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Buying Windows 10 download edition from websites (legit)

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Hi All,

Being a money scrimp :money: I know you can get W10 direct from MS for £100 but you can also get the download edition from other legit shops like ebuyer, scan for about £15 cheaper :T

Has anyone bought the download edition from a shop? Did they e-mail you the licence key straight away, or did you have to wait for one of their staff to process your order during working hours and e-mail it to you?

Obviously it's Saturday evening so if they process it manually I guess you wouldn't receive anything until Monday at the earliest. So if anyone knows if there is an immediate delivery shop let me know :D

Many thanks

ps I know there is a free upgrade but this is a new PC with no licence yet.
Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
«13

Comments

  • Neil_Jones
    Neil_Jones Posts: 9,549 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    stator wrote: »
    Hi All,

    Being a money scrimp :money: I know you can get W10 direct from MS for £100 but you can also get the download edition from other legit shops like ebuyer, scan for about £15 cheaper :T

    Has anyone bought the download edition from a shop? Did they e-mail you the licence key straight away, or did you have to wait for one of their staff to process your order during working hours and e-mail it to you?

    There's no difference between the download version from Amazon or buying a disk or USB stick. It's the same product. The only caveat I forsee if that if you need access to your download and your computer's stuffed and you don't have access to another one... see where I'm going?

    Normally buying a download version is automated if you buy it now, you should be able to get access to it fairly quickly, as otherwise it defeats the whole point of it being a download.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Would it be feasible to get a cheap copy of W7 or W8 instead, install that and then get the free download for W10?
  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Neil_Jones wrote: »
    There's no difference between the download version from Amazon or buying a disk or USB stick. It's the same product. The only caveat I forsee if that if you need access to your download and your computer's stuffed and you don't have access to another one... see where I'm going?

    Normally buying a download version is automated if you buy it now, you should be able to get access to it fairly quickly, as otherwise it defeats the whole point of it being a download.
    Sorry I didn't explain it well, but it's the key I want them to send me. I've actually already got the legit install ISO for Windows 10 as you can download it directly from Microsoft. I just need to buy a key so I can install it on the new PC.
    agrinnall wrote: »
    Would it be feasible to get a cheap copy of W7 or W8 instead, install that and then get the free download for W10?
    I don't think there is a way of doing that. Most PCs have OEM Windows which can't be transferred to a new PC. Some have retail, which could be transferred but I don't think there's anyway of knowing if someone is selling a legit Retail Key or some other dodgey key. I think it's against the Microsoft agreement anyway.
    They've stopped selling new Windows 7 stuff and the Windows 8 stuff is the same prices as Windows 10.
    It's all a bit of a rip off really, but that's what happens when you have a monopoly. :(
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
  • Jivesinger
    Jivesinger Posts: 1,221 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    agrinnall wrote: »
    Would it be feasible to get a cheap copy of W7 or W8 instead, install that and then get the free download for W10?
    stator wrote: »
    Some have retail, which could be transferred but I don't think there's anyway of knowing if someone is selling a legit Retail Key or some other dodgey key. I think it's against the Microsoft agreement anyway.
    If you could find a legit Windows 8 or 8.1 upgrade retail edition for less than Windows 10, then it would be fine with Microsoft. (As long as the Windows 8 licence wasn't being used elsewhere.

    As you say the issue would be finding a legit copy at a cheaper price than just buying Windows 10. But there were a *lot* of copies of Windows 8 Pro made back in 2012 and sold for £25 (direct from Microsoft in the initial offer) or, later, around £50.
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    stator wrote: »
    Hi All,

    Being a money scrimp :money: I know you can get W10 direct from MS for £100 but you can also get the download edition from other legit shops like ebuyer, scan for about £15 cheaper :T

    Has anyone bought the download edition from a shop? Did they e-mail you the licence key straight away, or did you have to wait for one of their staff to process your order during working hours and e-mail it to you?

    Obviously it's Saturday evening so if they process it manually I guess you wouldn't receive anything until Monday at the earliest. So if anyone knows if there is an immediate delivery shop let me know :D

    Many thanks

    ps I know there is a free upgrade but this is a new PC with no licence yet.

    Some details about the PC itself might be useful. Does it have brand identification? Do you have details of the exact Motherboard installed?
  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It's not branded or OEM parts. It's just a custom built PC, therefore it needs Windows Retail.
    All I wanted to know really was whether there are any websites that immediately provide the product key for you if you buy Windows 10 rather than having to wait for delivery or a human to e-mail you.
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    stator wrote: »
    It's not branded or OEM parts. It's just a custom built PC, therefore it needs Windows Retail.
    All I wanted to know really was whether there are any websites that immediately provide the product key for you if you buy Windows 10 rather than having to wait for delivery or a human to e-mail you.

    Even though it's a custom built PC, the Motherboard has a brand name and designation number. You can give it to me or you can keep looking for a way to spend £85 on Windows 10 Home.
  • jshm2
    jshm2 Posts: 477 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    The cheapest way would be to buy an old Windows 7 "repair or spare" laptop/tower and use the CD-Key from that. Then get the free W10 upgrade and sell the parts - minus the shell with the CD key of course.

    Got a Win7 licence for £20 by buying a laptop minus screen and keyboard while back. Still made £80 selling the rest of the gubbins.

    Microsoft are starting to phase out Vista and Win7 selling altogether. Thus you'll only get it from old machines
  • NiftyDigits
    NiftyDigits Posts: 10,459 Forumite
    jshm2 wrote: »
    The cheapest way <snip>

    The OP was looking for an instant solution that will work, not the cheapest solution that might work and takes a few days before delivery.
  • stator
    stator Posts: 7,441 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Even though it's a custom built PC, the Motherboard has a brand name and designation number. You can give it to me or you can keep looking for a way to spend £85 on Windows 10 Home.
    It's an ASUS P8Z77-V LX, not that I see that it matters.
    Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.
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