Any way to install Windows 10 on a laptop that has never had it before for free?

RadFX · Aug 24, 2018

I tried Windows 10 1803 but it wouldn't activate. This laptop is a Toshia L475d and it has a legit product key for widows 7 but I can't read it because it's partly worn off. Am I out of luck?

eidairaman1 · Aug 24, 2018

RadFX said:
I tried Windows 10 1803 but it wouldn't activate. This laptop is a Toshia L475d and it has a legit product key for widows 7 but I can't read it because it's partly worn off. Am I out of luck?

Do you have the win 7 disc?

Totally · Aug 24, 2018

RadFX said:
I tried Windows 10 1803 but it wouldn't activate. This laptop is a Toshia L475d and it has a legit product key for widows 7 but I can't read it because it's partly worn off. Am I out of luck?

too late to retrieve the key from the registry using a program like magic jellybean finder?

newtekie1 · Aug 24, 2018

If you can't read the Windows 7 key, and don't know what it was, then you are out of luck(assuming you already formatted the drive that had Windows 7 on it). You'll have to buy a copy of Windows 10 or Windows 7 can take your chances with the free upgrade. The free upgrade isn't technically supported anymore, but I've still had luck with it working.

You can grab a copy of Windows 10 off Kinguin for about $34.

thebluebumblebee · Aug 24, 2018

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/12-windows-10-pro-key.245431/

lexluthermiester · Aug 24, 2018

There is an inexpensive way to purchase a legit Win 10 key.

Windows 10 Home Retail for up to 5 PC's at once, $29.75;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-retail-cd-key-global_1522-20.html
Windows 10 Home OEM for just one PC, $12.68;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-retail-cd-key-global_1522-20.html
Windows 10 Pro Retail for up to 5 PC's at once, $31.50;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-retail-cd-key-global_1520-20.html
Windows 10 Pro OEM for just one PC, $14.00;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-oem-cd-key-global_1227-20.html

R-T-B · Aug 24, 2018

We really need to define the rules on greymarket keys. I'll spare you the harping this time until we do.

dorsetknob · Aug 24, 2018

win 10 is still free >>"if you have impaired needs"
need Sun glasses in Bright light you qualify" :cool:

pigulici · Aug 24, 2018

" it has a legit product key for widows 7 but I can't read it because it's partly worn off "- same problem I had too, I called the M$, in short they told me that I had to buy a new license, even if I had the receips/paper for the old one, and yes, you can still use a win7/8 key to install a win10.

lexluthermiester · Aug 24, 2018

R-T-B said:
We really need to define the rules on greymarket keys. I'll spare you the harping this time until we do.

If you are talking about the SCDKey.com links, they are not gray-market. Microsoft knows about this site and actively participates.

notb · Aug 24, 2018

newtekie1 said:
You can grab a copy of Windows 10 off Kinguin for about $34.

You can also grab a copy in a store and run.

lexluthermiester said:
If you are talking about the SCDKey.com links, they are not gray-market. Microsoft knows about this site and actively participates.

Source?

Also, what is this whole blabber about grey-market? It's a software license. It's either legal or not. So?

lexluthermiester · Aug 24, 2018

notb said:
Source?

Microsoft. Called them directly because I wanted to use them in my business and they confirmed that the above site and many others are selling legitimately distributed keys.

StrayKAT · Aug 24, 2018

lexluthermiester said:
There is an inexpensive way to purchase a legit Win 10 key.

Windows 10 Home Retail for up to 5 PC's at once, $29.75;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-retail-cd-key-global_1522-20.html
Windows 10 Home OEM for just one PC, $12.68;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-retail-cd-key-global_1522-20.html
Windows 10 Pro Retail for up to 5 PC's at once, $31.50;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-retail-cd-key-global_1520-20.html
Windows 10 Pro OEM for just one PC, $14.00;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-oem-cd-key-global_1227-20.html

Last time I tried a place like that, I got ripped off... It's embarrassing really.

No, I just deal with a retail license from now on.

Readlight · Aug 24, 2018

everyone already haw overpaid for windows (who is not optimized for millions of different devices and users) in OEM, tax, internet way, i happy whit TeamOS

StrayKAT · Aug 24, 2018

Readlight said:
everyone already haw paid for windows in OEM, tax, internet way, i happy whit TeamOS

What is that? A pirating site?

R-T-B · Aug 24, 2018

lexluthermiester said:
Microsoft. Called them directly because I wanted to use them in my business and they confirmed that the above site and many others are selling legitimately distributed keys.

Fair enough. I always thought OEM keys had to come with hardware.

StrayKAT said:
What is that? A pirating site?

Pretty much. Sounds like he "overpaid" nothing.

yeeeeman · Aug 24, 2018

Check out Microsoft toolkit on google.

robot zombie · Aug 24, 2018

StrayKAT said:
Last time I tried a place like that, I got ripped off... It's embarrassing really.

No, I just deal with a retail license from now on.

Eh, that one seems legit. Hard to believe it could be, I know. I kind of feel the same about it...

... but I've been using the key I got from scdkey all year. Kinda said "eh, I'll take a chance." Figure if I'm out $14 to find out if it actually saves me a lot more than that, that's not so bad. And nothing funny's happened yet. If, for whatever reason, Microsoft decides it's no good sometime next year, I've already gotten my money's worth. $14 of it, anyway.

95Viper · Aug 24, 2018

lexluthermiester said:
Microsoft. Called them directly because I wanted to use them in my business and they confirmed that the above site and many others are selling legitimately distributed keys.

R-T-B said:
Fair enough. I always thought OEM keys had to come with hardware.
Pretty much. Sounds like he "overpaid" nothing.

Who do you believe... Microsoft or Microsoft. Seems they are their own grey market.

Quotes from Microsoft web site "Tips for Safer Shopping"

Beware of Product Keys Sold Separately
With the exception of Product Key Cards (PKC’s) distributed with COA’s, Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys for sale, it’s a good indication that the keys are likely stolen or counterfeit. If you were to purchase and use a stolen or counterfeit product key to activate Windows installed on your PC, the key may not work for activation, may already be in use on another PC, or it might be blocked from use later by Microsoft when the key is reported stolen. The best way to get everything you expect up front is to buy genuine Microsoft software preinstalled on a new PC or genuine Microsoft software from an authorized reseller.

and "How to Tell - Software"

Considering downloading software? Here’s how to better protect yourself to make sure you get what you expect.
When buying Microsoft software as a digital download, we recommend that you avoid auction sites and peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing sites. At the moment there are a limited number of sites where you can legally purchase digital downloads of Microsoft software. One example is the online Microsoft Store, where you can buy a wide variety of genuine software and hardware directly from Microsoft (in select markets). Additionally, you can purchase a digital download of Windows at www.windows.com/shop.
With the exception of Product Key Cards distributed with Certificates of Authenticity (COA’s), Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys, it’s a good indication that these keys are likely stolen or counterfeit. Learn more.

lexluthermiester · Aug 24, 2018

95Viper said:
Who do you believe... Microsoft or Microsoft. Seems they are their own grey market. Quotes from Microsoft web site "Tips for Safer Shopping" and "How to Tell - Software"

People are using them, including some of my clients. No issues and with Microsoft's blessing. Microsoft has changed it's M.O. before. Who knows though.

newtekie1 · Aug 24, 2018

dorsetknob said:
win 10 is still free >>"if you have impaired needs"
need Sun glasses in Bright light you qualify"

No it isn't. The extended deadline for users of assertive technologies ended December of 2017. There is no legal way to upgrade Windows 7/8 to 10 anymore. Even if you get lucky and it still works, it isn't legal.

StrayKAT said:
Last time I tried a place like that, I got ripped off... It's embarrassing really.

No, I just deal with a retail license from now on.

This is why I use Kinguin. You pay the extra $5 for the protection, and if you ever have a problem with the key, they give you another one.

R-T-B said:
Fair enough. I always thought OEM keys had to come with hardware.

I believe there was some legal case that Microsoft lost about this. First, there is nothing in the OEM license that says it has to be sold with hardware. I've ordered OEM copies of Windows by themselves from Newegg and Amazon. The OEM license just states that Microsoft doesn't provide any support for the product, that the support is provided by whoever is filling the role of the OEM. If I'm buying the software and installing it on someone else's computer, I basically become the OEM. If you buy it and install it on your own computer, then you are the OEM. It basically comes down to whoever installs the OS, is the OEM that has to support it, not Microsoft.

The legal battle they had was about people reselling OEM keys from computers they bought. It was the Linux/Unix community that fought this legal battle. People who were buying pre-built computers with Windows OEM license, but wanted to run Linux. So they wanted to sell the Windows license that came with the computer. Microsoft said they couldn't, so they took Microsoft to court. The result is that as long as you do not accept the Windows license agreement when you first turn the computer on, you can legally resell the OEM Windows key. But if you accept the license agreement, you can not resell the key, it becomes legally bound to the computer.

I believe a lot of the keys for sale on the "gray market" sites, are keys from computers that people put Linux on, and are just reselling the key to try to make a few bucks back.

lexluthermiester · Aug 24, 2018

newtekie1 said:
I believe a lot of the keys for sale on the "gray market" sites, are keys from computers that people put Linux on, and are just reselling the key to try to make a few bucks back.

Except that the keys on offer in the links above are digital distribution keys. Don't believe it? Buy one and then contact Microsoft to verify it's validity. They will happily share the source of the key with you.

Frick · Aug 24, 2018

pigulici said:
" it has a legit product key for widows 7 but I can't read it because it's partly worn off "- same problem I had too, I called the M$, in short they told me that I had to buy a new license, even if I had the receips/paper for the old one, and yes, you can still use a win7/8 key to install a win10.

Before they'd definitely give you a new copy if you could provide pictures of the worn off sticker and recieps. That was when I worked there, but that was a while ago.

AltCapwn · Aug 24, 2018

lexluthermiester said:
There is an inexpensive way to purchase a legit Win 10 key.

Windows 10 Home Retail for up to 5 PC's at once, $29.75;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-retail-cd-key-global_1522-20.html
Windows 10 Home OEM for just one PC, $12.68;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-retail-cd-key-global_1522-20.html
Windows 10 Pro Retail for up to 5 PC's at once, $31.50;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-retail-cd-key-global_1520-20.html
Windows 10 Pro OEM for just one PC, $14.00;
https://www.scdkey.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-oem-cd-key-global_1227-20.html

Wow thanks mate, never heard of this website.

EDIT:

StrayKAT said:
Last time I tried a place like that, I got ripped off... It's embarrassing really.

No, I just deal with a retail license from now on.

Oopsi

Vayra86 · Aug 24, 2018

notb said:
You can also grab a copy in a store and run.

Source?

Also, what is this whole blabber about grey-market? It's a software license. It's either legal or not. So?

Its legal from the buyers perspective because you have no way of checking the source and the price is not "surreal", as MS has been giving out free licenses and upgrades itself.

Still rocking five W10 pro keys since early this year and none of them have issues. Several sources @ 15-20 eur a pop.

Another notable thing is that the prices for keys are slowly normalizing and fall in line with regular discounted licenses. So what happens is you buy a legal key from a seller that bought them on some sale at some point. Hardly illegal imo

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Any way to install Windows 10 on a laptop that has never had it before for free?

RadFX

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman

Totally

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

thebluebumblebee

lexluthermiester

R-T-B

dorsetknob

"YOUR RMA REQUEST IS CON-REFUSED"

pigulici

lexluthermiester

notb

lexluthermiester

StrayKAT

Readlight

StrayKAT

R-T-B

yeeeeman

robot zombie

95Viper

Super Moderator

lexluthermiester

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

lexluthermiester

Frick

Fishfaced Nincompoop

AltCapwn

Vayra86

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