windows 8.1 cheap from eBay??

AACM

Hello

I have a good spec laptop with Windows 7, and all works well.
I want to put windows 8.1 on as my operating system (mainly because Onedrive automatically syncs and works well with it, but in 7 it's not so good). I have a surface 3 with Windows 8.1.

To buy an offical upgrade is very expensive. But there are loads of 'keys' being sold for c£20 on eBay and similar. They are invariably labelled as 'genuine'.

The question is, are they likely to work on my computer, problem free? I would have to download Windows 8 from their webpage and then add the key to unlock or use, I guess. If they are genuine, how do they come across all these legit keys?

There are also second hand used ones for sale, but they have (they say) been uninstalled and thus will work properly in another comp. (Would they?)

If I buy the full retail version I think it's over £100, so I'd probably be better off getting a new comp in the longer run. But I don't really want that if I can avoid it. Sooner use my current one for another year or two....

Any help or advice welcomed and very much appreciated!!

Collabora

You can get full version from http://www.mrhightech.com/operating-systems/3514-microsoft-windows-8-professional-0885370395143.html for £47

AACM

Thanks Collabora very helpful!! I will have a look. I guess that's all legit?!

Browntoa

which operates from a mailbox, not a real address , which looks odd , a "business" should have a shop or a warehouse ??

http://www.mbe.co.uk/belfast/our_services

Mailbox Services

• Private and business mailbox addresses
• Fax receiving and mail forwarding services
• Belfast virtual office services

Mail Boxes Etc.
Belfast
Address and store information

21 Botanic Avenue,
Belfast, Northern Ireland BT7 1JJ


MR HIGH TECH LTD
21 Botanic Avenue

Collabora

Browntoa wrote: »

which operates from a mailbox, not a real address , which looks odd , a "business" should have a shop or a warehouse ??

http://www.mbe.co.uk/belfast/our_services

Mailbox Services

• Private and business mailbox addresses
• Fax receiving and mail forwarding services
• Belfast virtual office services

Mail Boxes Etc.
Belfast
Address and store information

21 Botanic Avenue,
Belfast, Northern Ireland BT7 1JJ


MR HIGH TECH LTD
21 Botanic Avenue

That means nothing you can also check https://whois.domaintools.com/mrhightech.com which gives same address, along wityh a name. it could be a 1 man business run from a home address, and uses mailbox for business as if it was not legit then they would hide their details in a whois search to hide where they are truly from.

you could if you are a student or have a student in your family go here

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msuk/en_GB/list/categoryID.64543200 £49.99

AACM

wow, great info guys, thanks.

Browntoa

Under the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations
2000:

7.

(1) Subject to paragraph (4), in good time prior to the conclusion of the contract the supplier shall—

(a) provide to the consumer the following information—
(i) the identity of the supplier and, where the contract requires payment in advance, the supplier’s address;

and

8.—(2)(c) the geographical address of the place of business of the supplier to which the consumer may address any complaints;

and
9.
—(2) But the supplier shall take all necessary steps to ensure that a consumer who is a party to a contract to which paragraph (1) applies is able to obtain the supplier’s geographical address and the place of business to which the consumer may address any complaints.

bod1467

DSRs are superseded by the CCRs now.

Browntoa

and mixed reviews

https://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/mrhightech.com

gjchester

AACM wrote: »

There are also second hand used ones for sale, but they have (they say) been uninstalled and thus will work properly in another comp. (Would they?)

All depends on the licence they originally had, and where the CD/DVD disk (and PC) came from.

OEM (often now called System builder) licences cannot be transferred from PC to PC, and die with the motherboard, with the sole exception of a exact like for like replacement in case of mobo failure.

System builder disks are often called OEM but sold to the end user building their own PC.

The other OEM type is the ones that come with big "Royalty" vendors (ie HP/Dell/IBM). These don't quite the have the same configuration as a system builder disk and so it's possible that if the Disk came from a "Royalty" OEM that the setup will look for a files in the BIOS, without them it will not self activate, meaning you will have to contact Microsoft to activate it.

In other cases it may be they cannot be activated online, only by phone, and you may be asked more questions. Will it activate, probably, and there are software solutions to get around them, but technically the licence is void as the licence was tied to the system it was first installed on.


Full retail software has no restrictions on transferring it to other computer, other than you can only install it in one place at a time.



Long term only you can decide, a OEM version bought used may work forever, or it may be invalidated by a future MS upgrade forcing you to buy it again.

Collabora

Browntoa wrote: »

and mixed reviews

https://www.mywot.com/en/scorecard/mrhightech.com

never trust Mywot as if someone one their says boo all other will just follow suit regardless. strange all them reviews yet no reputation given