You can no longer activate new Windows 11 builds with Windows 7 or 8 keys

meiko60@lemmy.sdf.org to Technology@lemmy.ml – 240 points – You can no longer activate new Windows 11 builds with Windows 7 or 8 keys
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Who wants to use Windows 11 anyway?

it really improved wsl integration

also it's kinda mandatory if you have a recent cpu, to utilize the p-core/e-core architecture.

Can Linux not handle the big.little architecture as well?

It can, and it does. It even has a better wsl integration than windows!

Oh, I meant as opposed to previous windows versions.

I figured tbh. I was being snarky and reminding that Linux is the real alternative to Win 11, not Win 10

Linux: look what they have to do to achieve a tenth of our power.

I still can't use WSL 2.0 because of the abysmal filesystem performance compared to 1.0. As far as I can tell this is a fundamental flaw with the design, not a bug that can/will be fixed.

I ain't switching until they implement vertical toolbars. I don't want to use a fucking 3rd party tool, it's SO EASY in 10, idk why the fuck they just don't want implement it.

"Not many people used it" so fucking what, I bet not many people used the default apps in 10 and now we have expanded functionality with the "suggested apps". Bastards.

I'm just getting ahead of the curve. In 10 years everyone will be making videos about how windows 11 wasn't really that bad like how they did with Vista a few years ago and are about 8 right now. I just want to be able to relate to the videos.

The only gripe I have with windows 11 is the lack of toolbar customization that was in windows 10. Other than that I don't have any problems... but windows 8 on the other hand, I don't get it

For what it's worth Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit was more stable for me than XP.

Oh no, guess the people using Windows at home will have to just settle for using the easily found Microsoft Activation Scripts!

This broke the "MAS" scripts, at least as far as HWID activation. From their website:

Note: Microsoft servers are currently rejecting HWID activation requests when activating through MAS, we’re checking what’s going on now. Use the KMS38 activation option for now.

Oh no, that messes up my future plans to have an extra SSD on my computer for dual booting so I can more easily do VR

Oh well, I guess I don't ever have to look at windows again, that works too

I couldn't activate my W11 with a genuine W11 key taken from a previous W11 install.

I've run into this twice, both times I've had to deal with Microsoft Support for around 2-3 hours to resolve, shitty for a paying customer.

I have around 30 windows 7 pro COAs (used to work in a pc repair shop, pulled the COAs on every dead pc that came through). Most of them are from dells, but I haven't had an issue activating on custom pcs. If anyone wants one, let me know

I'd prob take one, but I'm not building a PC for another year or so, so if it won't work by then with whatever this coming enforcement is, someone else should take it.

If you have a spare still, I’d take one. Got a laptop from the e-waste pile at work and was going to clean it up for a family member.

DM’d you, what kind of laptop out of curiosity?

Latitude 7280. They pull the ram and m2 from it. 16gb ram and a new drive are cheap for that thing. New batteries are around $80. They are great daily drivers.

Could you please send me a key as well? My co-worker just asked where to get a cheap key, I'm sure that a free one will make her happy. :)

Now you need to get a cracked copy instead

There are so many free flavors of Windows. But you would be 100% better off on Linux.

Unfortunately if you want to play games with 0 hassle, Windows is still the only real option. Proton is awesome, but there are still games I want to play that either don't work (or don't work well), or require workarounds to get working

Can you still activate Windows 10 with a Windows 7 key? I recently discovered I have to update to 10, since 11 isn’t supported on my device.

I literally did this on a new pc two weekends ago. Downloaded win11 iso, installed, typed in the key off my win 7 cd rom retail packaging that’s god knows how old, done.

I’ve long since moved to linux and just dual boot win11 for games that don’t run well in linux. I won’t buy a key at this point just for that.

I'm really considering this at this point, I've never really had any issues with windows but as a techie it feels more and more like my duty to be "that guy."

I've already been on privately hosted email for years and started self hosting some stuff on a pi.

That’s actually what I’m going with, well hopefully that means everything should go smoothly. I was just a tad nervous lol.

I wonder how many there are, since it won't run on older hardware anyway.

The utility was more in being able to buy a dirt cheap Windows 7 Pro key or copy one from some old computer or disc label to activate a new computer on 10 or 11, and have it be legal.

If you signed in with a Microsoft account, the key would also be synced to it and be able to activate a computer just by you signing in, which could be handy.

I used to pull the product key stickers off parts we bought at my old job. Laptop bottom cover, with free windows 7 key. Every computer in my house is running Windows 11 pro, activated with a Windows 7 key, that was otherwise just going to get thrown away.

1 more...

Upgrade to win 10
Upgrade to win 11
????
Profit

I bought windows pro at some point, but could not for the life of me activate my windows after an install. Didn't get a serial code, and the system wouldn't pick up my account. Good riddance.