I am going to eventually use Linux (although need help with a good option for gaming and video library use), but I was curious how long I could use Windows unregistered for? What are the limitations of it not registered?

  • jasep@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Whatever you do, don’t find massgravel’s GitHub and run the PowerShell script (this is sarcasm btw)

      • tourist@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Then you may be delighted to hear that, not only do they know about it, they also use it themselves

        (I think it’s the same project, idk I didn’t read all that, I’m legit concussed, but it’s still funny)

        • Retiring@lemmy.ml
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          6 months ago

          😂😂😂 thank you, this just made my day. Sorry about your concussion though! And yes it is the same project, it shows in the screenshot.

    • intro@programming.dev
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      6 months ago

      Oh yes, do not do that! I certainly didn’t do it. And I’m gonna not do it again if I need to.

    • folkrav@lemmy.ca
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      6 months ago

      I have 3 old DreamSpark Windows 7, 8 and 10 Pro licenses I’ve been upgrading/reusing between my main PC and laptop, so I haven’t bothered looking at the state of spoofing the MS activation process in years. Holy crap now it’s literally just on GitHub lol, used to have to download some zip on a random forum or a dodgy torrent…

  • Chainweasel@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    It’ll harass you to activate it indefinitely but Microsoft has a policy that they’d rather have people steal their operating system than pay for someone else’s, so ultimately that’s it. It’ll just annoy you.

    • Siegfried@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Most active way of harassment was changing your background with a black image. I think that was win 7

    • Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      I have been running for almost a year and after first setup, didn’t get a nag to activate. Just a watermark on the lower right.

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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      6 months ago

      they’d rather have people steal their operating system than pay for someone else’s

      Uh… What? 99% of all alternatives to Windows are free (as in beer), whereas Microsoft is the one that charges money. Especially as a non-commercial user.

      • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Hes half right.

        Its not about paying for someone elses cause as you said the alternatives are free for the most part, its about not learning someone elses ecosystem so they stay in the windows ecosystem. Its why they have never come down on people using illegal copies.

  • banfin@feddit.org
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    5 months ago

    U can use it how long you like. There are only some settings, you cant cange (but only in the settings, when you use the old control panel, you can sometimes still change them). Biggest issues for a standard user would probably be no background image and the watermark.

  • Boozilla@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    It won’t let you customize your settings (change your wallpaper and lots of stuff). It limits the Windows updates you’ll receive. It leaves the annoying “watermark” up. It nags you to activate. I think that’s about it.

    • KISSmyOSFeddit@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      This basically just keeps companies from using unlicensed Windows for business. Also, Microsoft does go after businesses who are unlicensed. They don’t give a fuck about private users cause that’s not where they’re making money.

      • Fonzie!@ttrpg.network
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        5 months ago

        This basically just keeps companies from using unlicensed Windows

        You say this but my local boba tea place their touch screen order thingie has Windows’ unlicensed watermark over it but I think even their customers are too Dutch to care (me included, I actually love them for it!)

      • ahornsirup@sopuli.xyz
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        6 months ago

        They probably prefer consumers running pirated Windows over consumers running Linux. As long as most people are more familiar/comfortable with using Windows than Linux, the more likely companies are to not even look at alternatives.