It's the OS license that's the main problem.

It's super easy to activate Windows for free, and Microsoft doesn't care: https://massgrave.dev/.

If you were logged in with your Microsoft account before, that should also restore your real previous activation.

Are you able to physically replace the HDD (preferably with an SSD)? If so, you can use the (Win10) Media Creation Tool to create a USB installer.

When it prompts for a key, just skip it. If you have an OEM mass activation laptop (i.e. anything from a major brand), it'll activate automatically after. If, for whatever reason it still doesn't activate, you'll have a nag screen telling you to activate. It won't significantly limit what you do.

Horde here. If you get any Linux OS with KDE plasma as desktop it'll feel pretty much the same as Windows, if you're not a computer person you'll likely not even notice the difference. Install the KDE version of EndeavorOS for example. Horde end

Linux - if all you need is to write in a word processor Linux is easy. If you want to custom everything it's harder. Browsing or writing text should be easy.

You can also just not activate it. There’s nothing stopping you from using the computer with the water mark. It’s not like XP which was super picky and would legit lock you out. Vista + just makes it kinda ugly but it works.

Just install Win10 anyway. Only caveat of not activating is youre stuck with the default wallpaper

I’m not a Linux person.

[X] doubt