Transfer Windows 10 license to new PC

Tiny Clanger said:
Afraid not - I did have a thought that if I updated the old PC to Windows 11 then I might be able to transfer it across - but old PC does not meet the min requirements so no dice. I do quite like Windows 11 (we use it at work) and don't really want to go back to installing 10 on the new PC - looks as if I'll have to stump up for a new key. ;)
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Nope as soon as you connect it to the net after transfer windows 11 will call back to Microsoft servers and deactivate.

Only way now is a new key. If you upgraded before they stopped the loophole activations you would have been fine.
 
GaryTheSnail said:
You could have. These requirements can be bypassed with rufus but it’s too late now.
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Can you send link, or quick description on how to do this please? Ive never used rufus, ive always used win7 usb download tool, even to install windows 10, but i would like to bypass any hardware requirements to install Win11 because support is being stopped for Win10 by 2025 iirc.
 
Lethagized said:
Can you send link, or quick description on how to do this please? Ive never used rufus, ive always used win7 usb download tool, even to install windows 10, but i would like to bypass any hardware requirements to install Win11 because support is being stopped for Win10 by 2025 iirc.
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www.makeuseof.com

How to Use Rufus to Bypass TPM and Secure Boot Requirements in Windows 11

There are a few ways to bypass Windows 11's requirements, but Rufus is one of the best options available.
www.makeuseof.com www.makeuseof.com
 
Does Windows Update stop pestering you now if you are on Windows 10 with a hardware compatible machine that can support Win 11, as a result of this loophole close? Its been a while since I checked but my Windows 10 laptop kept nagging me saying Win 11 would work on it and why don't I let it upgrade. I kept declining it as I use a throttle block app to keep max performance and I don't want risk that breaking with Win 11, but is a free Win 11 update no longer an option in this case?

Also, with my desktop pc, it sounds like I am in exactly the same boat as the OP, as that was a Win7 key upgraded to Win 10, and it has been in bits for that last year whilst I get round to assembling new hardware, and was hoping to straight up install Win 11 and log in. Sounds like I will run in to the exact same problem as the OP. :(
 
Bubo said:
Does Windows Update stop pestering you now if you are on Windows 10 with a hardware compatible machine that can support Win 11, as a result of this loophole close? Its been a while since I checked but my Windows 10 laptop kept nagging me saying Win 11 would work on it and why don't I let it upgrade. I kept declining it as I use a throttle block app to keep max performance and I don't want risk that breaking with Win 11, but is a free Win 11 update no longer an option in this case?
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Kill the TPM in the BIOS that'll stop it, you'll also get a message that this PC does not meet requirements for 11 lol but at least you won't see that unless you visit Update in the Settings menu
 
I've just upgraded to win 11 on my new laptop tonight.
I have an old retail win 7 key that I upgraded to win 10 years ago on my desktop.
I put win 10 on the laptop and used my old key. I then got the option to upgrade to win 11 so have done. It's worked but I did get a message come up just before I turned it off about activation :/
 
sprite1275 said:
I've just upgraded to win 11 on my new laptop tonight.
I have an old retail win 7 key that I upgraded to win 10 years ago on my desktop.
I put win 10 on the laptop and used my old key. I then got the option to upgrade to win 11 so have done. It's worked but I did get a message come up just before I turned it off about activation :/
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That’s because it doesn’t work any more the loophole is now closed and anyone wanting windows 11 not previously activated needs to buy a key.

This is what happens when you hold off upgrading.

Microsoft did say to people to upgrade and it’s not like they didn’t push.

If it was me I would stay on 10 and wait to see what 12 brings.
 
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Shame its been changed but Windows 11 has been around awhile now.

As I have mentioned before, When a new OS comes out and its a free upgrade I always upgrade to it, make sure its activated and then roll back until its in a decent state to use.

This then allows me to upgrade to Windows 11 when I was ready to do so or its it a better state than it was on release.
 
Some people are still going from 10 to 11
With no issue as long as they previously upgraded
To 10
The bit they closed is to stop from 7 or 8
being free to upgrade to 10
But you changed hardware (@sprite1275 )
Which is where the problem lies
Even a bios Update is causing some people issues
But hardware changes are way more likely
To cause issues
So some people who previously upgraded to 10
Who should be OK
Are being deactivated
Whole things a confusing mess
But basically now
You cannot use a 7 or 8 key to free upgrade to 10
On top of that some who upgraded when they were allowed
Are also having problems

To be fair to Microsoft
They allowed way way longer
Than the original timeline to upgrade for free
 
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Mcnumpty2323 said:
Some people are still going from 10 to 11
With no issue as long as they previously upgraded
To 10
The bit they closed is to stop from 7 or 8
being free to upgrade to 10
But you changed hardware (@sprite1275 )
Which is where the problem lies
Even a bios Update is causing some people issues
But hardware changes are way more likely
To cause issues
So some people who previously upgraded to 10
Who should be OK
Are being deactivated
Whole things a confusing mess
But basically now
You cannot use a 7 or 8 key to free upgrade to 10
On top of that some who upgraded when they were allowed
Are also having problems

To be fair to Microsoft
They allowed way way longer
Than the original timeline to upgrade for free
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Surely though the whole purpose of a retail key is you can use it over different hardware.

I don't see why my retail win 7 key can not be used on another piece of hardware when free upgrades have been offered.

No use letting me upgrade to win 11 when the key I was using does not work. Should not give me the option to do so.
 
sprite1275 said:
Surely though the whole purpose of a retail key is you can use it over different hardware.

I don't see why my retail win 7 key can not be used on another piece of hardware when free upgrades have been offered.

No use letting me upgrade to win 11 when the key I was using does not work. Should not give me the option to do so.
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Yes you should be able to
But while closing the free upgrade
Microsoft have somehow screwed up something
Instead of just stopping people
From being able to free upgrade 7 and 8
From now on
Some people are being affected who upgraded before
The closing date
Some aren't
Most who are it seems to be hardware changes
Or bios updates causing an issue
I am not saying its right and that's what should happen
Just what people are complaining has happened to them
 
I don't get why you'd waste all this time for less than fiver for another key off the same websites everyone uses to buy games from vs paying full price on steam etc?
It's literally no different morally? You could have done a clean Win11 install on said machine and had it sorted it in half an hour? You've spent more time in this thread than it would have taken to do this...
 
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keef247 said:
I don't get why you'd waste all this time for less than fiver for another key off the same websites everyone uses to buy games from vs paying full price on steam etc?
It's literally no different morally? You could have done a clean Win11 install on said machine and had it sorted it in half an hour? You've spent more time in this thread than it would have taken to do this...
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In that case you might as well pirate it but can’t promote that here.

A legit key or nothing. I’m still not sure if they keys on these key sites are even legit.

There’s been no proof either way as of yet but these cd key sites don’t get shut down yet they sell the product.
 
keef247 said:
I don't get why you'd waste all this time for less than fiver for another key off the same websites everyone uses to buy games from vs paying full price on steam etc?
It's literally no different morally? You could have done a clean Win11 install on said machine and had it sorted it in half an hour? You've spent more time in this thread than it would have taken to do this...
Click to expand...
I didn't want to do it that way. It's more I have a retail key which I paid a lot of money for years ago that should work. It's naff that I should be pushed towards a dodgy OEM key.
 
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