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Comment by hossbeast | Hacker News Reader

You can't buy/use an OEM license for windows on a box you build yourself can you? The last windows machine I put together, I paid > $100 for Windows itself.

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Many PC builders just don't activate Windows at all—other than a few occasional nags, Microsoft doesn't really enforce Windows activation anymore. It's just like how Apple doesn't crack down on Hackintoshing. Both the build-your-own PC market and the Hackintosh market are small enough that it's not worth the time.

Plus, Microsoft is better off having the few prospective Linux-users to have experience tinkering with Windows rather than Linux, even if they don't pay for Windows directly either way. It means they're more likely to be happy using Windows for business IT infrastructure, which is where Microsoft makes its real money.

> Microsoft doesn't really enforce Windows activation anymore

Except an unactivated Windows, once past its trial window, will shut down after an hour of use, without warning. That's very annoying.

MS absolutely does enforce activation. They likely won't come after you for using cracks (unless you have hundreds of corporate machines using them), but they will make your life awkward remotely, as they are entitled to by the EULA.

This has not been true for some time. You can continue to use un-activated Win10 installs: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Product_Activation#A...

You just can't change the wallpaper away from black, and there is a notice displayed on it.

You can change the wallpaper by right-clicking on an image file, just not through the personalization preferences.

This is no longer the case.

   > Except an unactivated Windows, once past its trial window, will shut down after an hour of use, without warning.

Only LTSC Evaluation version gonna do that.

You can use OEM licenses on Windows boxes you build yourself. The main difference with an OEM license and a retail license is that OEM licenses do not come with as much support. The idea is the system builder is supposed to provide the first level of support, while retail licenses are supported by Microsoft directly.

Except that's a breach of the EULA and therefore comparable to piracy.

I don't see where its a breach in the EULA to have the end user also be the manufacturer/builder of the system. Can you point out where its a breach?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Useterms/OEM/Windows/10/UseT...

My brother built a PC and bought a Windows 10 key for $10 online and it worked fine.

People actually pay for Windows on desktops? That still surprises me. I know of course you do pay when buying a laptop, but Windows is basically free, there's a trial and you can just use an activator, or buy an OEM key for 10 bucks as the parent states.

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