German police are chasing buyers of cheap Windows 10 licenses

[R-T-B]

Windows 95 and Windows 98 are pretty much a 32-bit OS with 16-bit parts and a DOS-based boot loader.

Yep, but dos was included, which was my point.

Imagine not activating Windows 10 through command prompt in a few seconds

Before you jump at me, Micro$oft makes money off of you using their OS even if you do this. They don't care. Windows is the one thing I'm not gonna pay for.

Without a KMS server this isn't possible, nor is this the place for discussing software piracy.

 

[lexluthermiester]

You're both right.

Previously, windows would allow 30 days before locking stuff out even when connected to the internet.

Windows 10 locks you out as soon as you connect to the internet without a key entered during setup. If you entered a key, or if Windows pulls is from the BIOS of an OEM board, it activates as soon as you connect.

Wait, that might be the problem. No one should be network connected while installing Windows. That's just inviting a whole host of problems, including not being able to create a local user account, which is completely asinine on the part of Microsoft. It should ALWAYS bee the choice of the user which type of account to create.

Without a KMS server this isn't possible, nor is this the place for discussing software piracy.

Using KMS is not strictly piracy.

 

[Deleted member 202104]

Wait, that might be the problem. No one should be network connected while installing Windows. That's just inviting a whole host of problems.

While I agree, Microsoft doesn't. They really prefer you're connected so that you can only use a Microsoft account. No local account for you!

The biggest difference is that even if disconnected throughout the setup process, as soon as you connect to the internet, Windows attempts to activate. WIthout a key in place you lose all of the customization options immediately rather than in 30 days with previous versions of Windows.

 

[lexluthermiester]

While I agree, Microsoft doesn't. They really prefer you're connected so that you can only use a Microsoft account. No local account for you!

I don't give a flying rats bum what Microsoft thinks, the ruddy twats.(See edit)

The biggest difference is that even if disconnected throughout the setup process, as soon as you connect to the internet, Windows attempts to activate. WIthout a key in place you lose all of the customization options immediately rather than in 30 days with previous versions of Windows.

Well, stop connecting to the internet until you're ready to activate then! Not a difficult thing really. Seriously, install your drivers, programs and customizations offline. There is never a good reason to connect to the internet while setup is running or until you have everything the way you want it.

 

[R-T-B]

Using KMS is not strictly piracy.

True, but he was implying such so I went with it.

I use legit KMS daily.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I prefer cheap 7 & 10 pro retail keys 30.us so far only one has failed and they replaced it with just one screen shot of windows saying activate now with black wallpaper.
With all the windows 10 malware cheap is all she wrote lol

 

[8BitZ80]

I did a new install of Windows 10 on one of my computers after creating a USB boot drive using the media installation tool from Microsoft's website. During setup I selected "I don't have a license". Once it was all set up I checked what it said under the My PC properties, and it says "Windows is activated with a digital license". To me there's absolutely no indication that it's an unlicensed copy of Windows. I was able to customise the appearance preferences and everything. So unless there's an unspoken grace period it really does seem like you don't need to activate Windows these days. Huh....

 

[Hachi_Roku256563]

I did a new install of Windows 10 on one of my computers after creating a USB boot drive using the media installation tool from Microsoft's website. During setup I selected "I don't have a license". Once it was all set up I checked what it said under the My PC properties, and it says "Windows is activated with a digital license". To me there's absolutely no indication that it's an unlicensed copy of Windows. I was able to customise the appearance preferences and everything. So unless there's an unspoken grace period it really does seem like you don't need to activate Windows these days. Huh....

that is not normal lol

 

[8BitZ80]

that is not normal lol

I would normally expect to see something like this:

Spoiler

But there's nothing on my desktop like that. No "Activate Windows" buttons in the settings, no notifications saying "30 days remaining to activate" or..... anything. I remember older versions of Windows made it blindingly obvious that they weren't activated, but now it seems like Microsoft doesn't give a damn.

Maybe they're making good money just by collecting and selling our private information

 

[lexluthermiester]

that is not normal lol

It's fairly close to my experience, the exception being the auto "activated with a digital license" thing. That's what my shop techs get as well. However, they are trained NOT to connect to the internet until after drivers, programs and configs are installed.
And as a rule we have been selling the inexpensive keys for those customers who can not afford the retail package. However they know that Microsoft does not directly support those installations. That's what we do, and that's the way it's intended to be.

 

[Caring1]

I did a new install of Windows 10 on one of my computers after creating a USB boot drive using the media installation tool from Microsoft's website. During setup I selected "I don't have a license". Once it was all set up I checked what it said under the My PC properties

That's what it used to be called, when you owned your PC.

 

[8BitZ80]

That's what it used to be called, when you owned your PC.

Ah yes of course, now they call it "This PC". The devil is in the details.

 

[Hachi_Roku256563]

t

I would normally expect to see something like this:

Spoiler

View attachment 190895

But there's nothing on my desktop like that. No "Activate Windows" buttons in the settings, no notifications saying "30 days remaining to activate" or..... anything. I remember older versions of Windows made it blindingly obvious that they weren't activated, but now it seems like Microsoft doesn't give a damn.

Maybe they're making good money just by collecting and selling our private information

in all my years once it gets on the network you have 24hrs before its gone

 

[DAWMan]

I did a new install of Windows 10 on one of my computers after creating a USB boot drive using the media installation tool from Microsoft's website. During setup I selected "I don't have a license". Once it was all set up I checked what it said under the My PC properties, and it says "Windows is activated with a digital license". To me there's absolutely no indication that it's an unlicensed copy of Windows. I was able to customise the appearance preferences and everything. So unless there's an unspoken grace period it really does seem like you don't need to activate Windows these days. Huh....

Microsoft considers Windows as a service, therefore it’s free. Been this way for a while.

Only pain is constantly having to disable notifications every time you upgrade.

Since my builds are Audio Workstation‘s, getting rid of the audio is more important than the annoying pop ups.

Other than that for years it works well. I used 7/8.1 up until 2018, didn’t want to upgrade but once my ASIO Drivers were upgraded to 10 I dove in. Like it much better than Mac OS’s that drive developers nuts trying to stay current.

 

[R-T-B]

Microsoft considers Windows as a service, therefore it’s free.

Only it's literally not free. They do describe their model as "Windows as a service" though since 10.

 

[qubit]

Only it's literally not free. They do describe their model as "Windows as a service" though since 10.

Yup, a great example is Office 365. That's SaaS, so try subscribing to it without payment...

 

[DAWMan]

Well it cost me nothing. Media Creation Tool, then download & install.
Maybe it’s for years of retail purchases from ‘95-8.1.

 

[Hachi_Roku256563]

Well it cost me nothing. Media Creation Tool, then download & install.
Maybe it’s for years of retail purchases from ‘95-8.1.

But that is basicly a demo mod with certain features disabled

 

[DAWMan]

Maybe that’s why my streaming has no background services interupting the process.
Perfect set of features for me.

 

[Hachi_Roku256563]

Maybe that’s why my streaming has no background services interupting the process.
Perfect set of features for me.

But it's still a demo mode you have the water mark and the please activate windows it's clearly not free if it's asking for you to pay

 

[Space Lynx]

good thing I am moving to Linux Ubuntu soon as most of the games on my backlog are supported fully there. I will miss out on a couple titles, but its all good. will be nice, shedding M$ once and for all.

 

[Hachi_Roku256563]

good thing I am moving to Linux Ubuntu soon as most of the games on my backlog are supported fully there. I will miss out on a couple titles, but its all good. will be nice, shedding M$ once and for all.

Ubuntus not worth it trust me I've tried for how broken windows is it does have a tendency to just Work

 

[sepheronx]

Ubuntus not worth it trust me I've tried for how broken windows is it does have a tendency to just Work

What about mint is or pop is?

 

[DAWMan]

But it's still a demo mode you have the water mark and the please activate windows it's clearly not free if it's asking for you to pay

I have no please activate, no nagware like 8.1.

It just works with all of my drivers and never blinks.

If I need a social media or internet PC maybe missing features would be helpful.
But for audio servers you need hassle free stability.

So is it a Please Activate Water Marked Demo?
I don’t inow, and really don’t care.
Reminds me of XP. A real workhorse...

 

[Space Lynx]

Ubuntus not worth it trust me I've tried for how broken windows is it does have a tendency to just Work

I have a laptop I run ubuntu on it and its rock solid for me, I only run steam and indie games on it though. So maybe for your use case ubuntu is junk, but for mine it works fine.