Question Win 10 - Dual Boot with Win 11 - Activation

[EricJT]

I have run Windows 10 for many years and have an authorized activation code. I wanted to test drive Windows 11, so I cloned the Win10 boot drive, booted into the clone via the BIOS, and updated it to Win11 keeping my files and programs.

Windows dual boot does not work but I can boot into Win10 or 11 by designating the boot drive in my Asus BIOS. Both Win 10 and 11 say it is activated when booted....is that because when I upgraded the cloned Win10 drive to 11, it sees the old Win10 activation code as legitimate?

My end goal is when I have tested Win11 with all of my programs and am satisfied, I will reformat the old Win10 boot drive and use only the Win11 boot drive.

Thanks for any insight(s) into my question regarding the activation code.

 

[Lutfij]

I cloned the Win10 boot drive, booted into the clone via the BIOS, and updated it to Win11 keeping my files and programs.
You should reinstall Windows 11 after creating a bootable UBS installer using Windows Media Creation Tools. Would also help to make sure that you're on the latest BISO version for your motherboard/platform prior to reinstalling the OS to maximize compatibility.

 

[EricJT]

I cloned the Win10 boot drive, booted into the clone via the BIOS, and updated it to Win11 keeping my files and programs.
You should reinstall Windows 11 after creating a bootable UBS installer using Windows Media Creation Tools. Would also help to make sure that you're on the latest BISO version for your motherboard/platform prior to reinstalling the OS to maximize compatibility.

I am not sure I follow....is your suggestion that I create the USB installer, point it at the SSD Win11 is on and install keeping my programs and files in the process?

If so, I thought the upgrade from the Win10 clone to Win11, which also updated that Win11 with all of the current updates, got me to the same position.

I am curious though that the Win11 install says it is activated....it must have recognized the Win10 activation status and ported it to the Win11 install,which was my original question.