Can you use Windows 10 unactivated?

X

xCLAVEx

New member
I'm putting Windows 10 on a pc but don't feel like shelling out $130 just so I can change the backgrounds. From what I'm reading, you should be able to use Win10 perfectly with the only caveat being that you cannot change your background and a little "Please Activate Windows 10" watermark will appear on the screen. The articles I can find on it are old though, back when Win 10 was still the free upgrade and I don't know if it's changed since it is no longer free.

Does anybody have any experience with this so far? Is Windows 10 truly fully functional even without activation? I don't want it to suddenly lock me out of the O/S or reduce functionality in a few months because I didn't activate it.
 
At the moment, windows 10 does not have any restrictions being unactivated, except for some personalization features.

Staying unactivated does not stop them from harvesting data, and updates may change their policy on unactivated systems at any time.

That being said, this still is considered copyright infringement, even if the anti-piracy measures are lenient.
 
DigitalDemon said:
At the moment, windows 10 does not have any restrictions being unactivated, except for some personalization features.

Staying unactivated does not stop them from harvesting data, and updates may change their policy on unactivated systems at any time.
Click to expand...

I haven't tried it myself but do you get updates? Like the Anniversary Edition?
 
the question here is how you aquired this version without shelling out money. And no, i don't really wanna know it, just sayin' because Digi pointed out the copyright infringement.
 
Silent-Runner said:
ik, but that's still not the same as an activated one.
Click to expand...

It's perfectly acceptable to install Win10 without a license-- MS even lets you skip the license check when you install because you don't have a key (which may or may not be due to the fact that you're reinstalling on the same device after upgrading during the free promotion period). You can then buy the key from the Windows Store, if you don't already have one. If it wasn't a legitimate way to do it, then I doubt that MS would be so lenient. Win7/8.1 were much more restrictive when it came to installing and activating, but MS also wasn't in the position that they're in now where they want Win10 on as many devices as possible, in as short a period of time as possible.

When you buy the retail/download version, you're only paying for the license anyway. The USB key that you get inside the package if you buy retail is going to be an outdated version, so you're still gonna be better off downloading the latest image.

I agree that it's shady to try and get away with using it without a license, but I see no problem whatsoever in trying it out for a couple of weeks to see how you like it (or to see how well it performs) before you commit to it. But if you're gonna continue to use it, you really should do the right thing and pony up.
 
Silent-Runner said:
the question here is how you aquired this version without shelling out money. And no, i don't really wanna know it, just sayin' because Digi pointed out the copyright infringement.
Click to expand...

Any install media from Microsoft works. Just skip entering a key. As mentioned it reminds you to activate but doesn't really force you into doing so, and at this point appears to be indefinitely.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top