Question Some questions regarding purchase and install of Windows 11, currently ?

[MaxT2]

Hello, I plan to purchase new components and make a new PC. I plan to install Windows 11 Pro on it. As it's been some time that I haven't purchased a new Windows licence, I have some questions.

1. Is there a way to purchase Windows 10 Pro in English even if I am in a non-English speaking country? I just visited the purchase pages on Microsoft's site and they only let's me choose official languages in my country. I can choose to "stay on the US site", but I expect that, if I go further, that site will tell me that it can't sell this way and that I have to go to specific country web site. (I usually do all computer stuff in English. I know that you can have installation in any language and change things afterwards, but, first thing, I had software that would literally break at start if Windows 10 "region" parameters didn't match Windows 10 "language" parameters... Also I think I saw at least once some software deducing your language based on your keyboard... And lately, at work I had Windows 11 (Pro?) constantly mixing 2 languages and at home I have Office mixing languages too, just because I installed a foreign language "dictionary" for spelling and grammar, which now implies a whole "language pack", not just a dictionary.)
   1. Maybe purchasing using a VPN is a solution? (Except that, if I have to use my account, I guess they know what country it's associated too.)
   2. Maybe afterwards they actually let you download installation in any language? (But from what is visible to me so far, I can't tell.)
2. Is there any benefit if I already had an unused Windows 10 Pro license key (which would be the license of the PC that lived in the same came as the new PC, but considering the change will a completely different PC). If there something like a lower price for upgrade?
3. Is there a way to purchase and/or install a Windows 11 Pro licence without using Microsoft Account? (So, using a local account.) I heard that Microsoft has completely removed that feature. Though, maybe it's only on Home/Family edition?
4. Someone recommended me to use Rufus installer for this for point 3. I guess it could also solve point 1? Is it OK to use?

 

[Lutfij]

1| You should be able to select English during your installation process. It's the Single Language version(which doesn't come in Pro version) that you can't change the language.

I had software that would literally break at start if Windows 10 "region" parameters didn't match Windows 10 "language" parameters
and what software would that be?

2| You could upgrade to Windows 11 using the internal upgrade path with the same license key but that would mean you're working off one system alone.

3|

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_GuFH9KdHC0


4| Windows Media Creation Tools does that for you.

 

[MaxT2]

Thank you for your reply.

1) Well, thanks. I needed feedback since I can't guess what limitations come further in the process. But when you say "able to select English" does this mean that it will be consider as the native OS language? Or that the OS will still consider the purchase langue as it's native language and just set the "Language" parameter to English... which is not what I want, I expect I would keep getting a mix of OS messages and menus in mixed language, software installations picking wrong language etc...
So, I need more confirmation about this.

2) So I could install Windows 10 Pro on the new computer (I have to find it's key back, working on it) and upgrade from Windows 10? Would I get a new Windows 11 Pro key? Or would the Windows 10 Pro key become a Windows 11 Pro key?

A part of my question was also is "upgrade price" is cheaper than "first purchase price", as some software do.
(Because if it is not, I see no point going through an extra Windows 10 Pro install and override the key's licence's version... and end up with a single Win11 key while I could keep my Win10 key and have a new Win11 key...)

3) Thank you. Wouldn't this also work if I disconnect the Internet when installing? I have a vague memory of something like this.

4) I know about Windows Media Creation Tools, used it many times. But I was told Rufus has more options including one that would let you use local account (for someone who would know that workaround at answer #3 ) , and so I guess it could come with language options.

and what software would that be?

Some years ago: Vegas Pro combined with a given plug-in suite.
(I am trying to remember the name of the suite, at some point it was sold along with the Vegas bundle... The last name it had was Ignite Pro... but that was after it changed name... I think it's initial name was HitFilm plug-ins or something, and they re-used the name HitFilm for a new software... or something like that.)
I could never truly check this, but I would expect that one of the software was picking some regional settings based on the language instead of regional settings, which may have lead to something like using "." (English) instead of "," (from my regional settings) for decimals or the other way around or something...)

 

[MaxT2]

Now that I have been through a large part of the new computer's installation, I can answer some of my initial questions:
(The numbers refer to initial post.)

1. The language-linked purchase items I saw on Microsoft's site were actually the options to purchase-on-USB. When choosing the "download" option it is not linked to a language.
2. (I may have asked precise questions in distinct threads on this topic.) I was hoping to be able to upgrade one of my Win 10 Pro licence for free which itself was an upgrade from a retail Windows 7 Ultimate licence. The Windows 7 Ultimate key allowed me to install Windows 11 Pro, but then the activation status displayed an error code ( something like #nnnn there is not key). In the end I had to purchase a fresh Windows 11 Pro licence.
3. On Microsoft's web site, I was not able to purchase without logging in a Microsoft Account. I haven't explored other ways to get keys.

In the process I was quite disappointed by the facts that:
- Windows' installation process will now refuse to work without an Internet connexion
- During Windows 8 era and I was still using Windows 7 Ultimate Pro... I had gathered all my "re-installation information" and most software and I could get my system reinstalled and most software ready to use within 2 to 4 hours. Nowadays, with everything requiring some extra login, not only software but now even software features/plug-ins require extra authentications, some extra payment, some extra "this is not on the computer it uses to be" , some extra "talking with the Internet", I now estimate my "re-installation time" to at least 2 working days. It has become a nightmare... (maybe I also use more stuff, but not "that much")

Regarding other debates we had around my question. I was hoping to be able to install with a local account (but didn't not go after workaounds to force it). I was forced to login a Microsoft account during installation. Then I created a local account for everyday use...
It seems like I could now delete the computer's Microsoft account user using the local account user. What would happen if I do this, is it safe, anyone already tried?

 

[USAFRet]

2. (I may have asked precise questions in distinct threads on this topic.) I was hoping to be able to upgrade one of my Win 10 Pro licence for free which itself was an upgrade from a retail Windows 7 Ultimate licence. The Windows 7 Ultimate key allowed me to install Windows 11 Pro, but then the activation status displayed an error code ( something like #nnnn there is not key). In the end I had to purchase a fresh Windows 11 Pro licence.

There is no longer a possibility to use a Win 7 license to activate Win 10 or 11.

Regarding other debates we had around my question. I was hoping to be able to install with a local account (but didn't not go after workaounds to force it). I was forced to login a Microsoft account during installation. Then I created a local account for everyday use...
It seems like I could now delete the computer's Microsoft account user using the local account user. What would happen if I do this, is it safe, anyone already tried?

Just leave the MS account in there. Just don't use it. Log in with your local accounts.