Best - Legit - Way to Get Windows 10 on New PC Build

perkinma on 14/03/2016 - 23:15

What is currently the cheapest and / or best (but 100% legit) way to get Windows 10 for a new personal PC desktop build?

Given the 100% legit requirement it seems that OEM is not possible as (as I understand it) OEM is not permitted for personal use since Windows 8.1 onwards

Full standard retail (download) appears to be $179 (Australian dollars)

Can I purchase the cheapest netbook going with Windows 10 on it, like and transfer the licence (and obviously format the netbook afterwards, I'm thinking of getting a *nix laptop maybe anyway)?

There seems to be a variety of locations selling Windows 7 licences eligible for free upgrade but I just can't tell how 100% legit they really are.

MSY seem to have a retail USB drive for $142 plus delivery only a few dollars more than OEM. Is this currently the best available?

Computing

Comments

  • gummibear on 14/03/2016 - 23:39
    +2

    https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/
    I bought from the mod for a few dollars more after a dodgy key from one of the other sellers (ended getting the money back quickly from paypal dispute). The key from the mod has been perfect.

    Alot of people have said in the past you can just buy a win7 key to activate the win10 equivalent, so that may save you a few dollars also. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable about that can write something.

    • scrimshaw on 14/03/2016 - 23:43

      Can confirm. If you have a Windows 7 key lying around, even if it's just a Windows 7 Upgrade key, it works too.

    • Clear on 14/03/2016 - 23:50

      I've always been suss about that place. It can very easily be MDSN and VL keys.

    • the-mal on 15/03/2016 - 07:03

      Most Win keys swapped or sold there will be Volume Licence keys which, while valid keys, are not technically "legit" as they're not for individual sale.

    • TrailerTrash on 24/03/2016 - 16:11

      Excellent advice and had great dealings with s5ean on the Reddit forum. Thanks for the lead!!

  • bengal tiger on 15/03/2016 - 02:50
    +4

    The best price I've seen for a Windows 10 Home Retail version is on eBay at Futu Online for $135.20 ($169 less 20% discount) with free delivery - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Microsoft-Windows-10-Home-32bit-6…

    Use code CTECHIE to get the 20% discount, this offer ends on Wed 16 March.

    • perkinma on 15/03/2016 - 10:41

      Thankyou bengal tiger, I'm going to go with this. Works out a couple of dollars cheaper than OEM version from MSY anyway and as a full retail licence I can forget about all the other licencing restrictions / headaches.

      Thanks for the tip!

  • WannabeHermit on 15/03/2016 - 02:51

    I've been told you can't transfer a Windows 10 licence as it's bound to the hardware…

    • bengal tiger on 15/03/2016 - 03:29
      +1

      You're referring to OEM software licenses which cannot be transferred out of the original system it was installed on.

      Retail software licenses do not have this restriction and the end user is free to transfer the license between as many systems as they want, so long as the license is active on only one system at any given time. Retail software licenses are more expensive than OEM licenses as you're purchasing this additional flexibility.

      • WannabeHermit on 15/03/2016 - 04:11

        Yes, I was referring to the OP's thoughts on buying a netbook/laptop with pre-installed OEM software to transfer to another system.

  • bengal tiger on 15/03/2016 - 03:23
    +1

    TBH your link to the OEM licensing changes is news to me, retailers are probably not aware of this as they are more than happy to sell you OEM software licenses.

    If you have a strict 100% legitimate requirement to install Windows 10 then you will have to rule out:
    - purchasing anything on the secondary 'grey' market (Kinguin, G2A, software swap pages, etc)
    - purchasing any OEM copy of Windows 7/8/8.1/10

    This also rules out your suggestion of purchasing a cheap notebook as they will have pre-installed manufacturer OEM versions of Windows and OEM license transfers are not permitted.

    This leaves you with the options to purchase:
    - a retail version of Windows 7/8/8.1 and immediately elect the free upgrade to Windows 10; or
    - a retail version of Windows 10

    • the-mal on 15/03/2016 - 07:11
      • a retail version of Windows 7/8/8.1 and immediately elect the free upgrade to Windows 10

      Unless it's changed recently the prices for Win 7 and 8 outright are the same (give or take a few $) as Win 10 as all retailers are aware that it's essentially the same thing since MS agreed to the unlimited free upgrade.

      Totally agree with you that buying outright from a reputable retailer is the only way to guarantee it's legit. There's basically no retailer margin in Windows license sales so they can't legitimately discount without taking a loss.

    • ProjectZero on 15/03/2016 - 09:14

      If you are building a system for your personal use or installing an additional operating system in a virtual machine, you will need to purchase a full version of Windows 10, available in FPP. Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 system builder software does not permit personal use, and is intended only for preinstallation on customer systems that will be sold to end users.*

      And then it goes to have this below as well… though not directly…

      *Note Japan only. As indicated on the system builder License on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 Packs in Japan, system builders may distribute system builder software with a non-peripheral computer hardware component instead of preinstalled on a customer system.

      Am I to take it that the first quote applies to Japan only? There is no other "*" criteria on the page at all.

      • bengal tiger on 15/03/2016 - 14:49

        I read the article as the first quote applicable to everyone worldwide and the '*Japan only' quote to the the exception for Win 7/8.1 in Japan.

        If the first quote (and therefore pretty much the whole article) was meant only for consumers in Japan, I'd have thought Microsoft would have released the page only in Japanese instead of translating it to English for the rest of the world where it doesn't apply.

        I agree though that there is ambiguity in the wording and you can make a valid argument either way for both interpretations.

  • WatchNerd on 15/03/2016 - 10:57

    Is it true that windows updates can't be stopped from updating on windows 10?

    • bengal tiger on 15/03/2016 - 14:39

      Not true, early adopters had problems with forced driver updates which caused severe compatibility issues to the point that Microsoft went and released a tool where you can select specific updates you wish to block from ever installing on your system - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3073930

  • woodwa on 15/03/2016 - 14:05

    About 2 months ago

    I had a laptop with a smashed screen and win 7 home preinstalled

    -built new desktop.. (with hard-dirve of smashed laptop)
    -installed Win 10
    -it failed Authenticity test..
    -Clicked the contact MS button..
    -They remoted in via logmeinrescue
    -I explained that I had a major fault and had to replace most of my system
    -She gave me a New Windows 10 home key.

    -Happy Days

  • jimbinator on 11/07/2017 - 16:18

    http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/burgerbuyer11?_trksid=p2047675.l2…

    I found a seller on EBAY burgerbuyer11 selling these licences for $18 they has a lot of positive feedback.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/07/2017 - 19:30

    If you have a legit windows 7 os you can still upgrade to windows 10 via accessibility, bit of work but free windows.

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