple years old (I don't work in tech support anymore).
Honytawk@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Definitely yes.
As long as you use the same motherboard.
scottywh@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yes
PeachMan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
They cost like $5 online, it’s not like it’s a huge risk. I’ve bought OEM keys before and they work fine. Just use a credit card so you can easily get a refund if it’s fake.
Honytawk@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Those are usually Windows 7 or 8 keys.
Which do indeed work to activate Windows 10 and 11.
But not anymore.
ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world 1 year ago
On 10 right now, but honestly have had enough of the whole Windows ecosystem. (Like today I ran across a look at these exciting Windows 11 September updates! woo! aren’t you excited! video, and it was almost all embarrassingly cosmetic. Except for the part where they’re finally adding native support for archive formats (.7z, .rar, .tar) that everyone else has supported for decades: how fucking charming am I supposed to find that announcement after all these years of using 3rd party apps, when the probability of the native support being buggy as hell is very high? And that was just one example; there’s a full list in the description box.
No thanks. It’s clear they did all this just to be able to simultaneously slather AI hooks all through the OS works, free for now but not forever, and I’m just not interested in that either. Nothing against AI, I just don’t want it integrated into my OS. I also like my privacy, believe in keeping my own shit on my own computers, and enjoy not having a significant portion of my hardware computing load dedicated to the collection and sale of my data.
But MS isn’t the only game in town anymore. I tried some hardware-light Linux distros on a 13 year old MacBook recently just to see what the fuss is about, and was gobsmacked at how well they ran with 4GB of RAM and a slow (by today’s standards) processor. Holy shit. So I did a bit of hardware upgrading so I could run even more, and yesterday I installed Fedora 38 with KDE Plasma on that same MacBook with 16GB of RAM and a 1T SSD. It picked up every bit of that hardware on its own, too; I didn’t have to configure a thing.
It’s almost too easy, lol. It’s Linux so I thought I was going to be overwhelmed with command line shit, but no, not at all: the few times I needed the command line, the exact syntax was a web search away, with plentiful discussion, documentation, and even demo videos to choose from.
And if I don’t like it, I can try as many as I like off USB drives until I see something I like and decide to install that instead, and there are literally dozens, if not hundreds of distros now.
So Microsoft can keep that AI-ridden ad-ware Windows 11 shit. I’ll keep 10 for now (installed on a 7 license, lol) until I’m fully comfortable with Linux, and then that’s that.
Put it this way. I now have a screaming fast machine that runs on 13-year-old hardware where every software I could want for it is free, open source, and backed by a gazillion gurus both pro and amateur for whom no question is too arcane; why the hell should I give that up for the baggy, bloated, slow, privacy-invasive advertising delivery service that is Microsoft Windows?
I know there will be issues with Linux as I get to know it and use it, just because there are issues with every OS. There may even be things I find I can’t get past, and if that happens I try other distros or suck it up, lol. But fuck MS if they think I am going to pay actual cash to help them serve up my privacy while they deliver unwanted ads to me every time I boot it up.
Thank you for coming to my Ted talk, lol.
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phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Install Linux and don’t have to deal with any of the shit Microsoft software
cy_narrator@discuss.tchncs.de 1 year ago
Or use Windows 10 Activator
Johnpwrinkle@midwest.social 1 year ago
I have around 30 windows 7 pro COAs (used to work in a pc repair shop, pulled the COAs on every dead pc that came through). Most of them are from dells, but I haven’t had an issue activating on custom pcs. If anyone wants one, let me know
Artaca@lemdro.id 1 year ago
If you’re handing out free keys, I’d happily take one! Pretty smart to yoink em from scrapped PCs lol
Johnpwrinkle@midwest.social 1 year ago
DM’d you
drangus@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
I’d love one if you have a spare! Thanks so much
Johnpwrinkle@midwest.social 1 year ago
DM’d you
On@kbin.social 1 year ago
I'd like one too if you have a spare
Johnpwrinkle@midwest.social 1 year ago
DM’d you too
danteog@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Can I have 3?
Johnpwrinkle@midwest.social 1 year ago
Best limit it to one to share the love - DM’d you
NaughtyKatsuragi@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Can i get one? Upgraded my PC and windows wont accept my old code, been running without activation for a while lol
Johnpwrinkle@midwest.social 1 year ago
DM’d you
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
[deleted]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
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.
UnculturedSwine@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Jumped the windows ship long ago. So glad I don’t need to deal with this nonsense anymore.
PeachMan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
To be fair, nobody actually NEEDS to deal with this nonsense. Windows works just fine without an activated key, literally the only downside is the “Please activate Windows” bug on your desktop. That’s it, everything else works fine.
HeyJoe@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Not exactly, can’t customize it either or change certain settings. I know this because I just built a new PC and the key I had didn’t work for 2 days while I had support figure it out.
vividspecter@lemm.ee 1 year ago
I don’t think system wide dark theme works without a key, although there are workarounds of course.
BigVault@kbin.social 1 year ago
I’m going to fully assess what actual windows software I rely on any more and migrate all of my systems to a Linux based os this weekend I think.
The amount of games that I play that work on my Steam deck already confirms that I’ll be fine there.
I probably spin up a windows vm that I could remote into from my homelab if I’ve missed anything I do need to run.
Kowowow@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Ya I’m thinking I’ll just try some version of linux on my old laptop
bighatchester@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I did recently and have regrets yet . Been using to run yuzu perfectly and most games I’ve tried work great other than some games that use certain anti cheats . Going to work on RGB control soon once I have time. And I have a windows VM to adjust the controls easily on my mouse and gaming keypad which I almost never need to change.
Drbreen@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
I’ve had the same Win8 Pro key that I purchased for $40 when it released 12 years ago. I’ve used it for Win10 and 11. Is this saying if I format my drive and reinstall Win11 that I won’t be able to activate using this key anymore?
PotjiePig@lemmy.world 1 year ago
If I’m not mistaken your key is linked to your motherboard as well as your Microsoft account. So I think you should be fine
Drbreen@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
OEM keys are linked to motherboards I believe. Mine is a retail key and I’ve used it across many different builds over the years.
Capitao_Duarte@lemmy.eco.br 1 year ago
That on laptop or desktop? I had a laptop and always did like you said. For the first time I have a desktop and don’t know how things go now
pineapplelover@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Wym man I sudo apt upgrade 20 times a day with no problem. You guys need keys?
Rocha@lm.put.tf 1 year ago
You guys need keys?
Yeah, sometimes if I haven’t booted up my laptop in a while, I’ll run pacman -Sy archlinux-keyring to get the keys I need.
pineapplelover@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Haven’t happened to me yet. I’ll keep this in mind. My arch devices are constantly in use.
danielfgom@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It had to happen eventually. To be honest I’m surprised Microsoft still charges for Windows when Apple, Google Chrome OS and Linux offers their systems for free.
In my case I run Windows 10 in a VM on my Linux machine just to use the Canon printer which the box said supported Linux but after I bought it, their website says they no longer support Linux.
So I’m forced to use Windows.
Btw, if you use Linux ain’t buy a Canon printer. If you can, get Brother.
whofearsthenight@lemm.ee 1 year ago
tbh I wish they’d charge for their OS and they would charge a little more instead of filling it with bullshit and privacy nightmares that I (and probably no one) wants. I don’t main on Windows, but goddamn is it annoying when I do update having to get rid of some new bullshit every single time.
It’s also a bit funny because used to be you bought a new key for each OS version. This could be a positive for Windows, but they bungled it because they decided Windows 10 was going to be the “last” version of Windows, until they didn’t.
grayman@lemmy.world 1 year ago
If they used to, find the ppd or one from the series models.
pikachus_ghost_uncle@lemmy.world 1 year ago
No problem. I’m still staying on 10 though.
brsrklf@jlai.lu 1 year ago
Yeah, same for me.
Getting rid of the automated 11 upgrade was a pain already, took me months to finally find what was making it resurface all the time.
Thing is, I wasn’t even opposed to it originally. It just didn’t work and failed systematically. And my PC wasn’t even supposed to support it, since I don’t have TPM 2.0, so no idea why it even tried.
Now with all the reports of new ways to fuck with privacy I don’t even see any reason to upgrade.
tony@lemmy.hoyle.me.uk 1 year ago
I think they removed that requirement recently… I killed the upgrade prompts originally by disabling the fTPM but they’ve come back in the last month or so.
altima_neo@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Not like I wanted to, comparing my older PCs running windows 7 aren’t eligible for Windows 11 anyway
The_Mixer_Dude@lemmus.org 1 year ago
Try installing fresh from USB. Typically works for me on any machine that says it couldn’t install on
TimeSquirrel@kbin.social 1 year ago
It's because of the TPM shit but there are ways to bypass that in the installer.
Endorkend@kbin.social 1 year ago
I was lucky to receive 10 Windows 7 and Visual Studio Ultimate keys for personal use, in the Windows 7 era.
Once the "you can use Windows 7 keys to activate Windows 8/10" thing, combined with Microsoft accounts came around, I created 10 Microsoft accounts with 10 of my email addresses.
I've been able to activate Windows versions 7-11 with all 10 keys (and I can change to older Windows without issue) and been able to upgrade Visual Studio Ultimate to the current version year after year this way.
I wonder if the already upgraded keys attached to Microsoft accounts, that become a bit version fluid, will remain able to use higher versions.
DoomBot5@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I have some Windows keys back from college (software policy stated you kept your software if you graduate), I hope those continue to work for me as well.
HidingCat@kbin.social 1 year ago
Damn, that's a lot of keys! Lucky alright. Do you use them all at once though? o_O That's a lot of computers.
HidingCat@kbin.social 1 year ago
Hmm, this shouldn't affect me, as my Win 7 Pro key is now a Win 10 Pro key, right?
viking@infosec.pub 1 year ago
If you already activated it once with 10 Pro, then yes, you can freely use it beyond the cut-off date.
Zima@kbin.social 1 year ago
I finally ran out windows 7 keys and had to buy a new one for win11, they cost 4-9$ online.
TalesFromTheKitchen@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Yeah, volume keys are what I’ve been using the past ten years or so. Only one office key got blacklisted so far. Overall a pretty good deal.
spudwart@spudwart.com 1 year ago
Activate Linux
Lemminary@lemmy.world 1 year ago
So I can’t upgrade my sistema that works perfectly fine because it doesn’t meet their requirements. And now I can’t use the key that I legally purchased? Sounds like MS doesn’t want me to use their products.
spudwart@spudwart.com 1 year ago
Activate Linux
cy_narrator@discuss.tchncs.de 1 year ago
I have some trusty KMS activator that I have to use every year once, so far no problems
KillAllPoorPeople@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I had to fire up a Windows VM yesterday. Holy shit its gotten so bad. Glad I don’t need to deal with that shit on a daily basis anymore. I wish people weren’t so scared of Linux.
scripthook@lemmy.world 1 year ago
And you wonder why I switched to Mac last year when Win 11 was launched. I’d rather give $700 to Apple for a Mac Mini than spend $600 rebuilding my PC for an OS I don’t want
ColdWater@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Ahemm… MAS
HawlSera@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Shady
sagrotan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
After Garuda Linux I don’t even use that crap on our gaming machine. Never again.
TimeSquirrel@kbin.social 1 year ago
Literally every thread about Windows on the Fediverse: I use Linux BTW.
RHOPKINS13@kbin.social 1 year ago
Probably blocks the MAS activation scripts from working too.
Sure enough, on their site:
TwinHaelix@reddthat.com 1 year ago
This is the real blow. Truly the end of an era.
scottywh@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It will absolutely get figured out and gotten around again.
Never_Sm1le@lemdro.id 1 year ago
Lucky me, just used last month to upgrade to 10 pro
zrk@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Wow, what a timing, just discovered MAS last month and used it last week. Was truly nice and easy, and I liked the technical explanations on their website.