How do you activate a Win11 Lite version? (X-Lite/Optimum11) I thought it would be automatic with OEM key

Microsoft would take action if there was serious damage to their profit from using Lite Windows versions instead of the standard versions. However, I think Microsoft actually benefits from these Lite versions because they help keeping the Windows share of the market as big as possible. Users of these versions install them on older computers that would struggle with the standard version and they still have to use a genuine key to activate. If their old key doesn't activate anymore they must buy another giving money to Microsoft. Otherwise they might switch to Linux. Microsoft wants them to stay in Windows albeit using a Lite version and not the original. So they aren't going to take legal action, they are not fool.

Fun fact: Windows 95 is responsible for creating the huge user base of Windows because Microsoft turned a blind eye to pirated versions back in the day. If they would take legal action back then, there would be much fewer Windows users today.

BastianSuivera said:

Hi everyone!

So, I have a Lenovo Yoga 520 Laptop
- Intel Pentium Gold 4415U
- 8GB RAM DDR4
- 1TB WD 7200rpm
- OS: X-Lite Optimum11 24H2 Home v4 (Windows 11)

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See a number of problems there.

Not being the type of person, who has time to waste, or condone piracy.

I would suggest buying used £120 GBP/$150/€130 Dell Latitude 5590 ex corporate laptop, with i5-8350 cpu, 8gb ram, NVME Os drive, Win 10 Pro COA, in firmware.

Then your problems of performance/installing/activating Win 11 Pro, for free, will magically evaporate.
Unfortunately, my user support department, will not respond to any further time wasting posts.

spapakons said:

It is not illegal to remove features and redistribute it. If you alter the actual code (not just remove parts of it), then that would be Copyright infringement. These versions don't claim is a different OS, they say they provide debloated versions of the original Microsoft Windows.

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I do not see how it is illegal. I no longer run that X-Lite, but when I did Windows update worked just fine on it, as did cumulative updates. It also activated. I stopped using it because I decommissioned the machine it was on and I am now using a NUC to run Linux.

My opinion is that be it illegal or not, MS allows these ISO downloads provided the users use a legal key to activate the OS. It was different years ago when we actually had to pay for every Windows install disk. Even if we were just updating from a older version. I remember when we had to buy a update disk that only fixed some Windows bugs. I'm glad those days are over.

BastianSuivera said:

This laptop has OEM Win10 key which should've been activated automatically (I think), I can even see the key in REGEDIT

- Equipo\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform

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My Win11 Pro has the generic Pro key there. A generic key cannot activate Windows.

BastianSuivera said:

If I click on the "Change key" button, put the same official Win10 Lenovo key that this machine came with, it says like "You don't have a valid license key" ...

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Read the actual embedded OEM key from the firmware with ShowKeyPlus - Windows 10 Help Forums and try that.

spapakons said:

Otherwise they might switch to Linux.

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No, I don't think anyone who has purchased MS Office, would switch to Linux, for any reason.

Many people who have run Windows/MS Office all their professional life, don't even know what Linux is.

Tell many of these people, their Windows 10 PCs will no longer receive MS support in October, and their current PC cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, their first question will be,

"What is the cheapest PC I can get, that runs W11?"

I meant to say that if there were no light Windows versions, many would consider Linux for old computers that struggle with the standard versions. Of course they can also install the standard version and then disable features they don't need to make it faster.

spapakons said:

I meant to say that if there were no light Windows versions, many would consider Linux for old computers that struggle with the standard versions. Of course they can also install the standard version and then disable features they don't need to make it faster.

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I'm wondering how old a machine would have to be, to struggle running Win 11 Pro, assuming it has SSD.

Any machine with W10 COA in firmware, would surely have SATA-3, thereby allowing decent SSD performance?
Not to mention, the W10 machines, that have Nvme sockets on mainboard.

My very old test laptop (1st system specs) runs Windows 11 23H2. It cannot run 24H2 because its Intel Core 2 Duo doesn't support SSE4.2 I would not say it struggles with Windows 11, with proper drivers installed performance is comparable to Windows 7 64-bit, but it is noticeable slower than newer computers. If one is accustomed to Windows 11 compliant computers with 8GB or higher RAM, he will think such an old computer is too slow to run standard Windows 11 and seek ways to improve performance. Using a light Windows version is one way but don't expect miracles. You can achieve almost the same performance with the standard version by disabling unused features and all fancy visual effects. Also don't forget to disable startup applications and non-Microsoft services (Google Update etc).

You do what you want. . . lol Just can't post how on here. . haha

spapakons said:

My very old test laptop (1st system specs) runs Windows 11 23H2. It cannot run 24H2 because its Intel Core 2 Duo doesn't support SSE4.2

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I have a storage unit, that has plenty of my old laptops/computers, that I just don't have the time, to try and use with Modern OSs/software.
This is a fact of life with Computer Hardware.

My "weakest" machine, is an i5 8th gen, nvme, 16gb, that cost me peanuts, and runs Win11 Pro perfectly smooth. I can run Office apps, Zoom, Teams, MS Edge, BitDefender, without needing to tune services running.

My strongest machines are dual/Single Xeon V2/V4, 64gb/128gb ram,running Ubuntu/RHEL, again cost me peanuts, handle everything I throw at them.

Think time is better spent, using cheapest hardware, that is "fit for purpose", as opposed to wasting time, such as original poster, with hardware that is not fit for purpose.

Winuser said:

My opinion is that be it illegal or not, MS allows these ISO downloads provided the users use a legal key to activate the OS. It was different years ago when we actually had to pay for every Windows install disk. Even if we were just updating from a older version. I remember when we had to buy a update disk that only fixed some Windows bugs. I'm glad those days are over.

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I've bitten my tongue so many times during this thread to avoid getting involved in these pointless arguments abouts what's legal and what's not legal.

But for this post, it's irresistible ...

Activation (of a key for Windows, Office, or any other software) simply means that the combination and sequence of characters satisfies a key checking algorithm, either built-in to the product or through on-line access. It does not imply/infer legality for any stretch of the imagination

The legality of the key lies in the user's/owner's source of purchase (or other access to the product), application of the license key, and the continued unethical use of the "activated" product clearly against the EULA terms.

Don't overthink it. If it activates automatically or you can activate it by calling Microsoft (not blacklisted), then it is a genuine key. If it is an OEM key or volume key makes little difference. It is better than illegal activation. Since you bought the key and have your receipt or invoice, you should be legally covered. If it turns out the seller is violating the EULA you have no responsibility.

idgat said:

Activation (of a key for Windows, Office, or any other software) simply means that the combination and sequence of characters satisfies a key checking algorithm, either built-in to the product or through on-line access. It does not imply/infer legality for any stretch of the imagination

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That is why I said that be it illegal or not, MS is allowing it.

Winuser said:

That is why I said that be it illegal or not, MS is allowing it.

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Microsoft is "allowing" it because the key is LEGITIMATE, which does not, in any sense or use of the word, constitute and/or justify any claim of LEGALITY

Legality lies in the source of the acquisition, and the applied use, of the key(s) under the terms of the EULA

idgat said:

Microsoft is "allowing" it because the key is LEGITIMATE, which does not, in any sense or use of the word, constitute and/or justify any claim of LEGALITY

Legality lies in the source of the acquisition, and the applied use, of the key(s) under the terms of the EULA

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MS is also allowing the download of X-Lite plus permitting the use of Windows Update and if one chooses The MS Store. When I did use this , I downloaded it on a Windows 11 Pro 24H2 PC and with all of the telephony MS has to be aware that users are downloading this product. Like I previously posted I am no longer using X-Lite. . This will be my last post on this thread, have a nice evening.

idgat said:

Microsoft is "allowing" it because the key is LEGITIMATE, which does not, in any sense or use of the word, constitute and/or justify any claim of LEGALITY

Legality lies in the source of the acquisition, and the applied use, of the key(s) under the terms of the EULA

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Do you really think MS doesn't know what's going on with these lite version of Windows? They are allowing it and that's what matters. The same goes for all the devices being sold with the MAK versions of the OS. MS could put a block on it but for whatever reason they haven't. If it is illegal it's up to MS to decide if they want to allow it or not. I can understand MS being OK with the Lite version because as I understand it is that they only disable or uninstall features that users don't want. The user still has to have a legit key for activation. If a user decides to remove (for example) OneDrive does that make their copy illegal? The MAK activations are different. MS didn't sell theses keys to companies to be resold to the public.

Winuser said:

Do you really think MS doesn't know what's going on with these lite version of Windows?

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What part of ...

idgat said:

Microsoft is "allowing" it because the key is LEGITIMATE

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... don't you understand??

Sheesh!!!

WOW... what a discussion from a simple question about how to legally activate a debloated windows ISO... wow..

Now I will become the evil one and kill the discussion.

1st... never-ever download an ISO from internet where you cant say for 100%+1 that the creator have the best interest in hart for just you.
Why? as it is so easy to manipulate it to include spyware or a backdoor.

2nd.. Do it yourself instead of downloading shady ISO's.... Use Chris Titus WinUtil for making your own debloated ISO version that you download from Microsoft so you know the ISO is safe.

His winutil on Github has 38.5k stars.. Github is owned by Microsoft.. and Microsoft do know about his utility to debloat windows installs and also that can make your own "Tiny11" ISO.. He is calling it Micro-Win.
Microsoft do know about his utility.. and Cris Titus haven't been sued by MS or been banned from Github.. so you can say it is unofficially approved by Microsoft.

3rd... illegal activation of win11 home/pro.. why even bother as you can get a key almost for free.. its just not worth it to risk that your computer might become inactivated just in that moment as you do need a feature that only works on activated installs. To save a few dollars? really....

as for those that want a never changing OS as the LTSC version offers..... I can totally understand that one becoming manipulated as MS has decided they dont sell that version to normal consumers.. only businesses...
If MS had allowed normal people to buy one key for one computer, (instead of a group licencing that costs so much that no normal person can afford it)... Then it hadn't become needed for manipulation.. So that is MS own fault.

But here you have the Movie Fightclub.. 1st rule of fightclub, you never talk about fightclub
This rule might sound evil.. but that is for the protection of this forum....... if this forum starts to allow people to discuss this, this forum might get in trouble with Microsoft and then has to shut down.... And no one of us want that to happen.... Right? ......
so always respect the rule of not discussing illegal activation of windows.
So to be kind to the forum.... Never-ever talk about fightclub

and remember....... that no one in here will help you if you have an illegal version of Windows.

So Thanks for a great Elevenforum.

idgat said:

What part of ...

... don't you understand??

Sheesh!!!

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What part of what I originally posted don't you understand? You're the one who is trying to make what I posted as being wrong. You're also the one who put in the defense mode of defending what I posted.