Windows 10 Key Activation

[mizzer]

So I purchased a Windows 10 key from an eBay seller. I've done this often with no issues. I tend to stay away from the bargain basement "grey market" sellers and only deal with someone who seems legit.

I received the key and a message showing a step-by-step for activation:

"Please simply copy and paste in command prompt as administrator."

slmgr.vbs -upk
slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX (this is where the key was written)
slmgr /skms kms.digiboy.ir
slmgr /ato

I thought "Forget that. I'll just copy and paste the code into Windows Activation." No dice. I received the following error message:

"We can't activate Windows on this device because we can't connect to your organization's server. Make sure that you're connected to your organization's network and try again."

So here's my questions: is there a risk if I run the code as suggested? Like, will my machine be tied to an activation server?

[xCLAVEx]

Only one way to find out...

[mizzer]

Only one way to find out...

Nope. I should have added I already backed out and found a key elsewhere. I'm mostly just curious at this point.

[Meteor_of_War]

Just a guess here but it seems like that product key might be for an Enterprise license of Windows, and your system needs to be connected to the company's network that holds the license in order to activate.

[KAC]

You want keys buy from a grey website not ebay. Rookie mistake.

[mizzer]

Just a guess here but it seems like that product key might be for an Enterprise license of Windows, and your system needs to be connected to the company's network that holds the license in order to activate.

That's the conclusion I came to as well.

So if I had run the script, would it have opened a "back door" the seller could exploit?

[mizzer]

You want keys buy from a grey website not ebay. Rookie mistake.

Bah, been doing it for many years without a hiccup.
Kinda like your mom.... has been making cookies to give to neighbors.

[Meteor_of_War]

That's the conclusion I came to as well.

So if I had run the script, would it have opened a "back door" the seller could exploit?

I have no clue. But I certainly would not be comfortable activating Windows in some unknown way like that. I'd only want to be doing it on the normal Windows Activation screen like you said.

Personally all my PC builds for the last decade have been Enterprise keys issued to me from my work, and I've always activated them the normal way. I sometimes see those deals on tech websites for super cheap keys, usually less than $15. Always was curious if those would work just fine, but never had the opportunity to try them.

[Elysian]

I have no clue. But I certainly would not be comfortable activating Windows in some unknown way like that. I'd only want to be doing it on the normal Windows Activation screen like you said.

Personally all my PC builds for the last decade have been Enterprise keys issued to me from my work, and I've always activated them the normal way. I sometimes see those deals on tech websites for super cheap keys, usually less than $15. Always was curious if those would work just fine, but never had the opportunity to try them.

I've bought a few $10-15 keys that work perfectly fine. Never through ebay though.

[Meteor_of_War]

I've bought a few $10-15 keys that work perfectly fine. Never through ebay though.

Well I might need to try for myself at some point soon for when my son builds a new PC. I think I last saw some ads for them on TechPowerUp. Hopefully I can still find them.

[Sundance Kid V2]

That's the conclusion I came to as well.

So if I had run the script, would it have opened a "back door" the seller could exploit?

those are normal commands , don't think seller could exploit it.

[DaJMasta]

I think MS has changed the way they license the OS now, I tried a similar thing a bit ago and while not involving external servers, I had one seller just keep retrying codes that never went through. I eventually got one from someone else that worked but required phone activation (not unheard of for earlier ones), I think it was an OEM key that was resold.

In any case, there is some other kind of digital licensing system they're pushing now that doesn't actually use a key, probably to crack down on this kind of key reselling, not sure of the specifics of it, though.

[Sundance Kid V2]

Well I might need to try for myself at some point soon for when my son builds a new PC. I think I last saw some ads for them on TechPowerUp. Hopefully I can still find them.

I bought from a few places and few times, Office , Windows 10 (x4) and worked perfectly. 1/4 of the price.

I think MS wants more people to keep using Windows (hence the cheap keys). They make way more off Azure etc.

[Trunks0]

Commands are fine. It's activating the key against an enterprise KMS server. This is how larger organizations/companies handle Window activation. They have a bulk number of licenses and it activates against the company server. In this case the KMS server is "kms.digiboy.ir" which if you google it, is a very well known KMS server for grey market keys.

[acroig]

Bah, been doing it for many years without a hiccup.
Kinda like your mom.... has been making cookies to give to neighbors.

No mom jokes please.

[mizzer]

No mom jokes please.

It was a joke about no more mom jokes.

Interesting find re: key activation.

I got my key from here: https://www.keysoff.com/windows-10-p...html?kso=sks04

WCCFTECH.com recommended the site.

[Seyiji]

It was a joke about no more mom jokes.

Interesting find re: key activation.

I got my key from here: https://www.keysoff.com/windows-10-p...html?kso=sks04

WCCFTECH.com recommended the site.

Burn the witch!!!

[KAC]

Commands are fine. It's activating the key against an enterprise KMS server. This is how larger organizations/companies handle Window activation. They have a bulk number of licenses and it activates against the company server. In this case the KMS server is "kms.digiboy.ir" which if you google it, is a very well known KMS server for grey market keys.

Yes until you find out that your personal information is being leaked regularly to a server without your knowledge and your accounts are wiped out and your wife is talking to an Indian guy giving access to bank accounts and then you end up being homeless and unhappy on the street and poop on the side walk while people go to work on their jump scooters.

[nutcrackr]

Thread moved to OS forum.

I know some people that activated ebay codes and it was literally just the code, no fancy commands required. This was early last year though.

[Silent-Runner]

as alreay said, it's simply an enterprise key, nothing to worry about. That being said, 15 bucks keys are fine, with win10 there is also neither a need to buy a key nor a need to activate it unlike with older OS versions. I always find it funny to see shops selling win 10 for around 100 bucks...

[Munkus]

Just bought a W10Pro key for my Bootcamp installation through Parallels. Only paid $12 and change. Key worked fine so far, though I have heard rumblings of MS rejecting such keys even after activating Windows with them. Cross fingers.

[Trunks0]

You don't "need" to activate Win10 in allot of cases. As it will work without the key with limitation you may not even care about. Just give it a quick google. I've known lots of people that never bothered because the limitations have no effect for them.