Hurry and grab a Windows 10 License. Microsoft to stop selling on Jan 31.

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Microsoft will stop selling Windows 10 licenses in a few days

..According to notices posted to the Windows 10 Home, Pro, and Workstation pages on Microsoft’s site, Microsoft will halt digital downloads of Windows 10 on Jan. 31, 2023. While Microsoft will support Windows 10 for a few more years, Microsoft’s decision means that you won’t be able to buy a Windows 10 license except through existing stores of licenses at third-party retailers.

“January 31, 2023 will be the last day this Windows 10 download is offered for sale. Windows 10 will remain supported with security updates that help protect your PC from viruses, spyware, and other malware until October 14, 2025,” ..

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-10-home/d76qx4bznwk4?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-10-pro/df77x4d43rkt?activetab=pivot:overviewtab

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TheFamilyIT, CADesertRat, Mr. Austin

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Thank you for your consistently helpful posts. Although, of course, I am not charmed by this. Yet another reason to want to learn Linux or switch to Apple.

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“January 31, 2023 will be the last day this Windows 10 download is offered for sale.” (my emphasis)

This *doesn’t* mean that Windows 10 ISOs won’t continue to be available for download via the normal download link or Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool (MCT) as Windows 10 will remain supported until October 14, 2025.

It just means you won’t be able to pay up front and get a ‘paid for’ download link.

If you are really worried, just download an ISO file and/or create an MCT USB between now and the end of the month.

Hope this helps…

4 users thanked author for this post.

Purg2, Mr. Austin, Alex5723, geekdom

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Rick Corbett wrote:

If you are really worried, just download an ISO file and/or create an MCT USB between now and the end of the month.

Downloading a copy of Windows 10 won’t negate the need for license (buying a PC with no OS, deactivating a PC…)

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I am confused, I learned when I upgraded back to Win10 Pro that installing ISO will give you a free digital license instead of using license that I had…

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TheFamilyIT wrote:

I am confused, I learned when I upgraded back to Win10 Pro that installing ISO will give you a free digital license instead of using license that I had…

I’m confused how you can ‘upgrade back’ nor how you ‘install ISO’.

Installing *from* an ISO file (i.e. running setup.exe after mounting the file) and subsequent automatic activation will be successful on first connection to the internet IF the OS can find an appropriate product key embedded in the BIOS/UEFI.

(The process is exactly the same if you carry out an upgrade or clean install using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool. The method may be different but the activation process is the same.)

At that point your device will show that the OS is now activated, i.e. a digital license based on your device’s hardware footprint (mainboard, CPU, etc. but not storage or RAM) has been stored on Microsoft’s activation servers.

Hope this helps…

1 user thanked author for this post.

TheFamilyIT

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Alex5723 wrote:

Rick Corbett wrote:

If you are really worried, just download an ISO file and/or create an MCT USB between now and the end of the month.

Downloading a copy of Windows 10 won’t negate the need for license (buying a PC with no OS, deactivating a PC…)

Surely those are isolated scenarios? Devices that came with Windows 8 onwards have their equivalent of the old Windows Product ID stickers burned into their BIOS/UEFI… and even a lot of earlier devices that came at the tail end of Windows 7.

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TheFamilyIT wrote:

will give you a free digital license

Correct. Upgrading W7/8 to W10 is still free. No need to buy W10.

cheers, Paul

2 users thanked author for this post.

TheFamilyIT, geekdom

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TheFamilyIT wrote:

that installing ISO will give you a free digital license

No. It won’t. Microsoft doesn’t donate free Windows licenses.
You always need to have a license. Either installed with a previous version of Windows, comes on a sticker on your PC or bought (retail).

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TheFamilyIT

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This kind of snuck up on me.  I was hoping to limp along on Win.8.1 until the browser game started.  With this Jan.31 deadline, I’m not sure if I need to use the MCT (MediaCreationTool22H2.exe) to get a copy of Win10 sooner rather than later.

Am more concerned with taking care of a friend of mine also on Win8.1 as I will have to physically get onto his machine to do the upgrade.

Do I need to get a copy of Win10 now or will I still be able to use the MCT sometime this summer or fall whenever the browser issues become untenable?

Will the MCT allow me to get both copies of W10 (home and pro) or does it somehow scan the system to determine which version it will offer?  Doing it for his machine and mine will make a difference because he has the home edition while I’m on Pro.  If I can obtain (not install) both copies on my machine it might save me some time in preparation because I’ll be able to skip the scan at his house.

Win 8.1 (home & pro) Group B, Linux Dabbler

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Windows 10 is supported until 2025 so you will get Windows 10 downloads.

Microsoft’s post is about buying Windows 10 licenses (1 week remained).

Your Windows 10 will upgrade according to your current Windows version Home/Pro.

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Purg2

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@Alex5723 Sounds like what you are saying is the OP is not so much about upgrading from 8.1 to 10. And that the upgrade can be done anytime after the end of the month because the MCT will still be possible. Am I getting this right?

Win 8.1 (home & pro) Group B, Linux Dabbler

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Purg2 wrote:

the upgrade can be done anytime after the end of the month because the MCT will still be possible. Am I getting this right?

The upgrade can be done at least until 2025 (by that time MCT may offer Windows 13).
If you upgrading your current Windows 8.1 the license is there.
If you want a clean install you will need to provide (or buy a license until March 31).
If your Windows 8.1 is a retail license you can move it to another PC.
OEM licenses can’t be moved.

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Purg2

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@Alex5723 Great, thanks for your help I appreciate it.  Nice to have more time with the impending upgrade.

Win 8.1 (home & pro) Group B, Linux Dabbler

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Purg2 wrote:

@Alex5723 Great, thanks for your help I appreciate it.  Nice to have more time with the impending upgrade.

You don’t have more time as Windows 8.1 is dead regarding bugs and security fixes and not recommended connecting on-line.

Browsers (Chrome, Firefox..), Software (Paint.Net..) stopped supporting Windows 8.1.

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/what-are-you-going-to-do-with-win8-1-past-jan-10-or-what-have-you-already-done/

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