windows 11 upgrade + hardware upgrade

daniels471 · Mar 13, 2022

Hi , so my current pc is not supported by windows 11, so im running windows 10 currently .

im currently looking to upgrade my pc to an 11th gen i5 and equivent motherboard.

how will this work in regards to keeping windows activated moving to windows 11 ,

am i best to try to use one of the workarounds for systems with no tpm or supported cpu ( i do have secure boot ) and then upgrade the hardware .

or should i switch my current ssd into the new hardware.

any thoughts or expereiences would be helpful as i really dont want to have to fork out another £100 ish for a new license

Roban · Mar 13, 2022

I had a PC that wouldn't support Windows 11 and found that a Bios setting change in security was all that was needed. TPM was installed but was not turned on.

Dru2 · Mar 13, 2022

daniels471 said:
how will this work in regards to keeping windows activated moving to windows 11 ,

If the OS Isn't OEM, and you're using a Microsoft Account to log into Windows, simply log into the new build with you MS Account, and Windows will activate on the new machine. Period. That's it.

If the OS is OEM (Windows 11 came with the machine), you'll need to acquire a new OS as that one it tied to the hardware it was installed on.

Missed this part...

daniels471 said:
Hi , so my current pc is not supported by windows 11, so im running windows 10 currently .

Going by the above, install Win 10, than upgrade to Windows 11. Again, assuming your current OS isn't OEM.

daniels471 · Mar 13, 2022

I had a PC that wouldn't support Windows 11 and found that a Bios setting change in security was all that was needed. TPM was installed but was not turned on.

unfortuantly thats not the case for me , this is a quad core athlon pc.

If the OS Isn't OEM, and you're using a Microsoft Account to log into Windows, simply log into the new build with you MS Account, and Windows will activate on the new machine. Period. That's it.

its not oem as far as im aware , i did just check and it does say its activated and lined to a MS account , so i should just be able to change the hardware, do a clean install of win 11 and sign in to activate?

Dru2 · Mar 13, 2022

daniels471 said:
unfortuantly thats not the case for me , this is a quad core athlon pc.

its not oem as far as im aware , i did just check and it does say its activated and lined to a MS account , so i should just be able to change the hardware, do a clean install of win 11 and sign in to activate?

Yes, in theory, that should be all that's needed. Just need to make sure the OS isn't OEM.

Many will post what ifs and maybe so's, but if the OS isn't OEM, and you're using a Microsoft Account, what I post should work.

bobkn · Mar 13, 2022

It may work.

If not, the step I'd try would be the activation troubleshooter.

If that fails, you could contact Microsoft activation support by telephone. Based on a single personal experience, you may have to call more than once to get a competent tech.

daniels471 · Mar 13, 2022

If I do need to reactivate , what's the best way to get my product key out of my system as I believe the sticker either got misplaced or was on a previous case which I had this system in

NavyLCDR · Mar 13, 2022

Dru2 said:
Yes, in theory, that should be all that's needed. Just need to make sure the OS isn't OEM.

Many will post what ifs and maybe so's, but if the OS isn't OEM, and you're using a Microsoft Account, what I post should work.

OEM v. Retail no longer matters. If you happen to have an installation of Windows 10 that shows it is activated on the OEM channel, just change the product key to the retail generic product key for that version and it will switch to activated on the retail channel.

NavyLCDR · Mar 13, 2022

My opinion is get Windows 10 working and activated on the new hardware first, then upgrade to Windows 11.

EDIT:
Actually my opinion has changed. Unless you have installed programs/user data that you want to keep intact. Just go straight to the clean install of Windows 11 and transfer license via Microsoft Account.

bobkn · Mar 13, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
My opinion is get Windows 10 working and activated on the new hardware first, then upgrade to Windows 11.

Using the old OS drive, or a clean install?

NavyLCDR · Mar 13, 2022

bobkn said:
Using the old OS drive, or a clean install?

Actually, I just realized what you are probably hinting at is correct

. The activation process for Windows on the new hardware would be exactly the same regardless if the old OS was moved or a clean install was done. So - I change my opinion. Unless the user wants to keep any software/user data intact from the old system, just start right off with a clean install of Windows 11!

Dru2 · Mar 13, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
OEM v. Retail no longer matters.

God to know. Didn't know that changed as I only use retail OS'.

And for me, Install the OS drive to the new build. Sign-in to active Windows, and upgrade to 11 :)

And as always... backup first!!!

GadgetBuilder · Mar 13, 2022

I just went through something like this. Had an Athlon quad core that didn't qualify for Win11 so I bought a new mobo, a ryzen 5 5600G, memory, and an m.2 ssd. Tried to boot the old sata SSD on the new system with no luck so disconnected the old drive and installed Win11 on the new M.2 drive.

Attempted to transfer the digital license for my old machine to the new machine but it wasn't recognized. So I wrote to MS support and didn't hear from them for three days (not sure what the typical response time is). In trying to Activate the result was always a suggestion to either enter the Win10 key or buy a new license. In frustration I entered the key from Win8 that I purchased in 2012 from Newegg and it activated instantly. I tried this because my Win10 license was descended from that Win8 license via upgrades.

Once Win11 was installed I connected the old sata SSD and it works normally, allowed rapid copying of old data to the new SSD. Not sure why it wouldn't boot Win10, possibly it needed different drivers for the new processor?

I have changed either the mobo or the disk a couple times previously using the digital license with no difficulty. Changing mobo and disk at the same time isn't something I've done before and changing from Win10 to Win11 coupled with this new hardware was apparently more than the digital license could handle.

bobkn · Mar 13, 2022

NavyLCDR said:
Actually, I just realized what you are probably hinting at is correct :). The activation process for Windows on the new hardware would be exactly the same regardless if the old OS was moved or a clean install was done. So - I change my opinion. Unless the user wants to keep any software/user data intact from the old system, just start right off with a clean install of Windows 11!

I usually don't hint. You are a much more experienced in Windows installation than me, and I wondered what you regarded as the best path.

zbook · Mar 14, 2022

Windows 10 is fully supported up to approximately Oct 2025 and there are rumors about Windows 12.

Each operating system has tested / approved hardware.

Unless there are hardware problems consider waiting until there is information about Windows 12 Pluton.

Windows 12 News

Latest Windows 12 News

www.twelveforums.com

daniels471 · Mar 15, 2022

thanks for all your responses , i didnt see them all sooner due to not getting the emails come through after the first few replies.

I have checked, it is definitely retail ,

and preferably i would like to do a clean install of windows 11, i will transfer user data either via onedrive or my second hdd

i know i could switch the drive and let it detect hardware changes but this install is pretty clogged up of nonsense so a fresh start would be best.

does anyone have any info on getting my product key out , i have used jelly bean key finder which i have used in the past for win 7 , but with this digital license activation , does anyone know if this key its giving me is indeed the correct one ( not going to post it here before anyone asks :ROFLMAO:

)

cereberus · Mar 15, 2022

daniels471 said:
thanks for all your responses , i didnt see them all sooner due to not getting the emails come through after the first few replies.

I have checked, it is definitely retail ,

and preferably i would like to do a clean install of windows 11, i will transfer user data either via onedrive or my second hdd

i know i could switch the drive and let it detect hardware changes but this install is pretty clogged up of nonsense so a fresh start would be best.

does anyone have any info on getting my product key out , i have used jelly bean key finder which i have used in the past for win 7 , but with this digital license activation , does anyone know if this key its giving me is indeed the correct one ( not going to post it here before anyone asks )

Use showkeyplus from MS Store - written by a tenforums regular.

zbook · Mar 15, 2022

Download and install (free or trial version): Belarc Advisor | Belarc, Inc.

Consider performing a custom install to save important files to Windows.old > install drivers > install applications > restore important files

Or backup important files > clean install > install drivers > install applications > restore important files

Custom Install Windows 10

How to Custom Install Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10

How to Restore Files from Windows.old Folder in Windows 10 When you refresh, upgrade, or custom install Windows 10 on the same partition as the previous Windows installation without doing a clean install, then you will have a C:\\Windows.old folder in you

www.tenforums.com

Clean Install Windows 11

This tutorial will show you step by step on how to clean install Windows 11 at boot on your PC with or without an Internet connection and setup with a local account or Microsoft account. Windows 11 has all the power and security of Windows 10 with a redesigned and refreshed look. It also comes...

www.elevenforum.com

glasskuter · Mar 15, 2022

Keep in mind you will have to buy new ram as well. Something else. Not that it won't work, but if you use your old HDD, you won't be utilizing one of the best features new mobos offer...an M.2 drive. I'm of the opinion that unless one is going to build some super duper gaming rig, buying all these new components just to run 11 is a big waste of money. If what you have is running well with 10, use it for 4 1/2 more years. I can't understand why anyone would do all this when with a little searching, especially during sales, you can find a fully equipped prebuilt machine with 11 already on it for around $600. An extra bonus, you will have a modern case as well.

Dru2 · Mar 15, 2022

daniels471 said:
does anyone have any info on getting my product key out , i have used jelly bean key finder which i have used in the past for win 7 , but with this digital license activation , does anyone know if this key its giving me is indeed the correct one ( not going to post it here before anyone asks )

I think that question was answered earlier...

Dru2 said:
If the OS Isn't OEM, and you're using a Microsoft Account to log into Windows, simply log into the new build with you MS Account, and Windows will activate on the new machine. Period. That's it.

If the OS is OEM (Windows 11 came with the machine), you'll need to acquire a new OS as that one it tied to the hardware it was installed on.

Missed this part...

Going by the above, install Win 10, than upgrade to Windows 11. Again, assuming your current OS isn't OEM.

And your reply was...

daniels471 said:
its not oem as far as im aware , i did just check and it does say its activated and lined to a MS account , so i should just be able to change the hardware, do a clean install of win 11 and sign in to activate?

To which my answer was...

Dru2 said:
Yes, in theory, that should be all that's needed. Just need to make sure the OS isn't OEM.

If the license is tied to your account as you say, all you'd need to do is log into your new build and Windows should activate with said license.

I think you're making a simple process sound far more complicated than it is

And before doing anything, make sure your backup!!!

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