Solved Newbie to this fourm

timlab55 · Jul 31, 2022

Okay, I guess I should start from the start. A long time ago, not in a far-off land there lived a (just joking). Anyway, about 2 years ago I had a new computer with a licensed copy of Windows 10 Pro on it. Love it (Windows 10) just like I did with XP until I ran across a program that would make Windows 11 act like XP. Now I love Windows 11. But recently, that computer broke, and Santa Clause came early for me and said "I have a new computer for you." Okay, so I cancel the registration of Windows 10 Pro on the old computer (while it was being fixed) and transfer it to the new computer. So far so good? Okay, now when I get the old computer back and built again, how can I get Windows 11 on it? My Windows 10 was actually Windows 10 Pro, So will the FREE copy of windows 11 be the home edition or will it be the Pro edition?
Thank You For Your Time.
Oh bye, the way you can finish the story.

BrianInEngland · Jul 31, 2022

timlab55 said:
Okay, I guess I should start from the start. A long time ago, not in a far-off land there lived a (just joking). Anyway, about 2 years ago I had a new computer with a licensed copy of Windows 10 Pro on it. Love it (Windows 10) just like I did with XP until I ran across a program that would make Windows 11 act like XP. Now I love Windows 11. But recently, that computer broke, and Santa Clause came early for me and said "I have a new computer for you." Okay, so I cancel the registration of Windows 10 Pro on the old computer (while it was being fixed) and transfer it to the new computer. So far so good? Okay, now when I get the old computer back and built again, how can I get Windows 11 on it? My Windows 10 was actually Windows 10 Pro, So will the FREE copy of windows 11 be the home edition or will it be the Pro edition?
Thank You For Your Time.
Oh bye, the way you can finish the story.

WIndows 11 will have the same licence type as Windows 10. I have Windows 11 Pro after going from Windows 7 Ultimate > Windows 10 Pro > Windows 11 Pro

hsehestedt · Jul 31, 2022

Just to add a little bit more detail, think of it like this:

A Windows 10 license equals a Windows 11 license.
A Windows 11 license equals a Windows 10 license.

Microsoft makes no distinction between the two. Any license for either Win 10 or Win 11 can be used to install the other OS (assuming system specs are met and that the "other" OS will physically run on your system).

Of course, this applies to the same edition only. For example, a Win 10 Home license can be used to install Win 11 Home edition, etc.

SlicEnDicE · Jul 31, 2022

Based on your story, you transferred your Windows 10 Pro license to the new computer. This means that if you want to do things right, you have to transfer it back to the old computer or buy a new license for it. You can not use one license on 2 computers (well..you can but may run into legal trouble). You need 2 distinct keys.

If your new computer came with Windows 10/11 Home, you can use that key on it instead of the Pro key, but keep in mind that you will have to reinstall your computer with Home since it is not possible to downgrade an edition (only upgrade is possible as far as I'm aware).

If your new computer did not come with any Windows at all, then either buy a new key for your old computer or go the free route and install Linux on it and leave the new computer as is.

Edwin · Jul 31, 2022

Should've just left both machines alone! Probably both freely upgradable!

timlab55 · Jul 31, 2022

I guess I'll just purchase a new window key. No bigie.

Berton · Jul 31, 2022

Because none of my dozen machines can properly run Win11 and I have had to support clients that got Win11 I got a new Notebook in Oct. and a new Desktop in April, both came with Win10 Pro and the description said it included a free license for Win11 Pro. After setup and all the updates of Win10 then I was offered Win11 on them.