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You can’t transfer it to a replacement system.
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But a Win10 OEM key is tied to the original PC - and only that machine. Sample OEM product-key stickers (courtesy of Microsoft)Īnother speculated “source” is abandoned Win10 systems. (The price OEMs pay for Windows is rarely made public.)įigure 1. Sure, the OEMs purchase Windows licenses in bulk and at a significant discount, but the keys don’t have a “use by” date - so there’s no need for vendors to sell off their Win10 “inventory” at bargain-basement prices. Invariably, some commenters argue that the keys are simply hardware vendors (Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc.) selling off excess licenses.īut that won’t hold water. My answer is always the same: “No! They’re not legitimate.” Reddit is another place where questions about cheap licenses come up - frequently. If you see one of these promotions, and you ask yourself whether they’re for real, you’ve already answered the question. In addition, I’ll share with you a legit and legal avenue for upgrading to Windows 10.įirst, some background: Woody asked me to discuss this topic because I’m quite vocal on social media when I see supposedly legitimate technology websites championing “cheap and legal” Win10 licenses - either through ads or as part of a partnership.
Fences 3 product key reddit windows 10#
So let’s dive into this weird phenomenon of cheap Windows 10 product keys - and shine some light on the issue. That could be the end of the discussion, but I wouldn’t want to leave you hanging. Cheap Windows 10 product keys - Are they legit?
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