Upgrading hardware will I need to purchase Win11?

[bushmins]

I started another thread about upgrading my PC hardware and got all the answers I needed, but what about my OS?

I have Win10 installed, its been through various updates. It started as a retail copy of Win7 Home that I bought very soon after it was launched. If I remember correctly I've only had two MBs connected to this licence.
There seems to be a lot of info out there that all contradicts. Some people get the upgrade after replcing components, others dont and struggle to get it working.
I'm thinking about replacing the components (CPU/MB/RAM) and simply plugging in my unaltered Win10 SSD and seeing what happens. If I can get it to boot than I'l try going through the normal Win11 upgrade route. After which I'll probably donwnload the Win11 iso and do a fresh install.
I still have the original Win7 key code if that helps at all.

Thanks for any help.

 

[ED209]

It all depends on the license key you started with.

If its an OEM license its tied to the hardware its first activated on.

If its a retail license you can move it between systems.

Do you login to Windows with a Microsoft account or a local admin account?

 

[bushmins]

It all depends on the license key you started with.

If its an OEM license its tied to the hardware its first activated on.

If its a retail license you can move it between systems.

Do you login to Windows with a Microsoft account or a local admin account?

Hi. Thanks for replying.
The copy of Win7 I original bought was a retail full copy, not OEM. It has since been through at least, possibly no more than, two motherboard changes and upgraded to Win10.
Regarding the logging into Windows, I think you have no choice but to sign into it via a Microsoft account after which I always change it to local account.

Going on what you said I could probably force a Win11 update on my antiquated hardware, then use that same installation on the new hardware?
How would they know that I am the owner of the OS if I have new hardware? Would I need to use my Win7 key?

EDIT : Ah, I think I see. Its done via logging into my Microsoft account?

 

[ED209]

Hi. Thanks for replying.
The copy of Win7 I original bought was a retail full copy, not OEM. It has since been through at least, possibly no more than, two motherboard changes and upgraded to Win10.
Regarding the logging into Windows, I think you have no choice but to sign into it via a Microsoft account after which I always change it to local account.

Going on what you said I could probably force a Win11 update on my antiquated hardware, then use that same installation on the new hardware?

I've always used a local account to login to Windows.

On Windows 11 The following worked for me

When your at the stage of signing in with a Microsoft account do the below ste;s/

shift + F10 and in the command prompt you type: OOBE\BYPASSNRO

This will force a reboot and give you the option for a local account.

Some have also had it work where they disconnect the PC from the internet and put in a fake e mail address and password so it fails to sign in and then get the option for a local account.

If your hardware does not support Windows 11 you can burn the ISO to USB stick using Rufus and it will give you the option to remove the hardware requirements and the Microsoft account.

 

[bushmins]

Sorry If I'm being stupid here, does that help with using the account with new hardware? I am currently downloading Win11 on a USB via the Microsoft website.

 

[Tetras]

The licensing stuff has been changed a lot recently, after they disabled the use of Windows 7 keys (if you already upgraded to Windows 10 it isn't a problem, I'm just giving you context), so I don't think old threads/articles have the same validity.

Personally: I wouldn't upgrade to Windows 11 just prior to reinstalling on a new system, because if it reregisters the key, it may have some kind of timeout (even on a retail license) that prevents you from reusing it. I'd wait and see if it reactivates successfully and then do the upgrade.