this post was submitted on 19 Apr 2026
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I hate how the author frames Linux as "cheap". Just because it's open source and free does not mean people use it because it's cheap. They use it because they're tired of the shit. Windows is "free", too, if you never activate it.
Microsoft Activation Scripts: https://massgrave.dev/
https://deepwiki.com/massgravel/massgrave.dev/2-microsoft-activation-scripts-(mas)
I'm aware of this as well. I was more talking about legal means of licensing.
Wouldn't this be a great way to infect loss of pcs?
Not really, compared to traditional stuff like kmsauto and whatnot: batch files = easy audit => the claims are easily verifiable
I don't like it either but it's definitely an aspect. Why should I continue paying money for (or even pirate) something that exploits me and makes my life worse? Linux is cheap and legal. E.g. I can use it to experiment with old hardware without needing to make a cost-benefit evaluation first.
"Free" has a double meaning that should be pointed out each time one says FOSS, but "as in beer" is not a bad thing.
OK now I'm stumped because it's so long I actually used Windows. I rcently installed Windows on some work computers but I had to enter the code on the laptop or I couldn't even finish the installation (I think). AFAIU that code was purchased with the laptop. Did I get that wrong?
And in what way is usability hampered if I don't activate it?
It's been awhile for me too, but iirc, you can't change the wallpaper or other theme options and you get a persistent watermark in the lower right corner trying to shame you into activating. Otherwise it's mostly normal functionality. Pretty sure you even get updates, though I may be wrong on that one.
You can click the small link at the bottom of the installer that says "I don't have a product key" and proceed through. It will then ask you what edition of Windows you want to install. This is because many PCs have hardware entitlements, so they never got a key.
The only limitation is you can't customize your desktop/themes and there will be a permeant watermark in the lower right corner asking you to activate.
...you guys paid for Windows?!
you pay for it with every new pc or notebook, if you need it or not. multiple times
Yeah, I thought windows was only free if you pirate it? Can't imagine why someone would want to do that, but people are weird sometimes.
You can run it unactivated, but it reduces some functionality. The installer has a "I don't have a product key" option to bypass the key entry screen.