I have been struggling to decide what to do with my old rendering machines… But they are getting less useful for rendering by the day.

I encountered some Ukrainian refugees in my language class, and some of them don’t have PCs.

It must be hard for them to look up information etc.

I want to clean up my old machines and donate them… But won’t have a Windows licence. I’m also not sure the best way to install Windows if they will be using Russian or Ukrainian language.

Is there a cheap Windows licence or free for Windows this situation?

In the old days I would have pirated it but I don’t want to put them in that situation.

    • sbv
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      1 year ago

      You might want to ask them if they can use a *nix, if not, you’re giving them the gift of headaches and annoyance.

      (I say this as a lifelong Linux user)

      • jantin@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        As a windows smoothbrain bot I can confirm pop os is straightforward to operate and plain easy if someone helps the person with basic problems (how to find things, how to install things etc).

      • Pyro@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I’ll throw my hat in the ring for Zorin OS. It’s similarity to Windows is a lot greater than most distros, so switching will be easy. It’s also based on Ubuntu, like Pop :)

    • letsgocrazy@lemm.eeOP
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      1 year ago

      I did think about this, but I know sweet FA about Linux; they know sweet FA about Linux; and should any problems come up in future, using Linux severely limits the chances of a casual acquaintance being able to help out.

      But you’re right, it would be a decent solution… If the situation was a bit different I might go with that.

      If it was someone I was likely to pop in on to fix things for example.

  • TeoTwawki@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Install non legit 7 or 8.1 then upgrade to 10 (this still works) after that is has a legit win10 that can even be clean reinstalled. Amd upgraded to 11 if hardware supported (or bypassed).

    • Moonrise2473@feddit.it
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      1 year ago

      At that point is morally better to just pirate it

      Those keys are working but legally unlicensed (usually for testing purposes only for msdn members)

      • ChoadPuncher@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Really? I’ve bought Win10 keys on Kinguin before and I don’t think I’ve had to do that before. It’s been over a year since I’ve used them though.

  • slazer2au@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I think the cheapest way is buy an OEM edition and a SATA cable to fullfill the purchase requirements.

    • letsgocrazy@lemm.eeOP
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      1 year ago

      And a SATA cable? How does that work?

      Is that like a token hardware purchase?

      • slazer2au@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Shops are not permitted to sell a OEM version of windows without an associated piece of hardware. There is nothing that actually ties that hardware to the windows license.

  • MooseBoys@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    AFAIK you can use Windows 10 for free indefinitely; you just can’t change the theme, and have to live with the “Activate Windows” overlay on the desktop. There used to be a 90 day limit on use but I don’t think that exists anymore.

    • maccentric
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      1 year ago

      Mine’s been running like that nearly 2 years now, no limit aside those you mentioned

  • banana_meccanica@feddit.it
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    1 year ago

    Introduce then to Linux is the best gift you can do to them. I regret a lot to not having the same and be raised with windows, its make me lazy and stupid but most important have make me ignoring how much a Machine mean and how we all should approach them.

  • mhz@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Damn, I gave my Windows 10 Pro key last week to my brother since it has been 4 years since Ilasr used Windows. I remember buying it from Gamivo.com for ~10USD.