How long until retail is out?


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DavidPula

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Hey everybody!
How long do we have to wait until retail version is out? I have money saved for a new computer, but I am continuously postponing it because I want to buy a fresh Windows 11 retail licence from Microsoft. I do know I could buy Windows 10 and upgrade it to W11, but that is absolutely out of question. Does anyone have some sort of information?
Thanks! :)
 

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"How long is a piece of string" !!!!
If you are getting a new computer it probably will have a version of W11 already or a free update to W11.
Since W10 is "in service" for at least another 4 years there will I'm 100% sure be several iterations of W11 before that's finally rolled out in a proper RTM version.

I can't understand the "Not wanting to upgrade" logic here - as there's nothing to stop anybody buying a full retail version when it does appear - so you can always install that later if you want to -- meanwhile you've got the experience of using W11 before you install the final retail version.

The requirements for W11 are reasonably well known -- even if currently W11 can be installed on all sorts of devices and in ways that W11 "isn't supposed to run on" - so when you get your new computer just check that the hardware requirements for the "Official" W11 are met.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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DavidPula said:
I want to buy a fresh Windows 11 retail licence from Microsoft.
Click to expand...
Because the licence key is the same for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft now describe what they sell on the Store as a licence for 'Windows 10/11'. Basically if you want to buy a retail licence in a box it doesn't matter what is on the usb, the key makes no distinction between 10 or 11 - it's a key for both.

This is what you see now in the Store.

1638355551293.png

1638354564300.png
 
Last edited:

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    My SYSTEM EIGHT is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e (5th gen) type 20LN, Celeron N4120, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, a supported device for Windows 11. Currently running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Experimental 263xx and 29xxx builds as native boot vhdx.
DavidPula said:
Hey everybody!
How long do we have to wait until retail version is out? I have money saved for a new computer, but I am continuously postponing it because I want to buy a fresh Windows 11 retail licence from Microsoft. I do know I could buy Windows 10 and upgrade it to W11, but that is absolutely out of question. Does anyone have some sort of information?
Thanks! :)
Click to expand...
Why is the upgrade out of the question?

You can buy the Windows 10 Home or Pro retail license key and you will get the code from Microsoft.

You can then download the Windows 11 media using the media creation tool.

You can then clean install Windows 11 and when asked for the key, you can provide your Windows 10 Home or Pro key and it will accept it

You never have to install, use or otherwise upgrade Windows 10.
 

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DavidPula said:
Hey everybody!
How long do we have to wait until retail version is out? I have money saved for a new computer, but I am continuously postponing it because I want to buy a fresh Windows 11 retail licence from Microsoft. I do know I could buy Windows 10 and upgrade it to W11, but that is absolutely out of question. Does anyone have some sort of information?
Thanks! :)
Click to expand...
To expand on what @Bree said. You buy Windows 10 retail, you get a product key with it. You create the latest version of Windows 11 USB flash drive with Microsoft's Media Creation Tool. You do your clean install of Windows 11 from the USB flash drive and you activate it with the Windows 10 Product Key. Windows 10 and 11 use the exact same product keys and digital licenses. There is no "upgrade" involved that way.

You get the latest version of Windows 11 from Microsoft here:
 

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I didn't have the money available to buy W11 for the new build, so I got a system builder pack for W10 64 which is OEM, but still a free upgrade to W11, and after installing, I got an ISO direct from Microsoft of W11. It cost £46 for the W10 and you can waste a lot more money than that buying Windows.
 

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I've used System Builder versions in the past but as a System Builder I am the support for the OS just like the OEMs. It's in the licensing.
 

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Bree said:
Because the licence key is the same for both Windows 10 and Windows 11, Microsoft now describe what they sell on the Store as a licence for 'Windows 10/11'. Basically if you want to buy a retail licence in a box it doesn't matter what is on the usb, the key makes no distinction between 10 or 11 - it's a key for both.

This is what you see now in the Store.

View attachment 15015

View attachment 15014
Click to expand...
Do you actually get a key if you buy from the MS Store, or do you get a digital licence. Obviously a (retail) key makes it easier to transfer licence to a new pc.

I am also guessing if you do an upgrade from Home to Pro you get a digital licence only as you cannot buy W10/W11 upgrade keys like you could with W7.

So guys......?
 

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cereberus said:
Do you actually get a key if you buy from the MS Store, or do you get a digital licence. Obviously a (retail) key makes it easier to transfer licence to a new pc.

I am also guessing if you do an upgrade from Home to Pro you get a digital licence only as you cannot buy W10/W11 upgrade keys like you could with W7.

So guys......?
Click to expand...
The two times I upgraded from Home to Pro I got the Generic Pro key. The first time I used the MS Store my computer was upgraded to the Enterprise version. I didn't check so I don't know if it was activated or not. I tried find my upgrade key but I couldn't find it. I called MS and they had me use the generic Pro key to upgrade to Pro. The second time I used the store my computer upgraded straight to the Pro version.
 

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DavidPula said:
Hey everybody!
How long do we have to wait until retail version is out? I have money saved for a new computer, but I am continuously postponing it because I want to buy a fresh Windows 11 retail licence from Microsoft. I do know I could buy Windows 10 and upgrade it to W11, but that is absolutely out of question. Does anyone have some sort of information?
Thanks! :)
Click to expand...
It's the holiday season already, and if you buy in 1Q2022, you may get someone else's return. Perhaps wait until 2Q2022 or 3Q2022.

If you wait until 4Q2022, then chances are that after the first major release, most of the early bugs are out :)
 

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DavidPula said:
Hey everybody!
How long do we have to wait until retail version is out? I have money saved for a new computer, but I am continuously postponing it because I want to buy a fresh Windows 11 retail licence from Microsoft. I do know I could buy Windows 10 and upgrade it to W11, but that is absolutely out of question. Does anyone have some sort of information?
Thanks! :)
Click to expand...
Upgrade To Windows 11 From Windows 10 For Free
 

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    Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2 v26200.5074AMD Ryzen 9 3600X 12-Core @ 3.80GHzCorsair 32GB DDR4EVGA GeForce gtx 1660 Super
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    Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2 v26200.5074
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    PC/Desktop
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    Built Myself in 2025
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    AMD Ryzen 9 3600X 12-Core @ 3.80GHz
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    MSI X570 Gaming Plus
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    Corsair 32GB DDR4
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    2 X AOC 27" , Dell 27"
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    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~ P34A60 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 M.2
    ~ 6TB Toshiba HDD
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    ~ SanDisk 250GB SSD
    ~ 2 X 1TB HDD
    ~~~~~~~~~~
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    eVGA 750w G+
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    GAMDIAS White ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer PC Case w/Tempered Glass
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    Nulea RT05 Wireless Ergonomic
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    Nulea MD280 Wireless Vertical Mouse
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    Windows 11 Pro x64 24H2 v26100.2894
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    AMD Ryzen 7 1800X @ 3.60Ghz
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    Asus Crosshair VI Hero
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    16GB
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    AMD RX580
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    onBoard
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    LG 27UK650-W 27", eMachine 22"
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    250GB SSD
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    CORSAIR RM850
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    GAMDIAS Black ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer PC Case w/Tempered Glass
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    Liquid
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    Nulea RT05 Wireless Ergonomic
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    Nulea MD280 Wireless Vertical Mouse
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