You can see if your school is eligible and download your free Windows 11 key here. These are all OEM keys and likely can't be used on another computer after you activate them on the first one. Now, let's address the elephant in the room. While we can't vouch for all of them, websites selling cheap Windows 10 or 11 keys are likely offering legitimate codes. Kinguin has more than three dozen merchants worldwide selling Windows keys. It's just another marketplace. So we tried calling the number and waited on hold for a few minutes.
We thought activating via phone would be an automated process where we just punched in the key and got an approval code, but instead we got a live representative who immediately asked for our Microsoft account ID.
However, both sites play host to a number of third-party sellers whose product keys may or may not be legit.
The easiest but most expensive way to get Windows is to buy your key directly from Microsoft. You can get these either as downloads or on USB drives. If you have an old Windows key you can carry over from a previous build, that's your best option and effectively gives you Windows 10 or Windows 11 for free.
If you don't have a key on hand, you need to decide whether you're comfortable using an unactivated version of Windows 10 or 11, which limits your customization options, has an ugly watermark and leaves you ineligible for Microsoft support. Many would argue that downloading Windows without paying for or already owning a product key is ethically wrong.
That said, Microsoft has made this process easier over various Windows iterations and lessened the limitations and nagging that happens when you don't activate.
We've even seen well-known vendors and Microsoft partners do press presentations with watermarks on their desktop. Scharon Harding has a special affinity for gaming peripherals especially monitors , laptops and virtual reality.
Previously, she covered business technology, including hardware, software, cyber security, cloud and other IT happenings, at Channelnomics, with bylines at CRN UK. Tom's Hardware Tom's Hardware.
Scharon Harding opens in new tab. Topics Software. See all comments I bought a key on ebay and it turned out to be a VL key volume. Which works but shouldn't be sold. I contacted the seller and he refunded me. Very good breakdown of the ways to activate Windows Most people don't even realize you can still use a windows 7 key to activate, only after you get into windows, and not during the setup process. I believe this will probably stop working Jan 1, , when Microsoft stops support for windows 7.
One thing that I was hoping for some explanation on key activations, I have seen how some Youtuber's have tied their windows 10 keys to their Microsoft account. Then they only need a handfull of keys, like one for each motherboard vendor, and during setup, then sign into their Microsoft account, and select the key that corresponds to the motherboard their are reviewing. So they can move the keys around, and as long as it was the same brand of motherboard it would activate for that computer, and no longer be active on the old system.
Any thoughts on how this works? Any limitations on how many moves, is this method valid for years so you would never have to buy another key if you stayed with one particular favorite motherboard vendor?
On the forums, we see MANY tales of woe concerning aftermarket, 3rd-party, or otherwise dicey Windows keys. On this page, you have the method to create ISO file also. Thanks for your feedback.
How satisfied are you with this reply? Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site. Andre for Directly Independent Advisor. Image Click in the Edition list box, choose your edition then click Next. Windows 10 - contains Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro. Windows 10 N - only select this edition if you reside in Europe, it does not contain Windows Media Player.
In order to use an ISO you must burn it to a optical disc. If you are using Windows 7, you can create the. ISO then burn it using the built in Disc Image utility. Creating a. ISO file For the purposes of this exercise, we are gonna use the.
ISO option. Wait while the. ISO image is created.
What is Windows 10 Home Plus? Plus is not a version I can find listed anywhere except with HP - and no explanation of what it is. Google is not my friend today! I saw that post. Whoever posted that on quora is mistaken. The link to Microsoft does contain the word "plus" but as used it has nothing to do with the Home version. It means "in addition to". Didn't find what you were looking for? Ask the community. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
Showing results for. Search instead for. Did you mean:. Need Windows 11 help? Check documents and videos on compatibility, FAQs, upgrade information and available fixes. Windows 11 Support Center. Create an account on the HP Community to personalize your profile and ask a question.
Your account also allows you to connect with HP support faster, access a personal dashboard to manage all of your devices in one place, view warranty information, case status and more. It has been a while since anyone has replied. Simply ask a new question if you would like to start the discussion again. All forum topics Previous Topic Next Topic. New member. Message 1 of 3. HP Recommended. Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 bit. Tags 1.
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