Friday, December 13, 2024

How to get Windows 10 cheap (or even for free)

Date:

Windows 10 licenses are expensive—almost painfully so. Shelling out $139 for Windows 10 Home or $200 for Windows 10 Pro feels rough when Linux is free and Windows 7 still hasn’t been completely put down. That amount of cash can easily be a third of a budget PC build.

Deal alert! You can now purchase the full retail version of Windows 10 Professional for $40, an 80 percent discount off MSRP. Active for the month of June, this is an exclusive offer for PCWorld readers through the PCWorld Software Store.

But with less developer support for Linux and the end-of-life deadline rapidly approaching for Windows 7, Windows 10 is an inescapable necessity for most of us. What’s not a given is paying full retail.

Yes, it’s possible to snag a discount on Windows 10. The amount you’ll save depends on how much hassle you can tolerate—as well as your circumstances. If you’re lucky, you could technically get Windows 10 for free. (Legitimately for free, because installing Windows 10 without ever activating it doesn’t quite count as getting a full, sanctioned copy of Windows.)

Here’s how.

Packrat’s loophole: Try a Windows 7 or 8 key

Microsoft

If you have an old Windows 7 or Windows 8 PC lying around, you may still be able to reuse its key to activate Windows 10.

When Microsoft first launched Windows 10 back in 2015, it offered Windows 7 and Windows 8 users a truly free, no-strings upgrade to the new operating system. The promotion was only available for just one year—presumably to accelerate push up Windows 10 adoption rates—and expired in July 2016.

But even though Microsoft officially ended this program three years ago, it still has yet completely shut everything down. The activation servers have been allowing Windows 7 and 8 keys on some Windows 10 installs.

Ebenezer Robbins
Ebenezer Robbins
Introvert. Beer guru. Communicator. Travel fanatic. Web advocate. Certified alcohol geek. Tv buff. Subtly charming internet aficionado.

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Practice Acrylic Nail Techniques Without Needing a Fake Hand

When you're starting your journey with acrylic nails, practice...

Inside the World of Common Snapping Turtles: Behavior and Habitat

The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is one of...

How to Use Video Marketing to Promote B2C Products?

Video marketing has emerged as a powerful tool for...

Adapting to Change: The Future for Leopard Tortoise Environments

Leopard tortoises, known for their striking spotted shells and...