Activating Pro N version

cereberus · Dec 21, 2023

By mistake, I installed Pro N on a Pro activated virtual machine and I was really surprised as the Pro N version automatically activated.
In the past, you needed a separate key and the digital licence for Pro did not activate Pro N or vice versa.

I have yet to test it the other way round i.e. install Pro on my Pro N virtual machine and see if it activates that way round.

antspants · Dec 21, 2023

For whatever reason, I have never bothered to look at what Windows 11 Pro N is.
So I just did.

For anyone not familiar with W11 Pro N, it was interesting to read about it and discover that Windows 11 Pro N is a special edition of Pro specifically designed for the European market. The N letter stands for “Not with Media Player”. It is the same as Windows 11 Pro but it doesn’t include any media-related technologies such as:

Windows Media Player application
Windows Media DRM
Windows Media Format
Windows Media Player Runtime
Media Foundation
Media sharing and Play To
Windows Portable Devices (WPD) infrastructure
VC-1, MPEG-4, and H.264, H.265, and H.263 codecs
MPEG, WMA, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, AMR, and Dolby Digital audio codecs
Voice Recorder
Movies & TV
or Skype

Are there any other benefits to Pro N? Do you think that the Pro N versions has any impact on Windows functionality, does it run smoother as a result of being less bloated?

Berton · Dec 21, 2023

All I can offer from what I've read over the years and in installing Windows is that the N version has things removed/left out due to other-countries and companies' legal anti-competition issues. Performance doesn't seem to be an issue.

antspants · Dec 21, 2023

Berton said:
All I can offer from what I've read over the years and in installing Windows is that the N version has things removed/left out due to other-countries and companies' legal anti-competition issues. Performance doesn't seem to be an issue.

The only thing I could see that might be an issue was the Codecs. But many Media Players come with them anyway, generally, as far as I know. VLC for instance.
The rest of it could probably be removed from Windows Pro using Revo or PowerShell.

garlin · Dec 22, 2023

Some 3rd-party apps (which aren't Media Players) actually expect the WMP codecs to be present. That's why you see questions on how to re-install Media Features on N systems.

There is no performance gain, other than not having WMP run one or two background media sharing services.

cereberus · Dec 22, 2023

The EU ruling was really just a bunch of bureaucrats trying to be self important. Many people thought it meant EU users had to use N versions. In fact, all the pompous officials could do was say you had an alternative thanks to them.

It didn't take people long to realise the N versions were garbage really and most ignored it and carried on with full Pro.

I am betting MS sell so few N licences that that they simply allowed the Pro and Pro N digital licences to be compatible as issue was never over licensing but so called media monopoly.