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Microsoft will let users uninstall Edge, Bing, and disable ads on Windows 11 as it complies with the Digital Markets Act
(www.windowscentral.com)
This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
I think it only applies to Europe
Most likely, they have "N" versions for some time for EU regulated countries
https://www.itprotoday.com/windows-10/what-are-windows-10-n-and-kn-editions
Ya, then just install the N version. It's not some weird region locked thing. If you tell Microsoft you don't have a product key, you'll get a list of windows versions you can install, and you just select the N version.
They give windows away for free? If you don't have a key wouldn't they tell you to buy it?
Windows put a watermark on your desktop and locks you out of personalization if you don't pay.
Watermark can be disabled with a simple registry editor change. Or the entirety of windows can just be activated with a single command prompt command.
Even if you're not into pirating, you can use windows without a key without issues. They honestly don't care.
Their main income is from businesses. They don't care what an individual user does.
That said, most motherboards already have a license key for Windows attached. Or you can just use a Windows 7 or 8 key you have laying around. I believe they wanted to stop being able to do this, but it still isn't implemented.