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Reminder that Group Policy settings are disabled in home versions, and even some of the registry entries for updates are missing. To get a full package of windows with all the options you have to pay like $400 to $600 for their LTSC or maybe some of their Enterprise versions. Honestly, if anybody pirates Windows, then definitely pirate the LTSC.
I don't think many dual booters actually pay for Windows licenses.
Yarrrrr that be true
Though, yes, I do recommend LTSC as well (high seas and all that, since they cost a small fortune) vs. a Pro license. It's basically what Windows users were used to, a Windows install that's stuck in time, no new features, only security updates.
Oh, and no store and all that app crap, the only app installed is the settings app and there is no way to install any other store app (well, there is, but it's complicated and I would do it only of there is absolutely no other way).
I don’t think many dual booters actually pay for Windows licenses.
You probably got a license when you bought that laptop you got in 2010. And carried it forward. Just because Microsoft didn't charge for the upgrade path to get to windows 11 doesn't mean you didn't pay something for the license.
No, I actually haven't bought a single laptop in my entire life. All my laptops are give/throw aways. The newest I have is a 3rd gen i7.
Did someone actually pay for a Windows license when he/she bought the laptop? Can't say for sure, but yes, most probably. For a Win7 license most likely since that was what was sood back then. Now I have LTSC and Linux on all of my PCs.
But me personally? No, I have never paid for a Windows license. All of the installs I have ever done for myself were pirated. From Win98 and XP onward.
All my laptops are give/throw aways.
Cool then you have licenses. Whether you utilized them or not is up to you. But you have licenses.
Utilize what. They're most probably Win7 Home licenses that could be exchanged for a Win10 Home license at a certain point in time, but not any more... and I wouldn't use a Home license anyway, it's crippled AF.
Isn't gpedit not even in pro anymore?
It definitely is in pro.
Why did I go through the hassle of installing enterprise and doing a bunch of PowerShell crap to put the Ms store and Xbox interface in months later when friends pressured me into playing unmodded Minecraft bedrock?
Edit: I remembered I think. It's the telemetry flag that can't be set to 0 in pro even with gpe but can in enterprise, but the stuff to make xbl gaming work probably undermines whatever it does, if it did anything in the first place.
Huh? You only need the Pro version for Group Policy and all the registry settings, and you can get licenses for ~$20 if you buy an OEM license through an authorized reseller.
There's some limitations to the OEM licenses, but I've never run into them.
As far as I'm aware, LTSC just effects the update channel that Windows Update pulls from, with LTSC getting non-critical updates later and for longer after support "ends". Usually you can switch that in the registry.
Huh? Huuuuuhhhh?
I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of every windows version, but OEM versions are made to order by manufacturers and that comes with it's own special place in hell that I'm not even going to go into. LTSC has everything with no downsides, Home has Group Policy disabled, that was my comment. Despite your standoffish comment you didn't argue against any of that.
Or just get it for like $4 from a reseller
https://www.allkeyshop.com/blog/buy-windows-11-enterprise-cd-key-compare-prices/
It's not a legal license anyway.
This is just speculation, but I'm pretty sure Microsoft stopped caring about people pirating windows and using licences they shouldn't have. They would rather you use windows as a pirate than not use windows at all.
To anyone downvoting the comment above, you can use windows indefinitely without a key. The only thing that happens is you get some text on the screen (that sometimes goes away for no reason) and you can't change the background. They don't give two f's. They could easily block keys / stop them from working if misused, but they don't care. Same reason why every laptop comes with a license. They put it there because it costs them nothing. They'd rather have market share, than get money upfront. They probably make bank on other things (i.e. the analytics, ads, etc)
Been like that since the 90s really. Microsoft's "secret sauce" is that they never gave a shit about the end users.
They make bank by courting enterprise users: Big companies with hundreds of employees, OEMs, governments, schools, etc.
In recent times they found a way to double-dip by putting in telemetry/data collection/ads/adware -- But before that they just didn't care.
It does help that windows makes the user develop learned helplessness and so by the time they are getting their own computer, they'll want to stay in the windows environment. So they also get the inflated marketshare, which feeds back into their pitch when they are courting those enterprises.
It's true. But why would anyone buy an illegal key if they can activate Windows for free?
No they are legal. It is just an upgraded Windows 7 or 8 license.
They were throwing those away by the boatload
Look at the answer on Microsoft forum. What does "legitimate" mean to you? The fact that the system will work with this key does not mean that you have the right to use Windows legally.
Microsoft allowed those licences to upgrade. They are most definitely legitimate.
No matter what a volunteer moderator says.