My mom bought a used laptop absolutely riddled with spyware, linux isn’t an option
Scratch/Reuse of a Win7 key at work and have a genuine copy.
No money went to microsoft either way and you don’t need external tools.Aren’t Windows keys bound to motherboards these days? Unless you replace the motherboard, just download it again and start fresh.
Installing Windows won’t fix the spyware problem fully 😉
Mass gravel may provide you what you seek.
If the laptop came preinstalled with Windows you can likely reinstall the same version (Home or Pro) by using the utility from Microsoft to build a bootable USB drive, and it will auto-activate.
No need to pirate anything, you already have a license.
Considering it’s a laptop with a working Windows, it probably already has a licence for the hardware. Just download from Microsoft, wipe disk and install it and see if it works.
ISO download from Microsoft directly. Use Rufus to make an installer USB. Click the “I do not have a license key” option. Who cares about the watermark.
You can permanently activate it with the scripts from massgravel: https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts
Personally, I’d never use one of these scripts.
Most PCs have a windows key burned in to the BIOS.
https://www.howtogeek.com/660517/how-to-find-your-windows-10-product-key-using-the-command-prompt/
I’d start there and see if it can be used for 11 or upgraded through the versions. Then I’d take a “clean” backup and use that to re-install in the future, instead of a new ISO.
Don’t ever run random scripts from the Internet unless you understand every line.
but do run scripts that have been verified by reputable sources
Didn’t microsoft recently push something to prevent these from working?
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Hm, I could have sworn I had read an article around here (roughly the last two months maybe, likely more recently) saying that the MAS had been patched by Microsoft, but now I can’t find anything about it at all. Odd.
Well, good that it’s still functioning!
They thought it was patched for good but after a few days found a workaround
As always. 😅
They patched new HWID requests being sent, but any existing licenses made with those methods are fine. That was only one of several ways to spoof yourself legitimate, though. The rest still work.
HWID is permanent, even after Microsoft fixed the method that massgravel was using. It only affected new installs because people couldn’t run the script to activate Windows permanently.
It’s fixed and activating permanently now though.
They recently broke hwid, but was recently fixed as of 2.2. The other method worked fine still
mass grave dev might be able to help you
Like using a puncture repair kit and duct tape to fix a condom after sex.
Just put one of the Linux distros on it that look like Windows. Install LibreOffice and lookalike programs.
And No, I don’t care why you think you can’t use Linux.
You Linux fanboys are the worst. If you don’t have anything useful to add to the conversation, then just keep scrolling.
I’m an ex Windows fan. If you didn’t use Windows 3.11 in a corporate environment to try to get some work done, you wouldn’t and won’t ever understand.
Parsec doesnt work as host on Linux. Biggest reason I can’t use it. I think you care just a teeny tiny bit.
I like this retort! Much credit.
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Do not pirate windows, just download straight from Microsoft. You don’t need to register
Now you have to activate it in order to change some settings.
Well, it is technically “piracy” but it’s amateur piracy. No need to get fancy with torrents and VPNs or whatnot. Just download the software and… not pay.
The problem with pirating Windows is that you don’t know if it has been tempered.
Well given op said download it from microsoft then yes it will be riddled with spyware but that’s the genuine windows experience® for you…
The downvoted guy you replied to is right. You can download the (genuine) iso off microsoft and install it without paying M$ anything, it will work fine other than not being able to change wallpaper etc.
If that small restriction annoys you the MAS (linked elsewhere in thread) is the answer
Exactly my point!
Like others have said, just use official windows and don’t activate, only downside is the watermark afaik.
Alternatively, you can buy licences for like 1-2 $ off eBay and other similar sites. Just make sure the licence and the version you install matches otherwise it won’t activate
Why, the laptop came with Windows so it has a license. Why not use it?
It it already had a license even better, yeah, no need to buy a new one. Figured that wasn’t the case since they asked how to pirate it.
I download it from Debian.org
Windows Debian edition is in reality the most stable and privacy focused Windows yet.
NGL I’m so tired right now I thought you were serious about there being a “Windows Debian Edition”
I even googled it lol
I do agree though that if your mum only uses the PC for like day to day browsing she’ll never notice a difference if you put a Windows style skin on your preferred Linux distro. Hell she might notice it being faster all around to be honest.
Use the official Microsoft tool that makes installation media. From there, you can leave it unactivated, purchase a key, or use MAS or whatever it’s called to activate for free
No need to download anything, no iso creation, no thumb drives.
Just reset the current installation and select the option to wipe everything and start over. Google it or just poke through the settings menu.
Except if the malware has already infected the recovery partition or completely removed it. Personally I’d take no chances and just nuke the HDD and perform a fresh install.
