Thetownend.com

[Mods, please remove if you don't like this kind of thing - something I came across which I thought might be useful]

After my recent PC build I was looking for a way to get a genuine copy of Windows without paying the full Microsoft price (£100 - ouch). I didn't want to use pirated or cracked copies with dodgy activation programs and stumbled across this sub-reddit where people are selling (supposedly) genuine product keys.

http://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/

I purchased a key for Windows 8.1 Pro N for $15 (~£10) and it's activated no problem at all. There's a risk that they're freebie keys that have been re-sold but that's a risk I'm willing to take for the sake of a tenner and not having to use potentially malware laden pirate copies.

Cheers. Should be great until Microshaft get it shut down.

Going by the links to the downloads, they're Technet keys/versions. No reason why they shouldn't activate and continue working in the future - never heard of any issues like that with them.

But you don't own a legitimate key or have a licensed version of Windows.


Microsoft have shut down the Technet programme, primarily as a result of people re-selling the keys.

I have a cracked version of W7 professional, but ideally I would like to upgrade to 8.1 - does anyone know if windows still offer this for free?

I doubt you'll be able to upgrade a cracked version.

AFAIK, Windows 7 to 8.1 isn't a free upgrade.

If you can wait until the summer, the upgrade to Windows 10 will be free and will apparently work on pirated versions: http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/18/8241023/windows-10-free-for-software-pirates

As Samdy says...Windows 7 to 8 has never been free, Windows 8 Pro can be downgraded (upgraded IMO) to Windows 7 Pro for free but not the other way.

But will be subscription based like a lot of software manufacturers are going

Ok, thank you! I thought I read somewhere it was 8/8.1, maybe it was 10! Sorry!