If i have buy a key for a single pc if needed formated again...

Gregory · Friday at 6:48 PM

Hi.

I have install windows 11 pro 64bit to a single pc with a serial no.

If needed to format again this pc i have activated/genuine that windows 11 or not?
And i must be installed with internet on so the new windows 11 after formatted it is still activated/genuine or not?

The question is based on what is the windows 11 still activated/genuine?

So what parts i can change and this pc still be activated/genuine from any fresh windows 11 installation?

Archigos · Friday at 8:04 PM

Depends on a few things… if the system is associated with your Microsoft Account, it ‘should’ convert the key to a Digital License… meaning if you don’t change too much hardware (certain rules) when you reinstall, logging into the same MA will activate it automatically

NavyLCDR · Friday at 9:58 PM

Archigos said:
Depends on a few things… if the system is associated with your Microsoft Account, it ‘should’ convert the key to a Digital License… meaning if you don’t change too much hardware (certain rules) when you reinstall, logging into the same MA will activate it automatically

You don't need it to be associated with a Microsoft Account. As soon as Windows 11 (or 10) activates, it gets a digital license based upon the unique hardware ID of the computer, not a Microsoft Account. A Microsoft Account only gets a link to the digital license so it can be transferred to another computer. The actual digital license is stored on Microsoft activation servers based upon the hardware ID.

Archigos · Friday at 10:07 PM

You’re right and I misspoke… it’s been awhile since I dealt with them since I still have a pile of spare keys and don’t hesitate to use those if it doesn’t automatically activate instantly

For whatever reason I had transferring on my mind…

x509 · 2025-06-28T00:54:08-0400

NavyLCDR said:
You don't need it to be associated with a Microsoft Account. As soon as Windows 11 (or 10) activates, it gets a digital license based upon the unique hardware ID of the computer, not a Microsoft Account. A Microsoft Account only gets a link to the digital license so it can be transferred to another computer. The actual digital license is stored on Microsoft activation servers based upon the hardware ID.

What happens if I apply the generic Win 11 Pro key to an OEM license, which supposedly converts the license to retail? (Have not actually done that yet.)

NavyLCDR · 2025-06-28T00:55:24-0400

x509 said:
What happens if I apply the generic Win 11 Pro key to an OEM license, which supposedly converts the license to retail? (Have not actually done that yet.)

Yes. That is what happens.

zbook · 2025-06-28T04:09:32-0400

x509 said:
What happens if I apply the generic Win 11 Pro key to an OEM license, which supposedly converts the license to retail? (Have not actually done that yet.)

When an OEM laptop was tested with various slmgr commands including slmgr /upk and slmgr /dli it converted OEM to retail.

The significance of this conversion was never explored.

When retail appears it may not be an installation that can be moved from one computer to another.

x509 · 2025-06-28T15:09:00-0400

zbook said:
When retail appears it may not be an installation that can be moved from one computer to another.

And that is the reason for my wanting to do a conversion to retail.

Gregory · 2025-06-28T15:30:12-0400

So it is combined mostly with the motherboard?

Gregory · 2025-06-28T18:50:58-0400

And if i install one vl win11 pro this is means it was activated by default without any serial no?
And the vl win11 edition means it will be supported longer than a simple win11 pro?

cereberus · 2025-06-28T19:02:19-0400

Gregory said:
And if i install one vl win11 pro this is means it was activated by default without any serial no?
And the vl win11 edition means it will be supported longer than a simple win11 pro?

The digital licences are perpetual licences.

Windows 11 Pro will be supported until Windows 12? comes out and even then fir a couple of years thereafter.

Of course, you have to keep it upto date to be supported as any individual build ceases to get support after 18 months.

Volume licences are not generally (legitimately) available to ordinary consumers. These generally require contracts only available to companies, education, governmental organisations etc.

pseymour · 2025-06-28T19:10:13-0400

That’s right, and it’s not being a volume license that makes it supported longer. It’s the SKU. Education and Enterprise builds are supported longer than Home or Pro, for example.

cereberus · 2025-06-28T19:18:37-0400

pseymour said:
That’s right, and it’s not being a volume license that makes it supported longer. It’s the SKU. Education and Enterprise builds are supported longer than Home or Pro, for example.

Enterprise builds are volume licence based (and Edu as well I think). These are supported 3 years per build

BTW support each build for pro is 2 years now, not 18 months as I incorrectly stated (makes sense as we only get 1 build upgrade a year now).

Anyway, who really cares so long as you keep up to date?

Build upgrades for W11 are far more stable than the early days of W10. I cannot remember the last time my pc failed to upgrade to a new build, even less so with the package enablement method.

pseymour · 2025-06-28T19:20:47-0400

Yes I know they’re volume licensed, since I work in large environments, but it’s still the SKU that determines the support length.

If i have buy a key for a single pc if needed formated again...

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