The fact that Windows licenses are expensive is undeniable. Paying 145 dollars for Windows 10 Home or more than 200 for Windows 10 Pro hurts. And even if it’s Windows 11 you want, it’s always a good idea to first get a Windows 10 license on sale and then upgrade to Windows 11.
So, if you’re wondering if you can get Windows 10 cheaper, you’ll like the answer.
Yes, it is possible to put Windows 10 on sale. How much you save depends on how much discomfort you can tolerate, as well as your situation. If you’re lucky, you might even get Windows 10 for free. Legitimately free, since installing Windows 10 without activating it never counts as obtaining a full, licensed copy of Windows.
We tell you the trick below.
The Packrat Loophole: Try a Windows 7 or 8 Key
If you have an old Windows 7 or Windows 8 computer, you may be able to reuse your key to activate Windows 10.
When Microsoft first launched Windows 10 in 2015, it offered Windows 7 and Windows 8 users a truly free, no-commitment upgrade to the new operating system. The promotion was only available for one year – supposedly to boost Windows 10 adoption rates – and it expired in July 2016.
But even though Microsoft officially ended this program three years ago, it still hasn’t completely stopped everything. Activation servers allow Windows 7 and 8 keys on some Windows 10 installations.
Windows 7 or Windows 8 product keys that usually work for this method are the retail and OEM varieties. Only sporadic successes have been reported for volume license keys (i.e. professional or educational licenses) that work with this flaw.
While there’s no exact science on what works, the following guidelines take into account various data points floating around articles, forums, and Reddit. First, you are limited to using keys for a specific version of Windows 7 or 8 with the equivalent in Windows 10.
If you have a Windows 7 or 8 Home license, it will only work for Windows 10 Home. Those for Windows 7 or 8 Pro only work for Windows 10 Pro.
An additional rule of thumb is that you may need a retail product key if you are performing a clean install of Windows 10 on a new PC. OEM product keys should work if you are performing a clean install or upgrade of Windows 10 on the computer your Windows 7 or 8 license is tied to.
If you don’t have your license key readily available, you can find it using a program like Magical Jelly Bean Product KeyFinder.
Once you have it handy, you’ll need to enter it one of two ways: either when prompted during the installation process if you’re doing a clean install, or through the “Change Product Key” option. ” in the Windows 10 Activation section. settings.
If the product key is recognized, you’ll receive a digital license that binds your machine to the key, so it should be good for the future if this method ever expires, as Microsoft previously said.
The easiest discount: an OEM license
- Price: $110 (Windows 10 Home), $150 (Windows 10 Pro)
Our next suggestion is a method that is accessible to everyone and has the least hassle: purchasing an OEM license.
License types are different from operating system versions. They dictate what we can do with it. Software, while the versions of the operating system are distinguished by the features available. There are several types of Windows licenses, but the two that are generally available to a home user are the retail and OEM varieties.
If you walk into a store or visit Microsoft’s website, the $139 for Windows 10 Home (or $200 for Windows 10 Pro) discount gets you the retail license. If you visit an online store like AmazonRemove non-product link or Newegg, you can find retail and OEM licenses for sale.
An OEM license can usually be spotted by its price, which tends to be around $110 for a Windows 10 Home license and $150 for a Windows 10 Pro license.
All features of the operating system version are the same for both license types. The difference is that with a commercial license, you can transfer the license key to another PC later.
You cannot do this with an OEM license. For a lower price, you can use the license key on a single PC, period. If you build a system, but create a new one four years later, you cannot transfer the license to the new machine.
Also, if the Material used to identify your failing system – i.e. motherboard – Microsoft’s logging servers will not recognize your license as valid after replacing the dead part.
However, Microsoft has always been kind to such situations; can usually be called to reactivate the license after replacing a fried mobo. But that’s an extra hassle.
Biggest Savings: Education Discount
Not all student discounts are restricted to under 24s. Your local community college may be a source for a free or deeply discounted copy of Windows 10, and it’s pretty much the equivalent of Windows 10 Enterprise, to begin with. You’ll just have to do a little work (maybe literally) to get it.
As mentioned above, license types determine what can be done with Windows and also who can use it. Through academic volume licensing agreements, schools can purchase access to Windows 10 Education for their students, faculty, and staff. Some make it available only on campus computers. Others grant a license for use on a personal computer.
Several community colleges are in the latter area, and they often make Windows 10 licenses free or very affordable (usually $15). The catch: You must enroll in at least one course to receive campus discounts.
To access the software, you will usually need to first register with your class, then find and register separately with any online store your campus uses to purchase software. Software.
(Many community colleges use OnTheHub as a reseller, so you can use their search tool to start researching your college options.) The store will require verification of your student status before you can “purchase” Windows 10 .
However, a one-unit class usually does count and, depending on your state, can cost as little as $76, including the administration fee. Typical options are usually physical education or dance (swimming, ballet, jazz, boot camp workouts, etc.), but you can also find occasional classes in subjects such as initial drawing, l introduction to HTML and CSS and video for the Web.
If you are already planning to take a course in one of these subjects, you get an incredible offer. Windows 10 Education, which is similar to the professional version of Windows 10, includes popular Windows 10 Pro features such as Bitlocker encryption and Windows 10 May Update Sandbox feature. Essentially, you get Windows 10 Pro (and more) up to 60% off and you can learn something new.
Even if you’re not interested in the courses, you’re still paying far less than even a comfortable Windows 10 Pro OEM license would cost with a failing grade on your record.
Obviously, if your local university doesn’t have an agreement with Microsoft, this strategy won’t work. Additionally, if the total cost of the course, administrative fees, and license fees exceed the cost of selling a Windows 10 Pro license, and you would not have taken the course otherwise, that also voids this Agreement. In these cases, your primary options are OEM licensing (described above) or purchasing through a reseller (detailed below).
Original article published in English on our sister site PCWorld.com.
