Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

What do you think will happen?

by GreeleyNeptune Jan 1, 2016 12:39AM PST

Now I am not sure how much of an exploit this really is, but from my understanding to get windows 10 you need to own windows 7-8.1 to upgrade to windows 10. Or you can pay 150$ for windows 10 home as I have seen. On to my supposed exploit.

I have owned Windows 7 Home Premium for several years, I have the product key on a sticker on my computer case, so I can't lose it. I recently upgraded to windows 10. But I just bought all the parts for a PC, and built it myself for my girlfriend. But I didn't buy an OS.

I figured I would try to download an ISO for windows 7 since I don't have a disc, but I couldn't find an official one as the website redirects me to windows 10. So I downloaded a torrent and activated the product key that way.
[Note: I downloaded the ISO as a torrent, but used my official product key to activate windows 7]

I then went directly to the Microsoft website and upgraded to windows 10, I now have a windows 10 pc and I never paid for an OS twice. I feel like I've exploited this because I could get a couple dozen SSD's and download windows 10 like crazy all day long. save them for future computers.

What do you guys think? when I found this out I had to say something somewhere aha

Discussion is locked

4 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Let us know how it comes out....
by Oldartq Jan 1, 2016 1:10AM PST

after 30 days. Good luck.

- Collapse -
For sure I will!
by GreeleyNeptune Jan 1, 2016 2:12AM PST

Both windows 10 installations are activated, it doesn't say I have 30 days to enter a code, like it would if I didn't activate my product key. But that doesn't mean something won't end up backfiring. I have more keys that havent been used even once, and couple of SSD's sitting around so if it doesn't work out I have several backups I can just pop in so I'll ride on this one till it dies if it does.

According to a fellow on another forum, Windows said pirated versions of windows 7 and 8/.1 are able to upgrade to windows 10 for free. He didn't mention whether the upgrade was permanent however for those that did it.

I'm not sure what makes a version of windows pirated, if you downloaded an activated copy of windows I'm sure thats pirated right? but if you download a copy of a windows installation disc thats no different than popping in the disc you have in your closet somewhere but cant find, I would imagine.

- Collapse -
What you said maybe true.
by Oldartq Jan 1, 2016 8:56AM PST

Personally I think I have a computer that's been activated without a legit key or maybe I should say 2 computers with the same key. I think there computer just got too much to handle is what I think. But I'm not going to tell them about it, hehe.

- Collapse -
Those keys on the machine don't work for Windows 7 ISOs
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Jan 1, 2016 9:02AM PST

There are far too many folk that downloaded an ISO then burn in their posts about that.

BACKUP what you have now and make recovery media before you follow those folk.

-> Official Product Key could be OEM and is rarely Retail. This differ!

Back to Windows 10 forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info