News Microsoft Now Sells Windows 11 Licenses Directly to PC DIYers

[Admin]

Windows 11 Home and Pro licenses are now available direct from Microsoft at $139 and $199, respectively. Until recently, you would have had to buy Windows 10, then do an upgrade instead.

Microsoft Now Sells Windows 11 Licenses Directly to PC DIYers : Read more

 

[USAFRet]

Please don't post a link to off-channel cheap license key sites. Those will be summarily deleted.

 

[Colif]

Until recently, you would have had to buy Windows 10, then do an upgrade instead.

You can install win 11 using a Windows 7 or 10 licence key.
No need to install win 10 and upgrade from there.
Just install 11.

 

[thisisaname]

Quite an increase in price from what I paid for Windows 7 from Microsoft. I think I paid £49.99 (early launch offer) shame they are not doing an offer for this version.

 

[spongiemaster]

Please don't post a link to off-channel cheap license key sites. Those will be summarily deleted.

Will posting a link to an article from this very site that has links to off-channel cheap license key sites be summarily deleted?

I won't post the link, but the article is called: "How to Get Windows 11 or Windows 10 for Free (or Under $20)"

 

[USAFRet]

Will posting a link to an article from this very site that has links to off-channel cheap license key sites be summarily deleted?

I won't post the link, but the article is called: "How to Get Windows 11 or Windows 10 for Free (or Under $20)"

Yes, we obviously know about that link/article.
And have had multiple 'discussions' about it.

 

[USAFRet]

Quite an increase in price from what I paid for Windows 7 from Microsoft. I think I paid £49.99 (early launch offer) shame they are not doing an offer for this version.

Win 7, 2009....13 years ago. Inflation.

This price is no different than WIN 10 was.

There was also no free license upgrade to Win 7 from a previous Win version.

 

[BillyBuerger]

Am I missing something? Windows 11 ISO images have been available to install windows 11 on any PC. Install without a license, then go to the store and buy a license. PC is licensed for Windows 11 without having to upgrade form Windows 10. Is this something different from that?

 

[USAFRet]

Am I missing something? Windows 11 ISO images have been available to install windows 11 on any PC. Install without a license, then go to the store and buy a license. PC is licensed for Windows 11 without having to upgrade form Windows 10. Is this something different from that?

Up until now, there was no Windows 11 license available.
You could use a Win 10/8/7 license, on a fresh Win 11 install, no problem.

But there was not a direct purchase of Win 11 available.

The install was free to download, as it is/was with Win 10.

 

[alceryes]

Please don't post a link to off-channel cheap license key sites. Those will be summarily deleted.

Hehehe. Head them off at the pass.

Windows 11 licenses have been available in business channels. Good that they're finally releasing in retail.

 

[Colif]

Must have finally sold out the stock pile of WIn 10 installer USB

 

[Dazzler2022]

Are DIYers really buying windows 10 or 11 when they don't have to..

 

[USAFRet]

Are DIYers really buying windows 10 or 11 when they don't have to..

If you're standing up a second/third/fourth system, it needs a license.

 

[Wolfshadw]

Are DIYers really buying windows 10 or 11 when they don't have to..

Yes, I purchased a Windows 10 license for my primary system. However, if/when I get around to creating a testbed VM for Win 11, I won't.

-Wolf sends

 

[Tom Sunday]

Quite an increase in price from what I paid for Windows 7.

Yes prices have increased all the way around in the tech industry! Now we are feeling it at the gas pump and the price for my daily lunchbox packing has increased by 40%. And for now I gave up drinking Mountain Dew altogether. I can appreciate the murmurings here about cheap 'grey market’ license key sites, but given the chance I will not hesitate for an instance to buy a Win 11 Pro key for my new build at a cool price of $12. I now wonder how many 6-packs of Mountain Dew I could buy and hoard with not paying retail to Microsoft directly.

 

[svan71]

The last time I gave $ to Bill Gates was for 98SE an upgrade needed to fix all the problems with 98. I don't pay for windows anymore. Perhaps if they removed all their data mining code I would consider it.

 

[Asakha]

WHAT ? We still have to pay a license to give away our informations and to have ads push up on W11 ?! If at least we were getting a W11 without all that crap when we were paying a license !

 

[USAFRet]

The last time I gave $ to Bill Gates was for 98SE an upgrade needed to fix all the problems with 98. I don't pay for windows anymore. Perhaps if they removed all their data mining code I would consider it.

Good for you.

As Linux/Apple/Android/ChromeOS apparently works for you, not bad!

 

[wr3zzz]

Retail license keys is basically just a date stamp so Microsoft can stop the free OS upgrades any time they want since Windows 10 keys sold previously work just fine for virgin Windows 11 installations same as Windows7/8 keys.

 

[thisisaname]

Win 7, 2009....13 years ago. Inflation.

This price is no different than WIN 10 was.

There was also no free license upgrade to Win 7 from a previous Win version.

In the UK £50 would be adjusted for inflation (according to the Bank of England) £64.43

 

[alceryes]

Retail license keys is basically just a date stamp so Microsoft can stop the free OS upgrades any time they want since Windows 10 keys sold previously work just fine for virgin Windows 11 installations same as Windows7/8 keys.

As long as the hardware is supported, you can STILL upgrade Windows 7, 8, and 10 keys to Windows 11. However, Windows 7 and 8 need to be upgraded to Windows 10 first. Microsoft wants everyone on the latest Windows so I don't think they'll be getting rid of the free upgrade path any time soon.

 

[alceryes]

There was also no free license upgrade to Win 7 from a previous Win version.

For a short time, relatively, there was a free upgrade offered by Microsoft that allowed you to upgrade Vista to 7.

 

[Pollopesca]

As long as the hardware is supported, you can STILL upgrade Windows 7, 8, and 10 keys to Windows 11. However, Windows 7 and 8 need to be upgraded to Windows 10 first.

This is incorrect. I have used dozens of Win 7 keys that have not been used for 10 to activate Win11 with no issue.

 

[alceryes]

This is incorrect. I have used dozens of Win 7 keys that have not been used for 10 to activate Win11 with no issue.

Hmmm, good to know. I thought that was turned off.

 

[Colif]

For a short time, relatively, there was a free upgrade offered by Microsoft that allowed you to upgrade Vista to 7.

if you had bought your PC in last 6 months prior to win 7 release, yes

According to Microsoft's marketing systems sold ~6 months before the release of Windows Vista were eligible for a Free Upgrade to Windows 7. While this Free Upgrade Path long expired the activation mechanism for this Free Upgrade Path is still in place, the presence of a System Locked Preinstallation Certificate (version 2.1).

Windows Vista OEM to Windows 7 OEM Free Upgrade to Windows 10 OEM Free Upgrade - Windows 11 Installation Guides

End of Life Windows Vista reached End of Life in April 2017 from this date Windows Vista is totally unsafe to use online. Internet Explorer is not supported, Chrome is not supported, Firefox is not supported and the OS is not supported. Download wise Windows Vista reached End of Support in...

dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com

So OEM PC might have that option but if your PC not made by a big OEM, chances are you didn't get that offer.

it wasn't until 10 that you could just upgrade and not have to clean install.