Can I use a Windows 10 OEM license?

DevPete · 6 Dec 2020 at 20:49

I just finished building a PC, used my usual Windows 10 install stick and the Windows 10 license key doesn't work! It's an OEM one, and I'm now wondering whether I can use the license for this purpose as I am not reselling the machine? It's for work so I want everything to be genuine.

I could try the disc it came with but I'd need to get an external CD drive or copy it to a USB stick, however, I'm doubting whether this would be genuine? I'm starting to think that I'll need to bin my license and buy a second one :eek:

ED209 · 7 Dec 2020 at 07:25

Have you used the key on a previous system? Oem keys are activated against the first machine they are used on and can not be moved to another system.

retail keys can be moved to another pc though.

Puppetmaster · 7 Dec 2020 at 09:00

Where did you get the key from, a proper place or somewhere selling it for £20?

arknor · 7 Dec 2020 at 11:01

you can get windows keys for like £2.50 on that auction site,

I used one like a year ago for a friend and they never had issues with the key so far.

DevPete · 7 Dec 2020 at 19:49

It did get it from a proper place and have got it working now... I gave a 'B' a scratch on the key and it became a '3'

It was the only bit of stuff that I hadn't scratched off and looked just like a normal 'B'.

wedrum · 7 Dec 2020 at 19:49

arknor said:
you can get windows keys for like £2.50 on that auction site,

I used one like a year ago for a friend and they never had issues with the key so far.

yup

hood1971 · 8 Dec 2020 at 12:52

arknor said:
you can get windows keys for like £2.50 on that auction site,

I used one like a year ago for a friend and they never had issues with the key so far.

Never understood this logic as it is as legal as pirating.

MrRockliffe · 8 Dec 2020 at 12:53

hood1971 said:
Never understood this logic as it is as legal as pirating.

I didn’t think it’s illegal just against terms and conditions :-)

hood1971 · 8 Dec 2020 at 12:58

MrRockliffe said:
I didn’t think it’s illegal just against terms and conditions

True enough, it is a license violation. Should have put it better, especially as I worked at a SAM provider

MrRockliffe · 8 Dec 2020 at 13:48

hood1971 said:
True enough, it is a license violation. Should have put it better, especially as I worked at a SAM provider

I do agree though - it's still naughty.

I just buy all of my stuff through education store

arknor · 8 Dec 2020 at 14:33

MrRockliffe said:
I do agree though - it's still naughty.

I just buy all of my stuff through education store

remember when win10 came out, and if you had a pirate version of the old os you could upgrade for free to a legit license?

MrRockliffe · 8 Dec 2020 at 14:34

arknor said:
remember when win10 came out, and if you had a pirate version of the old os you could upgrade for free to a legit license?

Yeah mad - I'm sure it's just because Microsoft wanted to get as many people on Win 10 as possible to mine data :-)

arknor · 9 Dec 2020 at 10:34

MrRockliffe said:
Yeah mad - I'm sure it's just because Microsoft wanted to get as many people on Win 10 as possible to mine data

yea so knowing the above I don't mind buying a cheap key on ebay and I don't see why you should either.

there probably keys from MSDN members or whatever that microsoft subscription is where they used to give members free keys every month, but if they terminate the sub the keys are disabled.

The people selling these keys literally have tens of thousands of feedback, If Microsoft cared surely they would get the sellers accounts terminated on ebay so we can only assume they are legit keys when the sellers arent having to make new ebay accounts every other month