Windows 11 Pro for $9.97?

[maxseven]

StackSocial has "lifetime subscriptions" to W11Pro for $10 bucks which seems too good to be true, doesn't it? Does anyone here know how it works?

 

[z3r010]

I put one on my dad's new PC a few months back and everything seems fine, I think it was $13 at that point.

 

[maxseven]

I put one on my dad's new PC a few months back and everything seems fine, I think it was $13 at that point.

Do you get a Windows license code? But more importantly is there any time limitation i.e once you have the code you can install it in the future any time?

 

[z3r010]

I can't really remember, I think the code came on an email, but once installed moved to a digital licence, so could be reused whenever.

 

[michael diemer]

The general thinking on these keys, commonly called gray keys I believe, is that they are technically illegal, and MS could at any time decide to revoke them, thus deactivating Windows (which still could be used of course, but with the usual limitations). So you can use them, but with the above caveats. I guess it depends on how adventurous you are. There is an ethical consideration also, of course, namely intellectual property theft.

 

[Bree]

StackSocial has "lifetime subscriptions" to W11Pro for $10 bucks which seems too good to be true, doesn't it? Does anyone here know how it works?

The general thinking on these keys, commonly called gray keys I believe, is that they are technically illegal, and MS could at any time decide to revoke them, thus deactivating Windows (which still could be used of course, but with the usual limitations)....

Windows 10/11 activation is different from Windows 7/8. Once a PC has been activated by a key it has a digital licence stored on the Microsoft activation servers, linked to the hardware ID of the PC. This digital licence doesn't record the key that was used to get it.

If you have any concerns about the provenance of the key you used, then change the installed key to the appropriate generic key for your edition, Home or Pro. A generic key will activate from an existing digital licence without any reference to the original key you used. The generic keys are the same for both Windows 10 and 11.

Generic Product Keys to Install or Upgrade Windows 11 Editions | Windows 11 Forum

 

[maxseven]

The general thinking on these keys, commonly called gray keys I believe, is that they are technically illegal, and MS could at any time decide to revoke them, thus deactivating Windows (which still could be used of course, but with the usual limitations). So you can use them, but with the above caveats. I guess it depends on how adventurous you are. There is an ethical consideration also, of course, namely intellectual property theft.

At least in re: "theft" it seems StackSocial has been doing this for quite a long time, with all manner of MS products, and I would think if MS was bothered by it they would have issued a "cease and desist" by now. In any case for $10 bucks apiece I got two (called "License Codes" from Retail King), and if-or-when I ever get around to using them (upgrade my W7 laptop? install to my Macintosh?) if they don't work then, well, I've spent more $ on other things that didn't work or I never use.

Thanks for the replies here.

 

[michael diemer]

I agree that MS is very unlikely to go after the individual user who uses these keys. More likely, the provider of them. And Windows 7 is so far back now that they are probably not going to waste their time on this.

The thing I don't like about such "soft IP theft" is, it puts one on a slippery slope. You start out using a gray key. Then you decide, WTH, why even bother with that? A simple registry hack will solve the problem. And then, hey, why pay for anything when you can just pirate it? I don't want to get to that place, myself. So I stay off those slopes.

 

[maxseven]

Hmm I dunno nuttin' 'bout no "registry hack" but while I certainly don't approve of pirating at the same time I can't deny that I'm not at all happy with MS abandoning W7, especially given it "works fine and lasts a long time". They should have renamed it Windows Classic or some such and kept it viable rather than relegate thousands (millions?) of hardware devices to recyling facilities and landfills.

 

[michael diemer]

Hmm I dunno nuttin' 'bout no "registry hack" but while I certainly don't approve of pirating at the same time I can't deny that I'm not at all happy with MS abandoning W7, especially given it "works fine and lasts a long time". They should have renamed it Windows Classic or some such and kept it viable rather than relegate thousands (millions?) of hardware devices to recycling facilities and landfills.

I couldn't agree more. Look at Linux Mint, it is basically the same system now as when it was first created, just updated, polished etc. That's why people love it. No massive GUI change that forces you to learn all over again how to use it. And so on. Windows 8, then 10...why do that to people? (Answer: to gain more control over them).

Another example is Office. Many people have Office 2010, and feel no need to upgrade. It works perfectly. But MS will no longer authorize a new install of it. Again, that's a big reason people love Linux. You can stay with what works. Changes are not forced on you (usually - there are exception, like system D).

 

[maxseven]

...Windows 8, then 10...why do that to people? (Answer: to gain more control over them)...

Well, along with all the other software junk they market, it notsomuch control but simply to sell more, everywhere i.e. to PC mfrs as well as us sorry consumers.

Regardless, had they relabeled 7 "Windows Classic" and sold me a subscription to it (and kept it up with at least bug and security updates) I'd have bought. As it is I have a 0patch subscription for 25euros or $29/year. I'd have spent twice that or more to keep W7 viable.

That would have enabled, if not forced, software companies to not migrate their software away from W7 support as so many have.

 

[michael diemer]

Well, along with all the other software junk they market, it notsomuch control but simply to sell more, everywhere i.e. to PC mfrs as well as us sorry consumers.


Regardless, had they relabeled 7 "Windows Classic" and sold me a subscription to it (and kept it up with at least bug and security updates) I'd have bought. As it is I have a 0patch subscription for 25euros or $29/year. I'd have spent twice that or more to keep W7 viable.
That would have enabled, if not forced, software companies to not migrate their software away from W7 support as so many have.

Again, I couldn't agree more. I would also gladly pay them for an updated Windows 7. I consider it the best operating system ever produced. Why destroy quality like that? Makes no sense to me.