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Installed it and says the activation key has already been used.  Thing is I looked at seller feedback and there was tons of recent happy customers of this Windows 10 Professional.  I paid $47 for it.

Now I am worried the DVD I got perhaps might not even be legit.

Downloading Windows 10 from Microsoft and going to make USB thumb drive and reinstall windows from a copy I know is safe.  Then I'll use the product key they provided me.  If it fails again I'll call Microsoft to see if they can activate it.

Should I just go with linux install instead?  Can I mine all the top stuff listed on WhatToMine.com with linux install or is windows better?

Also what about simple mining os or the like?

Don't know what to do, got four $525 1070 ti's coming in the mail today and need to get this up and running.  Got a little over 3 grand in this rig so far with 4 cards.

ANother option is I could pay $119 and download Windows 10 home from Microsoft and make thumb drive with that.
But I figured pro was better so that's why I got it off ebay for $47.. (e.g. remote desktop .. in case I get multiple rigs later).

EDIT: Thinking more about linux.. wouldn't the drivers for the 1070 ti be better right now on WIndows? It's a relatively new card and well I am sure Nvidia makes the drivers for WIndows first since they are purchased for gaming PC's.

if you are going to go with mining only
i will suggest to go with linux
if you are mining with nvidia try nvoc linux distro
if you are mining with amd try smos and ethos

contact the seller ... ebay have a buy back policy :)
of course if you installed that windows and activated that product code , Microsoft can see your IP :)

So should I download this dist?

https://nvoc-mining-os.com/downloads/download-page-nvidea/

Why do you need activate windows?

No problem for mining if you dont activate

Buddy, what the fuck did I just read? You DON'T NEED TO ACTIVATE WINDOWS 10!!!!!!!!!!

Literally just download it and use it..... microsoft is fine with this, only caveat is that you will have a watermark in the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

theres nothing you can do, if it says its used apon activating it, its used theres no way around it, 47 dollars is a rip off, you could have went on amazon and got one for cheaper like 5 to 10 dollars cheap atleast last I checked anyways

yeah only lazy peeps don't activate it when theres a cheap way of getting an os, heck I downloaded mine off torrent from a place ive used for many many years, heck if ya want free go use Linux, btw @op windows 10 home sucks balls, the only version you need to worry yourself with is either the pro version or enterprise version

except using Linux OP will have to learn a shit ton a new stuff, which they said they have gpus coming today and need to get the rig up TODAY, having them use Linux if they don't know anything about it is a very poor suggestion

I've used linux (and various unix & unix-like dists) since about 1993, off and on.  I know my way around in the shell a bit.. probably forgot a lot but it could come back fast. 

then all the more reason for you to use Linux instead of windows, I'm sure there will be some new things youll learn as stuff has changed a lot since 93

Is Rufus the best way to burn ISO to thumb drive?  I downloaded the nvoc v0019-14 version for nvidia.  Trying to burn it in a windows 7 pro virtual machine on my mac.  There is no right click "burn image" on win 7 it appears.  I haven't run windows 10 before.  Been on Mac for past 9 years or so.  Used to run windows up until Windows 7.

first off don't use a thumb drive, there crap to use with an OS especially windows, Linux you can sometimes get away with it but youll still be replacing it down the road compared to using an ssd, iso's aren't burned to anything except a dvd, nvoc gets directly copied to said drive, theres no burning of discs as its non installable like a normal Linux distro

I don't agree with this. I bought a key from kinguin and on installation it said that the key was in use. I re-read the sellers instructions and they said to activate via phone number, which I did and have had no problems since.

OP: Try activating via phone.

EDIT: Buy a $10 USB stick and install linux (nvOC, etc) on it. I only use windows for Vegas.

I am using etcher (mac software) to make the thumb drive from the nvoc image.  I'll install to SSD.. I actually have a 120GB ssd I am using for the rig (brand new).. just installed the bad copy of windows 10 pro on it.  I'll write over that with the nvoc if all goes well.

why not just save yourself some time and put it on the ssd instead of having to do it twice like a fool lol. all that's doing is wasting time

If i don't make the thumb drive image, how do you suggest I install nvoc on the ssd on the rig?

 You can go for the manual activation options.  If regular activation fails it should direct you to call an 800 number.  At least on previous versions of Windows this happened... Make sure you download the right image for your key.  If you have a key for Windows 10 32-bit it will only work on 32-bit, not 64-bit.  They are not universal.

The Windows 10 Pro seller has a 99+% rating on ebay.  Sold like 436 of these WIndows 10 Pro OEM disks with COA.  I looked at the feedback for the seller and tons of positive comments regarding the product I was interested in.  SO that's why I bought it.

I am installing WIndows 10 64 bit from a USB thumb drive.  I downloaded the image from microsoft and made the thumb drive using their tool.  I made sure I selected 64 bit and what I purchased from ebay was in fact 64 bit as well.

I'll see how it goes.. I'll try calling it in.  The seller emailed me back and told me to call a number and try other things, and interestingly gave me another product key to use.. although I think I'd want a physical copy of COA sticker in case I'd ever want to resale this.

I had to call Microsoft once when I changed a motherboard on an OEM to manually activate, but this is different. Was you OEM package sealed? If it was, how could the key be already used? Did you get the COA?

I'm not sure it's actually illegal to use an OEM to build a rig, after all you are "manufacturing a system", maybe a grey area? Some sellers on ebay offer to provide the broken hardware, but I'm not sure if that really changes anything.

I've seen sellers with very good reputation selling OEM Windows i.e. https://www.ebay.com/usr/shopsofweb (https://www.ebay.com/usr/shopsofweb) Always check the reputation of the seller and how long has been selling on eBay.

Now your option is to open a case on eBay, you should be protected.

Every time I build a computer, mining rig and just any computer in general, I use OEM codes and they have always worked. eBay is extremely buyer-sided so you can either ask for a replacement or refund and you should be set. I’ve seen codes for Windows 7/8/10 go for sub-$10 and even $5 commonly, not sure if that’s changed or not recently.

The most important part is that eBay is buyer-sided. Even if the seller states no returns you can still return a product most of the time and still get a refund. Just don’t fuck people over with it by requesting a return or refund for a genuine, working product. Big reason why I never sell on eBay.

Thanks for all the help guys.

I re-installed windows on a fresh SSD from a thumb drive I generated from microsoft.com today.   So I know I got a clean malware free distribution of Windows 10 64 bit on thumb drive.  

I used the COA I got (in sealed package) and had the same problem with activation -- said the key was already in use.

So I called Microsoft and well it was a pretty easy process to get them to activate that COA key.

All is working good now :)

$47 is a lot better than $199!  Thank goodness.

Gonna buy one or two more copies at $47.. one for alternate SSD for rig test bed and another for offline encrypted wallet.   Unless Ubunutu or the like would be good for offline wallet.. do all the wallets work on linux or should I stick with windows for offline wallet?  (Basically my personal use computer has a 4 bay removable SSD thing.  I just pull out the SSD I don't want to run and push in the one I want to run.

How about a thumb drive with a live copy of linux on it for my hardware wallet?  It'd be like $10 and I could back it up to another $10 thumb drive.. keep one in the safety deposit box along with any paper wallets / seeds.

(I guess eventually I'd want a Ledger Nano S, whenever they become available again.)

chances are considering its OEM, there are versions of windows that are one time use with one motherboard, if you got one of those you cant resell it cause it wont work with another mobo, just thought I should put that out there, OEM windows usually comes with a full computer system and there used by those whom build computers and sell them brand new, they don't come with disc's at all its just a key, newegg sells the OEM version and the retail version


disclaimer for windows 10 pro OEM "
Use of this OEM System Builder Channel software is subject to the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. This software is intended for pre-installation on a new personal computer for resale. This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings."

says right there in black and white, cant be transferred to another computer once it is installed

Absolute majority of it are fake; there could be few genuine from time to time, otherwise it's like with quality japanese caps (and pretty much everything!!): if it comes from China, it's fake. I have 3 theories, most likely all of them are valid and it depends who do you run into:

- they take the keys from gazillion of PCs which go there as scrap from Europe and Americas and print new stickers with them
- they found the algorithm and created a key generator and print new stickers with new keys
- they steal keys via malware from PC registry and print new stickers with them

You can buy OEM windows keys from websites directly. No need for ebay. And they will even give you a second key if the one you bought doesn't work. I ve done this to both my main PC and my mining rig.

Google it and you ll find the site that sells these. Im not posting in case its not allowed or something. but if its ok ask the mods and i will share.