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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Safest image download would be from Microsoft website. You need activation? Look up Microsoft Activation Script (MAS) on Github. Read the readme on how to use it.
Just reinstall it via Microsoft official iso maker. Anything newer than Windows 8 will attach license keys to the hardware (motherboard) and it usually picks the activation right back up.
This is the way. Win is already activated, no need to pirate anything. Just get a >= 8gb flash drive, download the installer creator app from Microsoft, and reinstall Windows. It will activate based on the licensing level the machine came with, minus the crapware, which is from the manufacturer’s OS image, not Microsoft’s.
This OP, also make sure to choose custom install and delete ALL the partitions. Not only does the manufacturer image reside there with it’s crapware, it could have been tampered with to reinstall all that malware lol
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.
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.
Find out what version of windows that laptop ships with, and install that. Windows licenses have been tied to mobos for a while, there’s a good chance it’ll just activate. If you need an installer, you can download ISOs and tools to make a bootable USB from Microsoft’s site.
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