Windows 11

[kev2021]

Hi all,

So in preparation for upgrading my PC, I plan to take the opportunity to move to Windows 11 as will need a re-install of OS etc.

Question is, can I install a fresh copy of Windows 11 and use a Windows 7 or 8 key to activate it? Reason being I bought Windows 7 and then I bought Windows 8, but I seem to recall there was a update to 8.1 and then a free upgrade to Windows 10.

However, ideally I’d prefer not to install Windows 7 or Windows 8, then upgrade to Windows 8.1, then upgrade to Windows 10 and then upgrade to Windows 11, I’d sooner do a clean install of Windows 11 and just enter in the key from my Win 7 or Win 8.  I bought the retail version of these so it doesn’t matter than I’m upgrading the PC, unlike OEM keys which are tied to just that PC only.

Thanks

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

A great question for @Grisu

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In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

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[Grisu]

Clean installation?
And there has been activated Windows 7 or 8 or 8.1 or 10 on it before?

Just put iso file on a stick (files and folders inside not the iso itself), boot from stick and let it install … no key needed!
You must use correct version, home or pro, to get it activated.

Are CPU, TPM2.0, UEFI with secure boot and GPT partion supported on your machine?
Then go on, otherwise you may need further help.

Previously you can try inplace upgrade, just to see everything is working, and later make clean install.

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[kev2021]

Hi

Thanks, It will be new hardware so new motherboard, CPU etc and want to do a clean install of Windows 11 and use a Windows 7/8 key to activate it if possible.  I have retail key for both win7 and windows 8 so can use either key if it will work.

Existing machine is approx 10 years old now so showing its age, only item being carried over to new machine will be a gfx card and a couple of drives as secondary drives, main OS will be on a M.2 drive :) oh and PSU will be carried over also :)

Thanks

Kev

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[Grisu]

Should work with Win7 key if it isn’t used to often in the past.

Otherwise you could try to use MS account for login and save registration, so you should be able to transfer activation on a newer system (I did it once in the past).
Just take your HDD/SSD and move it to the new system, start from it and then there should be a possibility to move activation to changed HW.
Bios settings must be same as on old PC (bios/UEFI, MBR/GPT, secure boot and so on) to be bootable.
After it is activated again revert BIOS changes and make a clean install on new SSD, system will be auto-activated in future on this mobo.
This wont work for different platforms (AMD <> Intel).

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[kev2021]

Hi Thanks, I have setup a domain at home with a windows 2022 DC so don’t use MS Account, I’ll try it and see how I get on but I suspect my existing SSD wont boot as it will be new MB, new CPU, new ram, M.2 drive (previous is a 2.5″ SSD, only items being moved from old PC to new is gfx card (if it will work) and PSU.  If gfx card wont work, I’ll need to buy one, took a bit of a gamble here.

I have a Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660, 2GB, had it a while now and been ok to day, no doubt showing its age now but will do for now to get new system up and running.  CPU has no gfx or cooling so hence using existing gfx card and bought a fan for the cpu separately, advantage being could get a slightly faster CPU this way.

Kev

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[Grisu]

Same platform (e.g. both MB are Intel) will install all missing drivers. At the beginning it will start with default drivers to come up.

Btw you asked for Win11 not Server 2022!

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[kev2021]

Thanks, sorry I meant I’m installing Windows 11 but it will be joined to a Windows 2022 domain, therefore not using a MS account :)

Sorry for confusion.

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

I knew what you mean’t

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[Grisu]

Then create one and change back to local login or domain after it is done.

Or much easier:
Take your new SSID and replace recent SSID on your old PC with it.
Install Win11 on it with MS-account, activiation should be done automatically.
Then put new SSID to your new PC and let it do, in MS-account tell them replaced hardware to move registration to the new system.

This wont take much time and if it works fine, otherwise you can still try your old Win7 key, retail keys are working from Win7 upto Win11.

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[kev2021]

Thanks, will try.

Kev

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[kev2021]

Hi All,

Finally upgraded my computer today…. It turns out the CPU cooler i bought, despite being the correct one, didn’t fit very well on my motherboard, it virtually was sitting on some capacitors and was a very tight fit between the 2 brackets needed to connect to the MB first so decided to pull that and ordered a different one, came today and fits much better, despite a bit of working out how to fit as the box says for 1151 socket and I have a 1200, so i thought amazon had put the wrong details on, went to manufacturers site, the first bit of specs doesn’t say 1200, but scrolling down it then says 1200 socket and the box it came in, even though says 1151, in the specs on the side 1200 is listed.  But the manual only shows for 1366, 1151, 1156, 775, no 1200 so basically had 3 options for where to put the screws so had to try each one to see what lined up, typically it was the last one I tried.

The came the next issue, the case I bought is not a bad case but there is hardly any room in it, with the PSU and the DVD drive I barely have enough room to fit the cables in, need to fit the cables first before putting them in.  Also then connected up everything to get a basic system working for now to test if Win 11 would activate etc, the it just no room to feed the cables round.

So I’ve ordered another case which will arrive mid week.

On the plus side, I’ve got the PC running now, I have left the panels off and I first loaded with existing SSD, that was surprising quick to load, no installing drivers etc… It also shows Windows as activated.. i installed the NIC, rebooted, still activated so shut down, pulled the SSD, powered back up using the on-board M.2, booted off USB stick with Win 11 installation, did a fresh install, it asked for a key so I put in my Win 7 key, it took a bit but then went through!  All activated when logged into Win 11!  Rather surprised as I read Win 11 install wouldn’t take a Win 7 key… so so far all is good.

I’m just in the process of re-installing all my apps etc as all I need to do is remove the components and fit into the new case.  Only item left to fit that I haven’t so far is my sound card but I’m using onboard sound for now.

I had a full tower case before but I don’t really need a case that big now due to having a NAS etc, previously I used to just have HDs in the PC and have data on them but now I’ve pretty much kept most data on the nas, I have 1 3.5″ HDD that i keep some data on on the PC but that’s about it.

I’m going to use my old OS SSD as a second SSD eventually, atm its connected up as a additional drive purely for pulling files off it etc.

So far Win 11 not too bad, some parts I prefer the old win 10 for i.e. My Computer window doesn’t have the File menu now and they have re-named/changed the settings again so had to re-find where the options where i needed to change etc but so far not too bad.

Thanks for all your help @Grisu and @UKSentinel

Kev

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[UK Sentinel]

kev2021 wrote:

Thanks for all your help @Grisu and @UKSentinel

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In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

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