this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2023
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Piracy: ꜱᴀɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ʜɪɢʜ ꜱᴇᴀꜱ

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My mom bought a used laptop absolutely riddled with spyware, linux isn't an option

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[–] superweeniehutjrs@lemmy.world 76 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

[–] greyjedi@lemmy.world 72 points 2 years ago (4 children)

You can permanently activate it with the scripts from massgravel: https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts

[–] wolfshadowheart@kbin.social 11 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Didn't microsoft recently push something to prevent these from working?

[–] smolyeet@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago

They recently broke hwid, but was recently fixed as of 2.2. The other method worked fine still

[–] skankhunt42@lemmy.ca 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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.

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[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 61 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] superb@lemmy.blahaj.zone 51 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Do not pirate windows, just download straight from Microsoft. You don’t need to register

[–] java@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Now you have to activate it in order to change some settings.

[–] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 2 years ago

Which is really easy with MAS

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[–] briongloid@aussie.zone 50 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Install official version from Microsoft website.

Open PowerShell;

irm https://massgrave.dev/get | iex

This authenticates Win and/or upgrades version Home/Pro

[–] taanegl@beehaw.org 3 points 2 years ago

Thanks! Will bookmark this :)

[–] empireOfLove@lemmy.one 31 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

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.

If not use the msguides.com kms method.

[–] Telstarado@lemmy.world 10 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] cm0002@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago

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

[–] iliketrains@kbin.social 30 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)
[–] loudWaterEnjoyer@lemmy.dbzer0.com 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] el_bhm@lemm.ee 24 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Windows Debian edition is in reality the most stable and privacy focused Windows yet.

[–] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 19 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] whaleross@lemmy.world 28 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 13 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Aren't Windows keys bound to motherboards these days? Unless you replace the motherboard, just download it again and start fresh.

[–] hexaflexagonbear@hexbear.net 12 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

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.

[–] guyrocket@kbin.social 11 points 2 years ago
[–] Pretzilla@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Maximilious@kbin.social 17 points 2 years ago

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.

[–] db2@sopuli.xyz 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)
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If it already has windows on it, then it has a key. Just install windows. You can get it from their website

[–] FuckyWucky@hexbear.net 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)
[–] nyctre@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

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

[–] jack55555@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Why, the laptop came with Windows so it has a license. Why not use it?

[–] nyctre@lemmy.world 5 points 2 years ago

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.

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[–] Kyiro@lemm.ee 5 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)
[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 years ago

Installing Windows won't fix the spyware problem fully 😉

Mass gravel may provide you what you seek.

[–] trewq@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago

mass grave dev might be able to help you

[–] Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 years ago

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.

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