Where could I buy a Legal copy of Windows 7 Ultimate?

[JuanMena]

I would like to purchase a legal copy of Windows 7 Ultimate... but... the Microsoft site tells me that I need the key to download the ISO to make a bootable USB drive.
The thing is... how am I supposed to get a key when Microsoft is NOT selling any more copies?

 

[Deleted User]

Options:

1. Buy from Amazon for $340
2. Buy from eBay for $100ish
3. Buy a key from eBay for less than $2
4. Pirate it

 

[duwen]

I got a Dell OEM disk of Win7Pro on ebay a few years back for virtually nothing - I think the postage was as much as the disk and license.

Also, in response to the "sponsored" front page post, Windows 7 end of life? Update to Windows 10 at $9.95 Now!!
...I believe it's still possible to upgrade for free, using the supposedly discontinued offer they first had back when Win 10 first launched. I did so a few months back. You can find more info at https://www.cnet.com/how-to/you-can...ws-10-free-you-should-because-windows-7-dead/

 

[Deleted User]

I got a Dell OEM disk of Win7Pro on ebay a few years back for virtually nothing - I think the postage was as much as the disk and license.

Also, in response to the "sponsored" front page post, Windows 7 end of life? Update to Windows 10 at $9.95 Now!!
...I believe it's still possible to upgrade for free, using the supposedly discontinued offer they first had back when Win 10 first launched. I did so a few months back. You can find more info at https://www.cnet.com/how-to/you-can...ws-10-free-you-should-because-windows-7-dead/

Reckon that it is and it's what Microsoft wants because they've discontinued 7.

 

[duwen]

Reckon that it is and it's what Microsoft wants because they've discontinued 7.

Yeah, they want everyone to upgrade, but they want them to pay for it - hence, the sponsored front page post.
I'm just saying, it's still possible to upgrade LEGIT for FREE.

 

[Deleted User]

Yeah, they want everyone to upgrade, but they want them to pay for it - hence, the sponsored front page post.
I'm just saying, it's still possible to upgrade LEGIT for FREE.

That's still strange since they've given it for free since forever.

Surely there's still a way to upgrade for free? Maybe this @ https://www.howtogeek.com/265409/yo...-for-free-from-microsofts-accessibility-site/

 

[notimp]

In regards to buying a key from ebay.

They are usually refurb keys, or more likely mass activation keys from different regions, that are abused.

When some really chepo not officialy licensed keys all of a sudden turned up in german discounter stores for a while, german tech news outlet heise did a follow up on what kind of keys those were - and pretty much demystified how that shady market works.

Put this article through google translate:
https://www.heise.de/ct/artikel/Microsoft-Schnaeppchen-aus-dem-Supermarkt-4537883.html

The gist of this is, that MS still hardly ever deactivates those mass activation keys - and that you should be ok using a shady one.

Its actually pretty much a no brainer - because of cost/work/benefit analysis, because cost is so low.

Its actually hard to argue not to go that route - although I would never actually recommend it of course.

Its messed up, but this is what it is.