Free Activation from Windows 7/8 key or upgrade to Windows 10/11 Ends

Ok,, that's interesting

Interesting, time to test that with the Windows 7 'never been upgraded to 10' laptop that I have set aside just for this purpose. Back soon.....

Edit: after an in-place upgrade from W7 to W10, sadly, it's all true....

In April 2019 I upgraded my Windows 7 PC to Windows 10 1809, for which I in those days downloaded the ISO from the official Microsoft site.
So it seems to me MS has prolonged the upgrade period by some years.
Don't know if upgrade from Win7 to Win10 still is possible.
You would need an older ISO for it, I think.

This article is over 3 years old?

RFS said:

This article is over 3 years old?

Click to expand...

Created Date: 2023-09-20 | Last Modified: 2023-09-20

There's also this...

Although old Windows 7 and 8 keys can still activate Windows 11 version 22H2, newer releases no longer accept such keys. We managed to activate a VM running Windows 11 version 22H2, but a similar virtual machine with the latest Windows 11 Canary build (presumably version 24H2) rejected a Windows 7 key.

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Article from Neowin --

You can no longer activate new Windows 11 builds with Windows 7 or 8 keys​

Windows Ends Installation Path for Free Windows 7/8 Upgrade

Microsoft's free upgrade offer for Windows 10 / 11 ended July 29, 2016. The installation path to obtain the Windows 7 / 8 free upgrade is now removed as well. Upgrades to Windows 11 from Windows 10 are still free.

Although old Windows 7 and 8 keys can still activate Windows 11 version 22H2, newer releases no longer accept such keys. We managed to activate a VM running Windows 11 version 22H2, but a similar virtual machine with the latest Windows 11 Canary build (presumably version 24H2) rejected a Windows 7 key.

We all tend to have our 'words of wisdom' (when in reality we do not know diddly squat and can only guess). Either way, these are mine. I've always said that MS could put a quietus on anything they want to at any time.

The question has been asked over and over since 2021 about whether MS will continue to let 11 run on incompatible hardware. It doesn't take a genius to figure out where this is going to go. IMO blocking 7-8 keys is the beginning of the incompatible hardware death knell. MS knows if they require a new Win 11 key that many folks running old devices won't invest in purchasing a key. Even for folks who already run old devices registered with old keys, I predict their next step will be to stop updates as well as all the workarounds that's been available if one had to re-install or repair install 11.

This plan of theirs goes for the MS account requirement as well if one runs Home. Maybe Pro too, for all we know. The use of Onedrive, too. We won't have a choice.

Someone suggested it will take using an old iso going forward to still use the 7-8 keys. I disagree. I believe even then MS servers will block the use of the old keys. If not now, then shortly in the future. MS has always indoctrinated their user base a little at a time to their changes. They knew from Day 1 when they allowed the 'installing on incompatible hardware' in the first place how and when they would deal with this issue.

It's been years since we first heard the term "windows as a service". Well, anyone who can't see it's a fact and getting closer than we think is blind.
We do not own our copy of Windows and will be required to run the OS EXACTLY how MS wants us to. They will lock down the registry so all the tweaks, workarounds, and 3rd party apps will be useless. In the not too distant future, it will be MS way, or the highway. We either have to like it, or leave it.

Buckle up, folks. I believe we are in for a bumpy ride.

Brink said:

Created Date: 2023-09-20 | Last Modified: 2023-09-20

Click to expand...

Apologies! Read it from left to right as I'm used to in the UK ...

RFS said:

Apologies! Read it from left to right as I'm used to in the UK ...

Click to expand...

No worries mate.

Thanks.
I am planing today install W11 22H2 with W7 Pro key. So, I am still fine...

Bree said:

Edit: after an in-place upgrade from W7 to W10, sadly, it's all true....

Click to expand...

Postscript:

I have tried several other ways to get activation for this PC. Using gatherosstate.exe to generate the GenuineTicket.xml for clean install with the current Windows 10 or an earlier version (2004) did not work. As a last resort I thought I'd try changing the installed key to this PC's own OEM Windows 7 Pro CoA key.....

Bree said:

Postscript:

I have tried several other ways to get activation for this PC. Using gatherosstate.exe to generate the GenuineTicket.xml for clean install with the current Windows 10 or an earlier version (2004) did not work. As a last resort I thought I'd try changing the installed key to this PC's own OEM Windows 7 Pro CoA key.....

View attachment 72455

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Generic Windows 7 SLP keys will not work but COA keys still work. Also standalone W7 keys should work.

I have found you cannot enter key at oobe whilst installing but you can use "change product key" after installation. It has been like this for a while, so I think claims W7 keys are not accepted any more are somewhat exaggerated.

If any of you still have a pile of Win 7 keys, you could at least do this while it's still possible...

Create a bunch of VMs in Hyper-V with Win 10 or 11. Activate using a Win 7 key.

Make a backup of each VM minus the VHD. These are small - only about 4 MB each.

With VMware workstation it's even easier. Create your VM and activate.

In your VMX file will be a line that starts with "uuid.bios =". Save that entire line. You can now delete / destroy the VM. Next time you need to acticate a VM, create the initial VM. You don't need to install Windows to it yet. Edit the VMX file and replace the line that starts with "uuid.bios =" with the one you backed up. When you install Windows, make sure it is the same edition (Home, Pro, etc.). Once it gets access to the Internet, it will activate.

I converted a bunch of my Win 7 licenses like this.

Interesting. Time to get firing on making my requisite 11 VMs and see if my TechNet keys have stopped working or not.

glasskuter said:

We all tend to have our 'words of wisdom' (when in reality we do not know diddly squat and can only guess). Either way, these are mine. I've always said that MS could put a quietus on anything they want to at any time.

The question has been asked over and over since 2021 about whether MS will continue to let 11 run on incompatible hardware. It doesn't take a genius to figure out where this is going to go. IMO blocking 7-8 keys is the beginning of the incompatible hardware death knell. MS knows if they require a new Win 11 key that many folks running old devices won't invest in purchasing a key. Even for folks who already run old devices registered with old keys, I predict their next step will be to stop updates as well as all the workarounds that's been available if one had to re-install or repair install 11.

This plan of theirs goes for the MS account requirement as well if one runs Home. Maybe Pro too, for all we know. The use of Onedrive, too. We won't have a choice.

Someone suggested it will take using an old iso going forward to still use the 7-8 keys. I disagree. I believe even then MS servers will block the use of the old keys. If not now, then shortly in the future. MS has always indoctrinated their user base a little at a time to their changes. They knew from Day 1 when they allowed the 'installing on incompatible hardware' in the first place how and when they would deal with this issue.

It's been years since we first heard the term "windows as a service". Well, anyone who can't see it's a fact and getting closer than we think is blind.
We do not own our copy of Windows and will be required to run the OS EXACTLY how MS wants us to. They will lock down the registry so all the tweaks, workarounds, and 3rd party apps will be useless. In the not too distant future, it will be MS way, or the highway. We either have to like it, or leave it.

Buckle up, folks. I believe we are in for a bumpy ride.

Click to expand...

Amen.

I created 2 Windows 10 VMs and 5 Windows 11 VMs today. All accepted my Windows 7 keys and activated except the current Windows 11 IP Canary .ISO that is available from the IP website (25951).

The ones that worked:

• Windows 10 19045.3516 built from UUPDUMP
• Windows 10 19045.1826 Beta from Windows IP website
• Windows 11 RTM from Windows website
• Windows 11 RP from Windows IP website
• Windows 11 Beta from Windows IP website
• Windows 11 Dev from Windows IP website

John, that actually makes sense to me. One article that I read on the topic noted that the closure of the Win 7 key "loophole" was only introduced in the insider build thus far, so it's possible that this may still continue to work for a little while with retail releases of Windows.

So, this is really great to get some confirmation.

Thanks for reporting your findings.

It's working on all Insider builds *except* Canary (installed from Canary .ISO).

Testing a workaround to see if installing Windows 11 RTM with Win 7 key (accepted and activated) allows or blocks me from joining IP program Canary channel now.