windows 11 license to activate an already existing windows 10 computer

[lan101]

Seems to be conflicting views of this online and I've never tried this ever up to this point.

Will a windows 11 license activate an already working setup windows 10 computer?

Client upgrading from windows 7 to 10 after they yoinked the upgrade thing off the servers back in 2023. He's decided he's annoyed with the little watermark at the bottom even though it's been that way for over a year lol.

From what I've read a windows 11 license works when installing 10 fresh but may not activate after the fact...but it seems to me 10/11 is interchangeable and is the exact same as well. Just wondered if anyone can chime in that has actually done this to confirm if it works or not.

Thank you.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I've done it a few times, system -> activation -> Change Product Key

Feed it the numbers and you're done.

I wouldn't recommend this however because if the rig was a Win7 unit, it won't be a Win11 unit. Replace it... Refurb vendors get stupid cheap legit keys to toss around, just the cost of the WIndows 11 license is beyond the cost of some refurbs.

 

[britechguy]

I would also question, even if it works, why any of us would encourage anyone to continue on with Windows 10, now.

The writing is not only on the wall, but in huge neon paint letters: Get yourself to Windows 11 if you intend to continue in the Windows ecosystem.

If I client insists on clinging to Windows 10 after properly advised, that's one thing, and each of us has to decide whether we will support them in that clinging or not. But anyone asking about Windows 10 right now needs to be given accurate and timely information, which includes, "If you intend to continue in the Windows ecosystem, you must migrate to Windows 11 as soon as is reasonably possible."

 

[sapphirescales]

I would also question, even if it works, why any of us would encourage anyone to continue on with Windows 10, now.

Because now that Microsoft is offering another year of security updates it's a viable option if someone is on a budget and understands that they're only going to get a little more than another year out of the computer. Everyone's financial situation is different. I remember doing a repair on a Windows 7 computer even though it was going to lose security updates in like 2 months because the client could not afford to upgrade to Windows 10 at the time or replace the entire computer. Then after 2 months they came back and bought another computer from me when they had the money. Not everyone can afford to make a "smart" buying decision, hence the whole reason why dollar stores exist. Stuff is way cheaper if you buy it in bulk at Walmart when it's on sale but not everybody has $25 to spend on shampoo all at one time. Sometimes all they have is $25 to spread across 20 items on their list.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Windows 11 capable Dell Latitude, refurb, ready to roll, light on RAM sure, but it'll work. $165
Windows 11 Home license that can't move to another device: $109

I've spent a ton of time broke, but never so broke that ~$50 wasn't available within a short period of time. The system described is functional, just let it roll until a refurb can be placed.

Amazon.com

Amazon.com

 

[britechguy]

If you're dealing with a client truly "in need" then I'd consider helping them get on to the Windows 10 ESU if, and only if, they're already on a fully licensed version of Windows 10.

Someone who put off a no-cost in-place upgrade from Windows 7 to 10, and is considering buying a Windows 11 license for the purposes of making Windows 10 legal, would be far better advised to do as @Sky-Knight has suggested. It gives them a *lot* more time at very little additional outlay.

I always have money matters in mind given the clientele that's my primary clientele. But sometimes, when someone's very likely being stupid (and, yes, I do mean that), I am willing to apply pressure to make them "see the light." Most times, they do. Ultra-short-term thinking most often results in greater, not lesser, outlays.

 

[lan101]

I've done it a few times, system -> activation -> Change Product Key

Feed it the numbers and you're done.

I wouldn't recommend this however because if the rig was a Win7 unit, it won't be a Win11 unit. Replace it... Refurb vendors get stupid cheap legit keys to toss around, just the cost of the WIndows 11 license is beyond the cost of some refurbs.

100% I agree...this particular pc probably won't be used online for much longer...he uses some legacy programs etc. But yeah a rare exception here maybe for what he wants with it.

 

[lan101]

I would also question, even if it works, why any of us would encourage anyone to continue on with Windows 10, now.

The writing is not only on the wall, but in huge neon paint letters: Get yourself to Windows 11 if you intend to continue in the Windows ecosystem.

If I client insists on clinging to Windows 10 after properly advised, that's one thing, and each of us has to decide whether we will support them in that clinging or not. But anyone asking about Windows 10 right now needs to be given accurate and timely information, which includes, "If you intend to continue in the Windows ecosystem, you must migrate to Windows 11 as soon as is reasonably possible."

Yeah it's probably not gonna be used much longer online so I didn't mind it staying on 10 in this case...but yeah normally refurb replacement would be better...just some legacy stuff on there he wanted to keep around.

 

[lan101]

Because now that Microsoft is offering another year of security updates it's a viable option if someone is on a budget and understands that they're only going to get a little more than another year out of the computer. Everyone's financial situation is different. I remember doing a repair on a Windows 7 computer even though it was going to lose security updates in like 2 months because the client could not afford to upgrade to Windows 10 at the time or replace the entire computer. Then after 2 months they came back and bought another computer from me when they had the money. Not everyone can afford to make a "smart" buying decision, hence the whole reason why dollar stores exist. Stuff is way cheaper if you buy it in bulk at Walmart when it's on sale but not everybody has $25 to spend on shampoo all at one time. Sometimes all they have is $25 to spread across 20 items on their list.

I still fixed a few windows 7 computers even in the past couple years...usually just small things. I definitely recommended upgrading if they were doing anything online. Some people just won't change until they are forced to with no other options lol. For me anymore it is what it is. I'll give a brief pitch and I'm done with it. At the same time though too if it's something completely not feasible I'll just turn it away.

 

[Sky-Knight]

100% I agree...this particular pc probably won't be used online for much longer...he uses some legacy programs etc. But yeah a rare exception here maybe for what he wants with it.

If budget isn't an issue, any reason you can't get a younger machine based on Pro, fire up Hyper-V then buy a RETAIL version of Windows that can be applied to a VM made out of this aging unit?

I'm still not a fan of this approach because "legacy stuff" usually means "things the owner no longer owns, or at very least lacks access to the installation materials and therefore cannot be sanely supported." But, we do what we have to do!

Windows 10 is... amazingly portable too. Sometimes you can just image the old machine into a new one, toss in drivers and watch it work. No guarantees here, but it's one of the things I try in these cases if the client is willing to take the risk and has money to burn.

 

[lan101]

If budget isn't an issue, any reason you can't get a younger machine based on Pro, fire up Hyper-V then buy a RETAIL version of Windows that can be applied to a VM made out of this aging unit?

I'm still not a fan of this approach because "legacy stuff" usually means "things the owner no longer owns, or at very least lacks access to the installation materials and therefore cannot be sanely supported." But, we do what we have to do!

Windows 10 is... amazingly portable too. Sometimes you can just image the old machine into a new one, toss in drivers and watch it work. No guarantees here, but it's one of the things I try in these cases if the client is willing to take the risk and has money to burn.

This guy's most likely too cheap to do anything like that lol. I did mention to him an image backup would be a really good idea. Also yeah I've had great luck throwing a drive with 10 into a completely different machine and having it boot fine. It's unfortunate that those days will be behind us soon. A lot of people (especially residential clients) will learn the hard way about not taking backups more seriously.

 

[Blackhammer]

I just wanted to add to this. Last year, I know of a business that I helped another IT shop with from time to time. Their customer, but I was extra hands on deck. They still had XP, Vista and Win 7 machines that were used to enter data into for either making labels, making a bag for parts to be sealed in or some data entry. None of the machines had Internet access. Then they had a consultant come in and set up his remote access to help them with making a bar code on a bag. His remote access software was compromised and malware was loaded onto all of the XP, Vista and Win7 computers. They were all encrypted one morning. After they called for help, they were more than willing to pay to (1) Upgrade them to Windows 11 ($135 Beelink PCs with Win11) and add them to Bitdefender. They never saw a need before that since these were single purpose "throwaway" PCs.

We tried to use this to persuade another business client to upgrade, but they still run Win98 to make their bags with bar codes and will have to pay $3000 to upgrade their software. But they will not. I still see some residential customers with Win 7 or 8, Bitdefender and Malware Bytes. The local high school tech guy told them 2 x the antivirus is cheaper than a new PC. What can you say to that?

 

[britechguy]

The local high school tech guy told them 2 x the antivirus is cheaper than a new PC. What can you say to that?

That the cost of a new PC is far cheaper than the cost of losing your precious data, for starters.

"Even if you have had a car that you've loved for years, you still end up replacing it eventually. Computers are no different, and require replacing more frequently than cars do if you're someone who drives 'em until they die. The fact that a computer runs doesn't mean it's safe to use."

 

[Philippe]

the antivirus is cheaper than a new PC. What can you say to that?

This: "Antivirus without system security updates are useless! - It's like having a nice house with bad foundations..."

 

[lan101]

I just wanted to add to this. Last year, I know of a business that I helped another IT shop with from time to time. Their customer, but I was extra hands on deck. They still had XP, Vista and Win 7 machines that were used to enter data into for either making labels, making a bag for parts to be sealed in or some data entry. None of the machines had Internet access. Then they had a consultant come in and set up his remote access to help them with making a bar code on a bag. His remote access software was compromised and malware was loaded onto all of the XP, Vista and Win7 computers. They were all encrypted one morning. After they called for help, they were more than willing to pay to (1) Upgrade them to Windows 11 ($135 Beelink PCs with Win11) and add them to Bitdefender. They never saw a need before that since these were single purpose "throwaway" PCs.

We tried to use this to persuade another business client to upgrade, but they still run Win98 to make their bags with bar codes and will have to pay $3000 to upgrade their software. But they will not. I still see some residential customers with Win 7 or 8, Bitdefender and Malware Bytes. The local high school tech guy told them 2 x the antivirus is cheaper than a new PC. What can you say to that?

If a lot of preparation and precautions are taken place in the event of said disaster than maybe it can be mitigated better...but the reality is most of these places that do this are so cheap they wouldn't pay for someone to do that and or have the knowledge themselves to do so...lose lose all the way around in my experience.

 

[Sky-Knight]

This: "Antivirus without system security updates are useless! - It's like having a nice house with bad foundations..."

Not to mention, what AV still works on a 9X kernel? The APIs and other access mechanisms AV produce use to do their jobs change and require maintenance too!