Just activated a new install W11 VM with old Technet Win 8.1 key

jimbo45 · Mar 27, 2022

Hi folks

looks like a lot of those old Technet keys of W7/W8/W8.1 are still working to activate W11 installs !!!

Just needed a new VM -- got message after boot -- "Windows isn't activated. -- Went to change product key -- entered old technet key used a Windows 8.1 Pro key and Windows activated.

Don't throw away all those old technet keys just yet. !!!!

Cheers
jimbo

CountMike · Mar 30, 2022

My Insider Dev is still activated with W7 key which is as old as W7 itself.

JamieTech · Mar 30, 2022

I have a Windows 8.1 key in the BIOS i'm thinking that would activate Windows 8.1 but also Windows 10 and 11

JamieTech · Mar 30, 2022

JamieTech said:
I have a Windows 8.1 key in the BIOS. I'm thinking that would activate Windows 8.1 but also Windows 10 and 11 because Microsoft did that thing.