I finally think this weekend I’ll be able to come around and build with my son his first PC.
Only thing missing so far is an original Windows key.
What are the best but cheap ways to get an original software?
OEM keys?
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I don’t know about Win11. But with Win10 OEM keys (via ‘resellers’), they fell into a bit of a grey area. Most of the time you would be OK but I have heard of people having the key revoked when the seller sold the same key to someone else.
Have you considered Linux?
It‘s important to know the difference between a key and a license. You need a license. To prove that you have one, you can use a key or link your MS account.
Keys sold for cheap are illegal, you just pass a technical barrier but you won‘t be legally licensed to use the software.
Windows home is 140€, cheaper or free upgrades require a previous version of Windows (legal, activated, linked to your MS account). I was able to get a Windows 11 license for my son that way. It‘s originally based on a OEM Vista license from decades ago. Updated to 7, 10 and 11 now.
If this would not have worked, I guess I‘d have tried Linux. Not sure if it can run Fortnite, though.
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Being it my son’s PC I want him to just have a simple system. We can have fun learning Linux at any time in the future, but as it will be a game centric machine to play together with Steam stuff, for now Windows is the way to go.
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Ah this is interesting, I do own an old Windows Vista original OS. I might be able to update it to Win 10, I guess. Let’s see what happens. 
EDIT: Ok I just saw you can’t no longer upgrade for free old versions of Windows to 10 or newer.
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Secondary question- these look original
Is Windows 11 Home okay for a mostly Steam-gaming computer?
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Yes, i use windows 11 home on my gaming PC. No issues
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Before you buy new license:
Try linking your old Vista license to your MS account. Not sure if this can be done with this old OS. But linking it is what preserves it for you.
Then, on the new PC, run the „I have trouble activating Windows“ procedure. In that process, pick the old license.
Note: this works for some old licenses, but definitely not all of them.
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i bought a oem win11 key for like ten bucks. F big tech. The key works.
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Can you still download and install Win10? If so, you can also use it without a product key:
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