We need to buy OEM license key of Windows 10 to activate different versions of windows. We have talked on other occasions about the differences we find between the different versions of Windows 10. And now we are going to know what are the possibilities that we can find in the market when it comes to getting a Windows license for our computer.
Windows 10 OEM license can be found on different web pages, but not all of them offer the same degree of security, the same prices and of course not all of them are legal. Looking among the alternatives, we are going to see what type of licenses we can find for Windows 10 and thus be able to activate Windows on a new computer.
License: types and where to buy them
And the first thing is, as a reminder, to remember and remember the three types of Windows 10 that we are going to find, focusing on the domestic environment and leaving aside others that are not so interesting to the ordinary user, such as intended for the business or educational market.
- Windows 10 Home : the basic one, the one we all know and that offers access to the most important functions of the operating system. As we saw in its day, this loses compared to the Pro version, as it does not have access to some more advanced functions. However, it can be valid for a large number of users.
- Windows 10 Pro : compared to the previous one, this one has more functions and options but at the cost of paying a higher price. It is perhaps designed for users who seek greater work capacities and who also have more powerful equipment.
- Windows 10 Pro for Workstations : it is indeed focused on the professional market. A license that improves the functions of the Pro version with additions that allow you to work with a greater volume of data, offering more stability and security against errors among other differences.
And now, with the three types of Windows 10 that we can find in the field of the “normal” user, we have to see where we can buy licenses to activate our PC and the first place is, of course, the Microsoft Store. The official Microsoft store offers licenses for any of these three versions. Whether it’s Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, or the Windows 10 Pro for Workstations version , they all have a place.
The price in this case is $99 for Windows 10 Home, $129 if we want to get a license for Windows 10 Pro or $339 if we buy Windows 10 Pro for Workstations. Prices set by Microsoft, but it is not the only alternative.
And we can find licenses on other alternative websites. Both in Amazon, PcComponentes, Fnac … official licenses to use in a single computer at a time, like the previous ones, that yes, they can offer somewhat lower prices. Suffice it as an example that Windows 10 Home can be found for about 130 euros compared to 145 in the Microsoft Store. But along with these options, there is still another that may be more interesting.
Windows 10 OEM, Retail and GVLK
The cheapest are OEM licenses. OEM is the acronym for Original Equipment Manufacturer, and it is a license given by the developer, in this case Microsoft, to the equipment manufacturer, so that software can be installed on a PC. And although these are official and legitimate alternatives, there are some aspects to take into account and differences to clarify with respect to those of the Retail and GVLK type .
“Microsoft OEM products are Microsoft products that are shipped with computers or, in the case of software, are installed on a computer by the appropriate manufacturer. This may include the operating system (such as Windows 10).”
Compared to OEMs, we have those of the Retail type, which are those in which the developer offers the license in a medium such as a DVD or a USB and that can be used for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. We can use it on as many computers as we want but with the limitation of one use simultaneously.
And together with the OEM and Retail, we find the GVLK licenses, a model that, unlike the previous ones, allows simultaneous use on different computers , which makes them focused mainly on the business environment, where an entity usually use a large number of equipment and neither of the first two (OEM and Retail) are profitable
Of these three, the OEM type are cheaper and can be more interesting for the ordinary user, although they have those specific points that you have to know. And it is that in addition to being focused on a specific type of system (32 or 64 bits), the OEM type are, as we have already said, focused on their use in a single PC.
In this way and if we change equipment, we will not be able to take advantage of that license (it can also happen when changing components), something that we can do with a conventional or retail type.
Windows 10 OEM license … eye
Among the OEM licenses we can find on different web pages, examples of licenses for about $15 with which to activate a computer. A significantly lower cost than the licenses we have mentioned before, but beware that at this point it must be taken into account that the OEM licenses that in many cases we can find on the network, are stolen licenses. In addition and as we have already said, only manufacturers have the right to use these licenses, so that the purchase and its use violates Microsoft’s license terms.
“The software is licensed and not sold. Under this agreement and provided you comply with all terms of the agreement, we grant you the right to install and run one instance of the software on your device (the device with license), to be used by one person at a time. If you use software from Microsoft or from authorized sources to update non-genuine software, it will not make your initial version or the updated version original and, in that case, you will not have a license to use the software.”
In fact, it is enough to go around the Microsoft forums to find answers to questions related to OEM licenses and it is necessary to clarify that this type of licenses are exclusive for manufacturers and their use by individuals is not contemplated in the terms of use from Microsoft.
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