New OEM Windows 11 Key still salvageable?

RS_Surge

Weaksauce
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Jul 13, 2020
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Long story short, I tried to install a newly bought OEM Windows 11 on an older rig for family member but it didn't meet requirements.
I just typed it in when asked to do so during installation and got this message.
Is the key still salvageable for a new install on new MB, Processsor and RAM or has it been used from just from this incident?
 

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What other operating systems were on that computer in the past?

With recent Microsoft operating systems, once you activate the OS on a computer, a digital key that is tied to that motherboard will be created. If you re-install in the future, you can skip entering a traditional key and it will auto-activate based on the previously established digital key (as long as you install the same version in terms of Pro vs Home)

For all intents and purposes, Windows 10 and Windows 11 keys are interchangeable. So an easy way to tell if the OEM key has been tied to that hardware or not would be to do a fresh test install of Windows 10 on that hardware. Skip entering a key during setup, and make sure you install the same version (Pro vs Home). If it activates Windows 10 automatically after the install, that means that it either created a digital key during Windows 11 setup, or there was already a digital key created based on a past OS that had been installed on there.

Also, it's VERY easy to install Windows 11 on a computer that doesn't meet the official requirements. If you want Windows 11 on that system, then you should put Windows 11 on that system. You don't need new hardware.
 
What other operating systems were on that computer in the past?
Windows 11 was actually installed, but it was upgraded from windows 10 in that free upgrade last year through TPM 2.0 bypass.
This is my moms rig that I handed down to 6 years ago.

Today, I tried to install the OEM DVD version fresh install of W11 that I bought and got the message "Can't run Windows 11"
Rig specs - Intel I5 2500k, Asus P8Z68-VLX, 16GB DDR3 1600.

Since the old rig doesn't work on a newly installed OS, my last resort is buying new CPU/MB/Ram. I just hope "can't run windows 11" doesn't lead to key not working on a complete new build.
All I did was enter the key and got the message in the photo. My internet was connected the whole time during that process, so it could be tied to it.

I'm buying new hardware in CPU/MB/Ram for her this coming month and going to test it again.
I just hope the key is still usable on a completely new build. I'll post back here after doing it.
 
Since the old rig doesn't work on a newly installed OS, my last resort is buying new CPU/MB/Ram.

Last resort? Why don't you simply Install Windows 10 and then upgrade to 11 using the bypass same as before? 10 and 11 are so similar that upgrading is almost like installing a feature update. I have a rig that is almost exactly the same specs and it runs Windows 11 great. A 2500K is still very fast for most tasks especially if you aren't playing games.
 
Why don't you simply Install Windows 10 and then upgrade to 11 using the bypass same as before?
I never had windows 10. All started from Windows 7 DVD install then free upgrade to Windows 10 then free upgrade to 11.
 
Long story short, I tried to install a newly bought OEM Windows 11 on an older rig for family member but it didn't meet requirements.
I just typed it in when asked to do so during installation and got this message.
Is the key still salvageable for a new install on new MB, Processsor and RAM or has it been used from just from this incident?
The key should still be good since the install was cancelled.
 
You can download the Windows 10 Media Creation tool to easily create a Windows 10 bootable USB drive or a bootable DVD if you have a DVD-RW and a blank disc.

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209

I'm in the process of installing Windows 7 then upgrading to Windows 10 through Media Creation tool.
This is exactly how I did it with my 2 rigs.

I honestly thought that stuff was over and Microsoft didn't offer the free upgrade anymore and that's why I bought a copy.
Thanks alot GotNoRice. Guess I have a clean copy of Windows 11 that's probably never going to be used now because I can probably keep doing it this way.
 
I honestly thought that stuff was over and Microsoft didn't offer the free upgrade anymore and that's why I bought a copy.

Yeah it's pretty cool that the free upgrade to Windows 10 still works. What is interesting is that it's not picky... I heard a rumor once that even a Windows 7 install that used an activation crack can be upgraded to 10 using the free upgrade, after which a digital key will be created that will be retained even after a format (since it's tied to the motherboard), and that system can then be upgraded all the way to 11 using that digital key. Of course, that's not something I would ever do ;)
 
In all the time that 10 + has been around I've only ever seen one purchased copy of 10.

I really dont know why MS just doesnt give it away for free.
 
Long story short, I tried to install a newly bought OEM Windows 11 on an older rig for family member but it didn't meet requirements.
I just typed it in when asked to do so during installation and got this message.
Is the key still salvageable for a new install on new MB, Processsor and RAM or has it been used from just from this incident?
Yes, your totally fine. It never activated.
 
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