[zsrxx]

Then pirate it. What do you care? This is like pirating a show they refuse to put on Netflix. They don't give you the option to conveniently buy what you want, so pirate it.

Instructions on how to activate your installation of LTSC here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19420337

[Nextgrid]

Pirate KMS servers will go offline eventually right? Even if the legality isn’t a concern, the reliability and maintenance overhead is a problem. There are trust/malware concerns with client-side cracks as well.

[anon9001]

Here's a KMS server emulator, all open source: https://github.com/Wind4/vlmcsd

If you want to skip straight to the piracy, here's an open source package for you, complete with keys, hosted ironically on Microsoft servers, that uses vlmcsd: https://github.com/ekistece/vlmcsd-autokms

It's a pretty clever hack. It runs the KMS emulator locally and fakes the network connection with a TAP device from OpenVPN. Works perfectly.

[michaelmrose]

Why not just run Linux

[r00fus]

Likely games - which are probably also pirated.

[baot]

Ironically, the last time I needed Windows to run a game was because of Denuvo. I wouldn't have needed it if I'd pirated it.

[zsrxx]

It does not have Win32 or DirectX, for starters

[kelnos]

Sure it does: wine. Whether or not it works (and works performantly enough) for what any given person needs it for is another matter, of course.

[Draiken]

Honestly I think it's sad how much the community still underestimates gaming.

I tried using wine or even using Steam directly on Linux, but playing any game with 30-40% less performance is ridiculous.

If you really like games, Linux is unusable for anything big.

I've had to dual boot Windows for the last 10 years just to play a game without stuttering, lag, huge FPS drops, etc.

Nothing would make me happier than being able to only use Linux, but until the community takes gaming seriously, people are forced to use Windows.

[vonapon]

Throwaway account because I'm sensitive about admitting I do this kind of thing (perhaps moreso than I should be):

In a word: no. KMSpico is kind of perfect. The process happens entirely locally, and is quite technically "clean".

[zsrxx]

That one hasn't gone offline in years, so I've never thought of this. Perhaps you are right, but I assume that it should be easy enough to find new ones if you need them. I wouldn't consider this approach to be "high maintenance".

[fortran77]

How would you feel if I gave detailed instructions on how to rob _you_?

[yowlingcat]

Is this supposed to sound as nonsensical as those 90s "You wouldn't DOWNLOAD a CAR!" anti-piracy posters, or is this just a pleasant side effect of your poor analogy?

[evultrole]

If I refuse to sell you my handmade wallet, so you put up instructions on how to make an exact copy, that would be an equivalent action.

Nobody would call that theft.

[zsrxx]

If I had billions in the bank and you gave detailed instructions on how to pick up the breadcrumbs I leave on the table of a restaurant, I wouldn't give a shit. But if they care so much they are welcome to break into my house and take my computer