How dodgy are these key selling sites?

h4rm0ny

h4rm0ny

h4rm0ny

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So I run a bunch of VMs for software development purposes and it would be useful to have Windows installed on a couple of them. The problem is that each install requires its own licence and these are expensive. You can sort of work around that by installing Windows and just resetting it over and over when the lack of licence becomes an issue. But it's not ideal.

I've several times seen sites advertised selling licence keys for Windows much cheaper than retail like this one. I'm instinctively distrustful of anything that seems too good to be true, but I'm checking anyway.

What's the deal here? Are they pirated keys? Reselling the same key multiple times? Or are they actually able to sell legitimate keys super cheap, somehow. If I buy a couple of Windows keys, are they going to work and not be revoked by Microsoft a few months down the line?
 
I'm yet to licence my windows 10 machine.

The only limitation's are the watermark on the bottom right hand corner and that it doesn't let you change the personalisation e.g theme wallpaper etc although if you open an image you can right click on it and set to wallpaper.
 
Well now don't I look like a fool? All this time, I never even bothered trying. Downloading W10 installation media now and will give it a try.

But out of curiosity and back to the original question, what is the deal with sites like the above. Would these keys actually work?
 
Glanza said:
They will work for a time but you have no guarantee how long before you'll get it revoked and back to unlicensed.
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That's what I suspected. Where do they get them? Are they legitimate keys that are leaked-stolen someone in the chain and eventually MS notice and cancel them? Keys that are legit but associated with genuine sales that simply haven't been activated yet but when they are these ones will be revoked? I'm just wondering how this works.

I've installed Windows on a VM and so far working quite well. Still be nice to have it legit, though. Wish MS did some sort of deal for software developers who just wanted to run VMs in an already licenced home system.
 
I'm not 100% on the details but if it is just for experimenting, etc. IIRC you can register for the insider program and install Windows 10 inside many of the popular VMs and it will auto activate with a generic key - you might have to deal with the occasional buggy release though but then so do people on the main ring...
 
Rroff said:
I'm not 100% on the details but if it is just for experimenting, etc. IIRC you can register for the insider program and install Windows 10 inside many of the popular VMs and it will auto activate with a generic key - you might have to deal with the occasional buggy release though but then so do people on the main ring...
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???

But I'm already ON the Insider Preview!

Today is a day for learning things I should have already known! :( :D
 
h4rm0ny said:
???

But I'm already ON the Insider Preview!

Today is a day for learning things I should have already known! :( :D
Click to expand...

I think there could potentially be a problem that insider builds in this manner are time limited anyway and rely on a new release being put out to continue with activation - I've got a legacy developer/technet account so I'm not 100% sure exactly how it works normally and/or how much applies if you don't.
 
Glanza said:
They will work for a time but you have no guarantee how long before you'll get it revoked and back to unlicensed.
Click to expand...

This is always the risk. I bought a couple of of Win 10 Keys for £20 from a Dutch firm last year. All OK for the moment. At that cost it isn't a big deal *if* MS were to revoke the keys. Way cheaper than they quoted me over the phone. Some say MS isn't too bothered now so long as you are using their OS :rolleyes: I know of a an unactivated win 10 install and apart from the occasional nag screen everything works fine - or so the owner says. Seems it's not just the OS these days. I use Eset and always renewed direct thinking it the only option. By accident did a search and bought a 3 machine/1 year license of Eset Smart Security Premium for £7. It too works fine activating and updating correctly. I was using the Anti Virus version previously.
 
Richy888 said:
This is always the risk. I bought a couple of of Win 10 Keys for £20 from a Dutch firm last year. All OK for the moment. At that cost it isn't a big deal *if* MS were to revoke the keys. Way cheaper than they quoted me over the phone. Some say MS isn't too bothered now so long as you are using their OS :rolleyes: I know of a an unactivated win 10 install and apart from the occasional nag screen everything works fine - or so the owner says. Seems it's not just the OS these days. I use Eset and always renewed direct thinking it the only option. By accident did a search and bought a 3 machine/1 year license of Eset Smart Security Premium for £7. It too works fine activating and updating correctly. I was using the Anti Virus version previously.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll probably hold off for now just because I think they must be illegal. But good to know.
 
h4rm0ny said:
Thanks. I'll probably hold off for now just because I think they must be illegal. But good to know.
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Wouldn't like to say either way. Maybe bulk purchased by the dealers. They look legit enough or at least the ones I have dealt with. No one seems to be hounding them out of business. Two Win 10 Pro Retail licences for £25 or go to MS and give them £439-98 - didn't spend too long thinking about it ;) I'm surprised Microsoft haven't moved over to yearly subscription plan for Windows..
 
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