Windows Licensing Debate
The cluster focuses on discussions about obtaining legitimate Windows licenses, especially LTSC/LTSB editions, including upgrade paths, enterprise agreements, grey market keys, piracy concerns, and free activation options.
Activity Over Time
Top Contributors
Keywords
Sample Comments
Aren't those Windows licenses upgrade only?
They have this, it's the LTSB release of windows. You can't purchase a license without a larger contract though. PicoKMS is a thing however...
Would you pay for a windows 10 license to enable that use case?
It's not officially, but nothing prevents you from buying licenses.I don't use Windows anymore but iirc the easiest way is to get the E3 or E5 licenses. The volume licensing is "Contact us" pricingLTSC is also Enterprise, but it's meant for e.g. computers attached to an industrial machine/line that rarely gets updated and such. But it's used by many prosumers as a way to avoid bloat and e.g. keep Win10 for longer
The pro keys won't cover you if someone asks. You're not licensed for LTSC and you can't have it without an enterprise agreement. It's still piracy. you might as well have not even paid for the pro keys.
What? He's suggesting getting a student license for Windows/MS Products.
Microsoft gave tons of Windows 10 licenses for free. Does that mean you can trust them?
Do you mean your Win 7 was on a volume license?
No volume license? Not seeing the upside here.
"pirated" yes but you can often source the install images direct from Microsoft and then use open source tools to crack the activation systems. Microsoft has kind of stopped policing piracy at the individual user level, you can even download Windows cracking tools off GitHub, a platform that Microsoft owns. As long as you're using their software it makes them happy. And LTSC is worth it to have a barebones no-bullshit Windows installation.