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Yeah, just spelling it out for others and clarifying you can straight install 11 with the key and don't need to install 10 and upgrade as you've said (or at least alluded to) in the thread. No big deal.
I have not used a W7 key in W11 directly so I was hedging my bets. I do not like 11 so I downgraded back but that was an upgrade from 10.
"Genuine Microsoft OEM license key
One key per device"
OEM versions are tied to the first computer they're installed on and can't be transferred. Retail versions can be transferred to new hardware.
Yeah, this is horrible.
I learned this by buying the Windows 11 upgrade via the Microsoft store. On this PC, I ended up having a hardware issue that ended up having me change motherboards, power supplies, etc. to figure out what was wrong. In the end, it was a single bad cable on the power supply that was causing the issue. But because of the hardware changes, it triggered a flag. you're allowed only 1 major change. but after that, if you do another major change, you have to contact Microsoft and they can do one change. If anything else happens, you are stuck.
That is why buying the full retail is so much better than the cheaper upgrade. with the full retail, you can make as many major changes as you like.
keep in mind, things like NVMe drives or memory are not major changes. or even GPU. it's basically the motherboard.
This is wild. Looking through that woot thread, people getting windows 7 pro keys, probably from scrapped computers and or unused Certificate of authenticity seals from Windows 7 days.
Windows 7 pro keys will activate windows 10/11 pro provided it was never used to upgrade from home to pro before. If it was used and converted to a digital license, they you are SOL.
With the exception of Product Key Cards (PKC's) distributed with COA's, Microsoft does not distribute products keys as standalone products. If you see a listing on an auction site, online classified ad, or other online page advertising product keys for sale, it's a good indication that the keys are likely stolen or counterfeit.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/w...windows-11
t's free. But only Windows 10 PCs that are running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware specifications will be able to upgrade. You can check to see if you have the latest updates for Windows 10 in Settings/Windows Update. Note that in areas where the internet is metered, ISP fees may apply.
Last edited by changkoh April 6, 2023 at 01:18 PM.
How you got retail key? even seller is saying genuine OEM key.
Maybe they were scrambling around to get everyone keys. When woot put up the 1st sale it didn't mention oem & the pricing made it seem like it was a retail key. They corrected it the next day. But when they started sending out keys there were several people saying that they got retail keys. I checked mine through slmgr and it indicated that it was retail.
This having so much thumbs up makes me second guess how many times I've been duped by this website lol. This is an AWFUL price as far as grey market Windows licenses go.
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"Genuine Microsoft OEM license key
One key per device"
OEM versions are tied to the first computer they're installed on and can't be transferred. Retail versions can be transferred to new hardware.
Some are selling retail Win 11 (pro?) package with the USB installer for $49.99 and they have pics of the UPC codes. The pics they posted looks exactly the same as the copy that Bestbuy sells.
Anyone know if these keys expire if they aren't used for a long time? I can't upgrade to 11 currently, by the time I build a new PC, it would be a cheaper way of upgrading to Win 12 next year assuming the rumors are true.
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One key per device"
OEM versions are tied to the first computer they're installed on and can't be transferred. Retail versions can be transferred to new hardware.
I learned this by buying the Windows 11 upgrade via the Microsoft store. On this PC, I ended up having a hardware issue that ended up having me change motherboards, power supplies, etc. to figure out what was wrong. In the end, it was a single bad cable on the power supply that was causing the issue. But because of the hardware changes, it triggered a flag. you're allowed only 1 major change. but after that, if you do another major change, you have to contact Microsoft and they can do one change. If anything else happens, you are stuck.
That is why buying the full retail is so much better than the cheaper upgrade. with the full retail, you can make as many major changes as you like.
keep in mind, things like NVMe drives or memory are not major changes. or even GPU. it's basically the motherboard.
Windows 7 pro keys will activate windows 10/11 pro provided it was never used to upgrade from home to pro before. If it was used and converted to a digital license, they you are SOL.
https://www.microsoft.c
https://learn.microsoft
and Windows 10 to 11 is free (home or pro)
https://www.microsoft.c
t's free. But only Windows 10 PCs that are running the most current version of Windows 10 and meet the minimum hardware specifications will be able to upgrade. You can check to see if you have the latest updates for Windows 10 in Settings/Windows Update. Note that in areas where the internet is metered, ISP fees may apply.
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Click on that to see reviews.
Pick Sort by : Most Recent
Then page down from there and you will see quite a few reviews, the key doesn't work.
Remember this is from 3rd party seller and not sold by Amazon.
See the page below. It has some if not all of the same reviews from the Woot page.
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-...r=8-4&th=1
One key per device"
OEM versions are tied to the first computer they're installed on and can't be transferred. Retail versions can be transferred to new hardware.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Join The Conversation
Share your experience with the Slickdeals community
Share information with the community. Please follow our Community Guidelines and be kind!