To be clear, any license key that was purchased with stolen payment information, or any key that was generated using a software crack, is actually illegal, whether it's an operating system or a game. These keys fall into one of a few different categories, and some of them aren't exactly 'illegal,' per se. On various sites - some with better reputations than others - you can find Windows 10 keys from somewhere around US$30 to as low as US$5. (note: this was inaccurate, see the update below) You can, of course, use an unactivated copy of Windows for an indeterminate period of time, as evidenced by the esteemed Linus of Linus Tech Tips, as you'll see in the video linked below, but even he has plenty of legitimate licenses on hand to cover all of his test benches.Īs you might imagine, there are ways to avoid the associated fees, but to be completely honest, we wouldn't recommend them for most users. So you'll need to get your hands on a key somehow. Some users find it a good idea to activate Windows because simply downloading the OS and using it without activation blocks some helpful customization features while badgering you with an annoying watermark in addition to reminding you periodically about activation, and, in some cases, can delay or even prevent the installation of security updates, which can lead to a host of other headaches. Even upgrading from Home to Pro carries a roughly US$100 price tag.

After all, the Home version alone is over US$100, and if you're a power user, you might be interested in features like software data encryption, remote access, and virtual machine capabilities offered by Windows 10 Professional, which runs about US$200. So, if you want to start fresh with a streamlined operating system - or if you missed the free Windows 10 upgrade period - buying a new product key is all but a requirement.Įven if you've already shelled out a cool US$1,000 or more on a complete set of shiny, new parts, when the time comes, the extra cost of buying into Windows 10 can sting a little.

Manufacturers bundle varying degrees of software in with their pre-built PCs, ranging from convenient update apps to certifiably resource-hogging bloatware. Not only is it fun and rewarding, it gives you complete control over your components and ensures that you're intimately familiar with exactly how your computer is set up - not just the hardware, but the software, too. There are plenty of reasons to build your own PC.