I recently got a laptop from my old job, but they took out the SSD, so I bought a new one from Crucial to install myself. I need to set up Windows on it using a new license key. I've come across a lot of different prices for license keys online – some as low as £25 and others claiming to be over £100. I want to find out the cheapest legal method to install Windows, probably using a USB drive. Can anyone give me a solid answer on how to go about this?
3 Answers
If you're looking for official licenses, local tech shops or computer stores usually have them available. It could be a good idea to check there if you're unsure about the online options.
Just go ahead and create that USB installation drive. Once you install Windows, if the OEM license is embedded in the motherboard, it should activate automatically. If it doesn't, Windows will run in trial mode for 30 days, giving you some time to look for a valid license.
You might actually be in luck! If your old employer didn't completely mess with the license, you could still have an OEM Windows license linked to the laptop's motherboard. After you install Windows, it might automatically activate for you. Check out some guides on how to create a USB installer for Windows; it's pretty straightforward!
That sounds promising! But they mentioned I definitely need a new license, so I'll probably have to go through that process.