I have been struggling to decide what to do with my old rendering machines.... But they are getting less useful for rendering by the day.
I encountered some Ukrainian refugees in my language class, and some of them don't have PCs.
It must be hard for them to look up information etc.
I want to clean up my old machines and donate them... But won't have a Windows licence. I'm also not sure the best way to install Windows if they will be using Russian or Ukrainian language.
Is there a cheap Windows licence or free for Windows this situation?
In the old days I would have pirated it but I don't want to put them in that situation.
26 Comments
Simulation6@sopuli.xyz · 19 pts · 3y
Would installing Linux on them be an option?
sbv@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 3y
You might want to ask them if they can use a *nix, if not, you're giving them the gift of headaches and annoyance.
(I say this as a lifelong Linux user)
CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3y
This, just throw Ubuntu or popos on it
jantin@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 3y
As a windows smoothbrain bot I can confirm pop os is straightforward to operate and plain easy if someone helps the person with basic problems (how to find things, how to install things etc).
Pyroglyph@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
I'll throw my hat in the ring for Zorin OS. It's similarity to Windows is a lot greater than most distros, so switching will be easy. It's also based on Ubuntu, like Pop :)
CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Don’t give me yet another district to try damnit!
letsgocrazy@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 3y
I did think about this, but I know sweet FA about Linux; they know sweet FA about Linux; and should any problems come up in future, using Linux severely limits the chances of a casual acquaintance being able to help out.
But you're right, it would be a decent solution... If the situation was a bit different I might go with that.
If it was someone I was likely to pop in on to fix things for example.
altasshet@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 3y
Apparently you can activate Windows using this: https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts
(Stolen from elsewhere, have not tried myself, might be legally dubious)
survive@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 3y
Half/most/all Chinese mini PCs on Amazon use this method. Yes, it works.
scottywh@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
And then it works as a valid license on future reinstalls without needing to run the activation script, too.
Dougtron007@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
This is how I always do it.
timespace@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Doesn’t Microsoft own GitHub now? This is actually very funny.
TeoTwawki@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 3y
Install non legit 7 or 8.1 then upgrade to 10 (this still works) after that is has a legit win10 that can even be clean reinstalled. Amd upgraded to 11 if hardware supported (or bypassed).
banana_meccanica@feddit.it · 2 pts · 3y
Introduce then to Linux is the best gift you can do to them. I regret a lot to not having the same and be raised with windows, its make me lazy and stupid but most important have make me ignoring how much a Machine mean and how we all should approach them.
ChoadPuncher@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Grey market sites like G2A and Kinguin have windows licenses for cheap.
Moonrise2473@feddit.it · 4 pts · 3y
At that point is morally better to just pirate it
Those keys are working but legally unlicensed (usually for testing purposes only for msdn members)
elscallr@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Kinguin is great but it does require a phone call which is disappointing.
ChoadPuncher@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 3y
Really? I've bought Win10 keys on Kinguin before and I don't think I've had to do that before. It's been over a year since I've used them though.
elscallr@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
For me it required I activate via a phone. Was no big deal, took about 5 minutes.
slazer2au@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
I think the cheapest way is buy an OEM edition and a SATA cable to fullfill the purchase requirements.
letsgocrazy@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 3y
And a SATA cable? How does that work?
Is that like a token hardware purchase?
slazer2au@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
Shops are not permitted to sell a OEM version of windows without an associated piece of hardware. There is nothing that actually ties that hardware to the windows license.
mhz@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 3y
Damn, I gave my Windows 10 Pro key last week to my brother since it has been 4 years since Ilasr used Windows. I remember buying it from Gamivo.com for ~10USD.
MooseBoys@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 3y
AFAIK you can use Windows 10 for free indefinitely; you just can’t change the theme, and have to live with the “Activate Windows” overlay on the desktop. There used to be a 90 day limit on use but I don’t think that exists anymore.
maccentric@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 3y
Mine’s been running like that nearly 2 years now, no limit aside those you mentioned