Possible experiment...


Ghot

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Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
Here I go thinking too much again. I've come up with an idea.

I have 2x 500GB SSDs. One has never been used. The other is my Windows 10 SSD.
I have current full OS image backups, which I can access from Macrium's bootable media.

Here's my idea...

1. Hook up the new SSD and put the exact same partitions on it, as I have on my existing SSD.
2. Use Macrium's bootable media to restore one of my Windows 10 backups, to the "new" SSD.
3. Now I have two identical Win 10 installs on two SSDs.
4. Take one of these SSDs, and boot into Windows 10.
5. Upgrade that Windows 10 SSD to Windows 11.
6. Now I have an SSD with Windows 10, and another SSD with Windows 11.

I'm guessing that I can then... "boot" from whichever one I want to and they will both be activated with the same license.
Sort of like Dual Boot, the hard way. Then I can play around with Windows 11 when I want to, and if I need to do something important, I can just reboot to the Windows 10 SSD.

It will all work, except maybe the license to activate. I'm not sure about that.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
Actually, I did switch/swap disks in a laptop ie C-disk, but clean install on disks and activated , long story..
Switch to linux on one disk, and change to a windows disk , dual/triple boot is out 😁 no pun intended.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w10, w11, linux
Lots of people run insider on one disk and released Windows on a second disk.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
I was going to leave my Win 10 on main SSD and boot to 2nd bios and install Win 11 on spare to test it (can do in Bios or button on Mobo).

AFAIK they can both be activated so long only one at a time is online as it is tied to your Mobo if OEM and MS account if Retail.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-4790k @ 5GHZ
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus VI Extreme
    Memory
    32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum 2400Mhz @ 10-12-11-27-1T
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 3090FE @ Core 2200 MHZ / Memory 21 GHZ
    Sound Card
    Creative SoundBlaster ZxR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG 32GN600 (G-Sync Comp)
    Screen Resolution
    1440p
    Hard Drives
    C: Primary SSD > Samsung 860 PRO 512GB
    G: Gaming SSD > Samsung 860 PRO 1TB
    S: Storage SSD > Samsung 860 EVO 4TB x2 (Windows Storage Spaces = 8TB)
    X: Ext Backup > IcyBox+WD Red 4TB x4 (Raid 10)
    PSU
    Corsair AX1600i
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 630 (Black)
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15S Chromax Black
    Keyboard
    Logitech G613
    Mouse
    Logitech G903 LS (Hero)+PowerPlay Wireless Charge Pad
    Internet Speed
    VM 1Gb/s
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Eset
Lots of people run insider on one disk and released Windows on a second disk.


I know that using two SSDs with different OSes is possible... I'm just wondering if I can do it with the same license.
I would only run one SSD OR the other, at one time.

One SSD would have 10 upgraded to 11 on it. The other SSD would have the same Win 10... just not upgraded.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
Or here's another way to look at it... (single SSD scenario)

Let's say, I make a full OS image backup of my Windows 10 install, then upgrade Windows 10 to Windows 11.

Then, let's say that sometime after the 10 day grace period... I decide I don't like Windows 11, so I use Macrium to restore my Windows 10, from before I upgraded to Windows 11.


I'm trying to accomplish three things.

1. Be able to play around with Windows 11
2. And if I don't like it... (even after the 10 days), be able to switch back to Windows 10, without clean install.
3. And do it all on the same digital license.


Notes that may be important...

I clean installed this Windows 10 in May 2020, using my Win 7 Home retail key.
After Windows 10 install... I noticed that MS switched my key to a digital license (different numbers).
I still have the Windows 7 Home retail key ofc... not being used atm. (except possibly by this Win 10 install)
All hardware, except for getting bigger storage drives... is unchanged from initial Win 10 install.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
interesting,, I have no problems with activated licences , workstations for pro with w10 or with w11 dev ed.
I'm using backup-images to switch between w10 and w11, lots of screws in back-panel in the current laptop, so to swap
disks takes a long moment.. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w10, w11, linux
I have no issues with swapping SSDs, or back up images.
If licenses still cost approx. $100, I'd just get one, to be safe.
In 2012 my Win 7 Home retail key and DVD cost $79.00 at newegg.

Now, I'm on a fixed income and things like $200 for even the cheapest licenses...is getting a bit hard to come by. :/


Heck... I'd be more than happy to make my Win 10 backup, then upgrade to Win 11, and make a Win 11 backup... then just swap backups when the mood strikes.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
Funny in a way,, my laptop has a unknown numbers of activated licences, OEM and retail.
So actually MS has/or have been very helpful with activation of licences.
(Next step is a cracked leaked w11 through torrents), and go figure..
If I remember it right and currency in dollar , a licence for retail did cost about 125-150 american money.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w10, w11, linux
All on one disk. I expect a lot of people have done the same. There is no win10 on this machine, though there had been win10 activated on it some time ago. Presumably that accounts for win11 activating itself online.

If anybody is stuck with "Home" version, it is worth keeping an eye out for ms introductory deals.I think it might have been $25 for win7 pro and then $30 for win8 pro. I think I have the receipts somewhere. Up until a couple of months ago, win10 pro licenses were available for $39.99. So they might do similar for win11.

I have just located one of the receipts for win8 pro from december 2012. I remembered wrong, win8 pro was only £24.99

Arvato was MS agent in Europe - probably another outfit for the US. Can't remember who handled the win7 introductory sales - I have a vague idea it was digital river.


multiboot.jpg
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
@Ghot,

There will not be any problem with activation. The digital license for Windows 10 for that computer is good for that edition of Windows (IE: Home or Pro) for as many installs of Windows 10 or 11 as you want to put on it. The end users license agreement for Windows 10 and Windows 11 does state that you are only allowed one instance of Windows to be installed and activated. But physically the same edition of Windows 10 will always activate on the same computer with the digital license whether it is the first, second, or tenth install.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
@Ghot,

There will not be any problem with activation. The digital license for Windows 10 for that computer is good for that edition of Windows (IE: Home or Pro) for as many installs of Windows 10 or 11 as you want to put on it. The end users license agreement for Windows 10 and Windows 11 does state that you are only allowed one instance of Windows to be installed and activated. But physically the same edition of Windows 10 will always activate on the same computer with the digital license whether it is the first, second, or tenth install.



I realize it will activate, over and over. What I'm not sure about is if I upgrade to Win 11 and activate.... then go back to Win 10 via backup or swap SSD, will THAT still activate.
Then if I go back to Win 11 via backup, then back to Win 10... etc., etc., etc.

I'm worried that after flipping back and forth between 10 and 11, on the same license.... MS might get upset... sooner or later.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
I realize it will activate, over and over. What I'm not sure about is if I upgrade to Win 11 and activate.... then go back to Win 10 via backup or swap SSD, will THAT still activate.
Then if I go back to Win 11 via backup, then back to Win 10... etc., etc., etc.

I'm worried that after flipping back and forth between 10 and 11, on the same license.... MS might get upset... sooner or later.
No, because Windows 11 and Windows 10 are actually using the same digital license.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
Little odd, Vista did have a "installation counter" for about 10-20 times, so I had to call MS to reactivate. It was well before commonly used backup-programs . Nowadays, it's just to "flip" the image. Prices for retail, (I wasn't correct), about 300-500 $ which includes a thumbdrive.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w10, w11, linux
Little odd, Vista did have a "installation counter" for about 10-20 times

I hadnt heard that before.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Windows Vista activated with a product key, not a digital license. The installation counter that Microsoft kept was on how many times the product key was used. It was the same with Windows 7 and 8 as well.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
Indeed, a counter for product activation,, (not certain) but I think w10 has 1000 attempts (did see it somewhere).

have to edit little,, so, I have a thumbdrive with w10 1511 retail (nice box) , and moving around licences, goes little nuts with new hardware.
ie,, start with w10 1511 on a new computer , problem is not hardware, it's software
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w10, w11, linux
Re-activating the same edition of Windows (Home or Pro) on the same computer, and activating Windows on different computers are two entirely separate situations. For the moment, Microsoft is considering the activation of Windows 10 and Windows 11 to be the exact same license. That's why you can activate Windows 11 or Windows 10 on the same computer using the same generic product key for either one. There has been no evidence that Microsoft is limiting the number of times that you can reactive the same edition of Windows 10 or 11 on the same computer using the generic product key and digital license.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
have thumbdrives with w10 w11, but to activate on a new computer, it's different story
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    w10, w11, linux

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