Can I just buy a Windows 7 product key?

April 13, 2011 3:23 PM

If I buy a Windows 7 product key from an Amazon marketplace seller, will my Windows installation be legitimate?

I need Windows 7 for some software I have to run. I could buy a boxed copy, but the product keys are so much cheaper. The price difference makes me suspect that I'm not getting the real thing. Am I? Where do these keys come from?

posted by Neon to computers & internet (6 answers total)

If it is too good to be true....then you know how to fill in the rest.

You could ask the seller where they got the keys.

With that said, they could be reselling keys meant for very low cost countries. A simple Google search for Windows 7 Key Generator results in many hits so this might be the source of your bargain as well.
posted by mmascolino at 3:32 PM on April 13, 2011

if you are not buying the boxed software, you are not legally obtaining a copy of said software. If you are comfortable with this, get the product key and go on about your business; if not, buy the boxed software.
posted by pdb at 3:34 PM on April 13, 2011

if you are not buying the boxed software, you are not legally obtaining a copy of said software

A reasonable rule-of-thumb, but not correct in 100% of cases. For instance, I have a 100% legit copy of Windows 7, purchased online. No box, no physical media or license. Just a download link and a product key.
posted by coriolisdave at 3:39 PM on April 13, 2011

A copy does not necessarily need to be boxed to be legal. You can even download it + the key directly from Microsoft's own online store, as well as other legit sources.

How much cheaper are we talking? Getting it without the physical media is cheaper, but if it is suspiciously cheap, that is suspect. Make sure you know what version the product key is for as well (e.g. getting the student version, distributed online is very cheap, but you probably don't want that).
posted by Diplodocus at 5:01 PM on April 13, 2011

I got the student version a while back for $30 (you still can) and though it said it was an upgrade, it behaved like a standard copy with no indication of being a student version. I wouldn't be surprised if the person was just reselling those.
posted by alexei at 5:17 PM on April 13, 2011

How do you know they just aren't selling people a product key copied down off the side of a computer at Best Buy?

If being legitimate is the goal, buy it from Microsoft.
posted by gjc at 8:02 AM on April 14, 2011