The school is actually downloading Windows illegally, right?
The school is actually downloading Windows illegally, right?
I just began my junior year in high school last week, and we received laptops from our school recently. It turns out every one of them (three from my siblings and a few from friends) has the “Activate Windows” watermark. They can’t connect Bluetooth, change themes, or adjust many settings. It seems like new laptops weren’t purchased this year, since most are already damaged. Windows was activated last year. Anyone know what’s happening? Also, it’s not just about that—it’s the CPU, RAM, and usually the drive that are consistently near or above 90% usage, even when nothing is running. Even when turned off, the fan increases and stays on. If you’re interested, it might be related to something else.
You can run any Windows 10 or 11 version without paying, as long as you don’t activate it properly. This means you miss out on certain features, but it’s fully permitted by Microsoft. Piracy involves using software to get full functionality and features, often for free, while legitimate activation ensures all available tools are accessible. Excessive resource use is normal for genuine installations, just like other activated copies of Windows.
Not always illegally. If you obtain a genuine copy of Windows 10/11 from Microsoft, set it up on a PC without entering the Windows key, it will display that watermark. By the way, you can get Windows 10/11 directly from Microsoft for free. One of my systems has been using Windows 10 since 2017 without a license and it functions properly. I receive monthly updates and patches, can install and run all applications smoothly, connect to BlueTooth and WiFi, etc. Heck, it even suggests upgrading to Windows 11.
Someone made a mistake, likely without crossing legal lines. Which version of Windows is running? There might be enterprise licenses linked to a key management server. The devices need to contact the server at regular times—most often every 90 days—and if they miss that, they switch to an unlicensed setup. They could also have purchased machines with Windows Home OEM keys and created images using system images based on Pro or Enterprise editions.
Even a 15-year-old Core 2 Quad is faster than the Celeron model you own...
Domain joining Windows Enterprise/Education required communication with Windows Sever occasionally to enable Windows. For Pro and Home editions (or Education via Azure AD), interaction with Windows Activation Server was needed from time to time. If the school laptop had been idle for months or used outside school, deactivation was expected. Another reason could be a work/school firewall blocking Microsoft activation servers unintentionally, preventing activation.