Looking to move to Windows 11 on a Rebuild. Rog Strix B550-I, Ryzen 5600. 16gb

Kaiso · Apr 13, 2022

I recently rebuilt my work machine using an ASUS Rog Strix B550-I, Ryzen 5600, and Samsung m.2 ssd. I reused my 16gb Corsair 3200MHz DDR4, and nVidia GTX1060 6gb. To get back working quickly I cloned the existing HD with Win 10. I think I'd like to move to Win 11 with a clean install. I'm planning to clone the existing internal drive to an external backup, then wipe it and do a clean install of 11. How do I deal with the Win 11 license if I've wiped 10 from the drive? I appreciate any suggestions.

NavyLCDR · Apr 13, 2022

If your current Windows 10 is activated with a digital license you don't need to do anything. Skip entering the product key when asked. Pick the same edition of Windows that was installed before (Home, Pro, etc.). When the computer connects to the internet it will retrieve the digital license stored at Microsoft that was previously established for that computer and that edition of Windows and it will reactivate automatically.

Check Activation of Windows 10

How to Check if Windows 10 is Activated

www.tenforums.com

glasskuter · Apr 13, 2022

@NavyLCDR is correct in that the license is tied to your MS account and on a normal reinstall will activate automatically. However, you have made hardware changes, specifically the motherboard, that will probably cause the activation to fail. Although the rule is that a different mobo requires its own license, I have found MS to be very forgiving in most cases when I have changed one. Follow the steps in this article. Then if it still does not activate, call the Microsoft support number toward the bottom of the article. Reactivating Windows 10 after hardware change? Here are the steps.

It might behoove you to get Windows 10 activated first. Once it is then a clean install of 11 would not be a problem.

rcferris · May 5, 2022

THanks

glasskuter said:
@NavyLCDR is correct in that the license is tied to your MS account and on a normal reinstall will activate automatically. However, you have made hardware changes, specifically the motherboard, that will probably cause the activation to fail. Although the rule is that a different mobo requires its own license, I have found MS to be very forgiving in most cases when I have changed one. Follow the steps in this article. Then if it still does not activate, call the Microsoft support number toward the bottom of the article. Reactivating Windows 10 after hardware change? Here are the steps.

It might behoove you to get Windows 10 activated first. Once it is then a clean install of 11 would not be a problem.

Thanks-Good advice.