[SOLVED] Purchasing Windows 11 Question

[trickynick]

My current rig has Windows 10 Pro Retail.

I am wanting to upgrade to 11 Pro Retail, however, it'll be on a new PC as this one cannot handle it (TPM).

So, if I buy a Windows 10 Home, I should be able to install it on this one and then install the 10 Pro on the new PC?
Or should I download install media from MS, install it on the new PC first so it upgrades the correct license?
Will it stay retail?

Sorry for the newb type questions.

 

[Lafong]

If you intend to simply build a new PC and ditch the old one, there's no reason you can't move Retail Windows 10 Pro to the new PC. It would still be retail.

One machine; one license.

You could then upgrade the Windows 10 Pro retail on the new PC to Windows 11.

Without buying any new Windows.

That's my understanding of how it works right now.

I have Windows 10 retail myself, but don't currently want to move to 11.

 

[USAFRet]

My current rig has Windows 10 Pro Retail.

I am wanting to upgrade to 11 Pro Retail, however, it'll be on a new PC as this one cannot handle it (TPM).

So, if I buy a Windows 10 Home, I should be able to install it on this one and then install the 10 Pro on the new PC?
Or should I download install media from MS, install it on the new PC first so it upgrades the correct license?
Will it stay retail?

Sorry for the newb type questions.

What will you do with the old PC?

Wanting Win 11 is not enough reason for a whole new PC, assuming the old one still works to your satisfaction.

 

[dwd999]

In addition, Windows licenses are linked to specific motherboards. So you would have to be prepared to unlink it from your old motherboard and then reactivate it on your new motherboard. This may involve calling Microsoft and begging and groveling.

 

[USAFRet]

In addition, Windows licenses are linked to specific motherboards. So you would have to be prepared to unlink it from your old motherboard and then reactivate it on your new motherboard. This may involve calling Microsoft and begging and groveling.

It is just as much tied to your MS account as it is to specific hardware.
Withe Win 10, I've not had to call, beg, and grovel as we did in past versions.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

 

[trickynick]

My 10 Pro is a retail version, so there should be no issues moving it to the new mobo as long as it's no longer in use on my current rig.

The reason to get a new rig is not simply to update wo Windows 11. My rig is 6-7 years old, games aren't running nearly as well as they used to.

My "old" rig I haven't decided what I will be doing with it - either sell it or use it to stream. In either case, I will do a clean install since I will be downgrading from 10 Pro to 10 Home.

When I install on the new PC I would want to do a clean install of Windows 11, not install Windows 10 Pro, Activate it, upgrade to Windows 11, then do a fresh install.

 

[USAFRet]

My 10 Pro is a retail version, so there should be no issues moving it to the new mobo as long as it's no longer in use on my current rig.

The reason to get a new rig is not simply to update wo Windows 11. My rig is 6-7 years old, games aren't running nearly as well as they used to.

My "old" rig I haven't decided what I will be doing with it - either sell it or use it to stream. In either case, I will do a clean install since I will be downgrading from 10 Pro to 10 Home.

When I install on the new PC I would want to do a clean install of Windows 11, not install Windows 10 Pro, Activate it, upgrade to Windows 11, then do a fresh install.

If you purchase a valid WIN 10 license, you do not have to install 10 first.
You can install 11, and use that WIn 10 license to activate it.

 

[trickynick]

Can I use my current Windows 10 Pro license (currently in use on this machine) to activate the Windows 11 Pro on new machine? Or will I have to install 10 Pro, Activate it, Update to 11, then do clean install of 11?

Please pardon my use of fresh install and clean install....I tend to use them interchangeably.

 

[USAFRet]

Can I use my current Windows 10 Pro license (currently in use on this machine) to activate the Windows 11 Pro on new machine? Or will I have to install 10 Pro, Activate it, Update to 11, then do clean install of 11?

Please pardon my use of fresh install and clean install....I tend to use them interchangeably.

1 license, 1 system.

You can use that current license to activate on the new system, but that renders the old system with no license.

 

[trickynick]

Hence the purchase of a new Win 10 Home license.

Since that will work, think I will go with that. Although I may not buy a new license right away and leave it OS-less or at least un-activated.