Windows 10: How can I legitimately purchase OEM Windows 11 keys for PC resale as a small UK business?

Hi all,I'm in the process of launching a small business in the UK focused on building and selling custom gaming PCs. I’ve looked into all the usual ways of sourcing Windows 11 licenses — including grey-market options — but ideally, I’d prefer to stick with official or authorised channels so I don’t have to worry about revoked licenses or problems down the line for my customers.That said, I can’t realistically be paying £120+ for a retail key every time I build a PC. If those are my only “official” options, the business simply isn’t viable. From what I understand, OEM keys are supposed to exist

:)

 

How can I purchase -legit- OEM keys as a small PC build/repair business?

I run a small PC building/repair business, and I'm just wondering how I could go about obtaining an agreement that would allow me to purchase Windows 10 OEM keys for the PCs I build, as well as those I ocassionally have to do a complete boot drive and OS
reinstall on.

OEM keys would be a great way to be able to keep costs down for clients without having to worry about the legitimacy of the keys that are always offered online. I'd prefer not to have to tack on the cost of a full retail version of Win10 since most clients
are going to run that one PC until it dies. An OEM key makes much more sense.

Do I need to contact a wholesale distribution channel, or is that something that's handled through Microsoft directly?

Thank you

 

How can I purchase -legit- OEM keys as a small PC build/repair business?

Hi Tyler,

any, absolutely any key you purchase will be legit, there are no legal restrictions for selling or purchasing keys.

But please note, purchased key does not give any use rights. One need to buy a license not key to install software legally.

If you want preinstall Windows for your clients you need to buy not keys but OEM packs (see picture).

To sign direct OEM contract with Microsoft you need to be large business - at least tens or hundreds of thousands per year.

Microsoft warns at
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/howtotell/Shop....

Beware of Product Keys Sold Separately

With the exception of Product Key Cards (PKC’s) distributed with COA’s, Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys for sale,
it’s a good indication that the keys are likely stolen or counterfeit. If you were to purchase and use a stolen or counterfeit product key to activate Windows installed on your PC, the key may not work for activation, may already be in use on another PC, or
it might be blocked from use later by Microsoft when the key is reported stolen.

 

Purchasing Windows OEM keys

I own a small consulting company where I provide IT support for small businesses. I have a customer that wants me to upgrade about 30 workstations, motherboard, processor, ram and hard drives so that the systems can run Windows 11. I purchased an OEM Windows 11 DVD from Newegg and after upgrading the first workstation, I attempted to install Windows 11 from the DVD. When I entered the Product Key, I got a message that the key was invalid. After trying several different methods, slmgr /ipk installing without the key and adding the key once it was online, I called Microsoft activation support. They informed me the that key was not valid, I am assuming because the systems they look only list retail keys. I contacted Newegg for a refund, another story...

So I still need to buy licensing for the workstations as I update them. I am fine with buying the retail licensing online however that ties the licensing to my Microsoft account. How can I buy licensing for workstations I will be selling to my customer? If OEM licensing is correct, how do I go about getting Windows to accept the product key and activate? Yes, the product key looks legit, it is a Microsoft sticker with the scratch off to reveal the code.