[m_ridzon]

Folks, I'm building a home PC and will install Windows 10 and MS Office. As a graduate student, I can buy Windows 10 Education Version for $60 at my university. Similarly, I can also buy MS Office Professional Plus 2019 for $60. However, I'm curious what these go for in the open market if I just shop around. I looked in Google Shopping but see prices all over the place (some cheapos labeled as "recycled" keys; some expensive labeled as "everything but kitchen sink."). Where do folks suggest price shopping either of these products? Newegg? Tiger Direct? Others?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Colbyt]

You can always buy an OEM version on EBAY. Just looked and saw them as low as $25 shipping included.


All the places you mentioned are on the higher side.

 

[m_ridzon]

You can always buy an OEM version on EBAY. Just looked and saw them as low as $25 shipping included.

I've never bought software from eBay. Have you done so? Is it trustworthy? I suppose if it's on eBay, I could always fall back on the "buyer protection" if the seller tried to scam me.

 

[stick\shift]

Those student prices tend to be decent. Not spectacular but decent. I've bought from AAFES for my parents' computer since my dad is retired Army and got a pretty good deal there as well.

 

[m_ridzon]

Not spectacular but decent.

So I could shop around and possibly do better elsewhere?

 

[stick\shift]

Yes. Would it be worth the effort? Don't know.

 

[Colbyt]

I've never bought software from eBay. Have you done so? Is it trustworthy? I suppose if it's on eBay, I could always fall back on the "buyer protection" if the seller tried to scam me.

That is where I usually buy it. You do have to be careful. Only buy from established members and read the listing completely. Make sure you buy an auction listing and not a classified ad. Make sure it says buyer protection on the listing page.



In your case for an OS you want an unopened package, with media and COA and if it says fully registerable that is another nice word to hear.


Are you going with Home or Pro?

 

[m_ridzon]

That is where I usually buy it. You do have to be careful. Only buy from established members and read the listing completely. Make sure you buy an auction listing and not a classified ad. Make sure it says buyer protection on the listing page.

Understood. Makes complete sense.

Are you going with Home or Pro?

Not sure. My employer provided Pro on my work PC and it seems to do fine. For light-duty home use, would Home be sufficient, or are there major upsides to Pro that I should lean that way?

 

[stick\shift]

Home is fine for most people. Pro is nice if you want to network at all.

 

[Mystriss]

Personally, OS is one software that I won't skimp on. I buy direct from my MS account that way if anything goes wrong, it's on their site that I have a legit and valid copy. That way they can fix whatever activation problem I'm having no problems, hassle, or questions.

 

[Colbyt]

My son says unless you want the ability to remote into it that Home is all you really need. It does LAN at home just fine.

 

[m_ridzon]

My son says unless you want the ability to remote into it that Home is all you really need. It does LAN at home just fine.

Hmm, I might need Pro then. I do occasionally remote into it from other machines. I guess I'll price them both and make a decision.

 

[huesmann]

If you have access to a copy of Windows 7, you can still upgrade that to Windows 10.

 

[Colbyt]

If you have access to a copy of Windows 7, you can still upgrade that to Windows 10.

For free with a registered win 7 version. But Home to Home or Pro to Pro only. I just did it on 12-21-19.

 

[m_ridzon]

If you have access to a copy of Windows 7, you can still upgrade that to Windows 10.

I do have access to Windows 7 Pro, but I thought we were out of the "free upgrade" period. Is that not the case?

 

[Colbyt]

I do have access to Windows 7 Pro, but I thought we were out of the "free upgrade" period. Is that not the case?

It is not being advertised but as of Dec it was still an option for registered users.


It must be done as an upgrade. A new install of 10 will not accept the old COA.

 

[m_ridzon]

It is not being advertised but as of Dec it was still an option for registered users.

Where do I go to take advantage of this? MS website, or is there a button in Windows 7 that I can click to start the process?

It must be done as an upgrade. A new install of 10 will not accept the old COA.

What if I install Windows 7 on this new machine first? (I still have the disk and COA from installing it on my current machine years ago) Would I then be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free? Will that backdoor hack work?

 

[Colbyt]

I bought a CD with the 10 files which would up being outdated by the time I used it. So I I wound up downloading it direct from MS.



I suggest you start here ahttps://www.theverge.com/2020/1/14/21065140/how-to-upgrade-microsoft-windows-7-10-free-os and follow the links to the MS download page.


Copy down you COA and registration number for 7 before you start


edit: You must install 7 first and then do the upgrade.

 

[Mystriss]

Just keep in mind that you can't upgrade much of your system with the free win10 update - if I recall right even upgrading my GPU made it throw a hissy. I ended up buying the Pro 64 version and not looking back.

 

[user_12345a]

It must be done as an upgrade. A new install of 10 will not accept the old COA.

Windows 10 accepts windows 7 keys - obviously has to be the same version/type.

oem or retail, pro vs home, etc.

https://www.howtogeek.com/266072/yo...ws-10-for-free-with-a-windows-7-8-or-8.1-key/