upgrade to Win 11?

[Renegade334]

Note: MS recently removed the TPM 2.0 requirement (adoption numbers probably not as high as they'd have liked) for upgrading to W11, but they say that if you still go through with it, you are on your own and they will not take responsibility for any system instability resulting from the upgrade.

[scififan]

Originally Posted by Renegade334

Note: MS recently removed the TPM 2.0 requirement (adoption numbers probably not as high as they'd have liked) for upgrading to W11, but they say that if you still go through with it, you are on your own and they will not take responsibility for any system instability resulting from the upgrade.

I still don't see any benefit from TMP 2.0. Someone said adding password to BIOS/UEFI is as good as TMP 2.0. To install Linux distro, the TMP setting has to be disabled. The BitLocker feature only locks out the normal users. I heard the claims that the power users already figured out how to break the BitLocker encryption.

[Renegade334]

I helped buy a new laptop (HP 15S with, of course, Windows 11 on it) for my mother yesterday (since we're in the sales period) and I spent the day configuring it, setting up programs, transferring files...the usual whole nine yards of fresh ownership.

And I must say...I'll stay on Windows 10, thank you very much. I really dislike this inexorable oversimplification of OS UI (WTF did they do to the file context menu and why must I go to shell:appsfolder in Windows Explorer to be finally able to create app shortcut icons on my desktop???? I'm told I should be able to do that from the start menu with drag-and-drop but it doesn't work, FFS) and this decision to scatter options/functions across ten or so different areas (like languages/regional settings). In ten years' time, the Windows UX will be dumbed down to the level --and visual flair-- of Playmobil toys.
No, seriously, there are times where I wish Microsoft would backtrack to the Vista visual design. Whatever you have to say about the OS itself and its shortcomings, Windows Aero was a visual/graphical feast for the eyes, at least for me. At least it flexed its graphical muscle, while its successors seem to go down the "I wouldn't want to confuse you, sir" path.

Hell, I was initially quite skeptical of Windows 10's tile-based start menu (which did away with a lot of the classic start menu style and format), but within a couple of weeks, I had completely embraced the change by overloading the menu with tile shortcuts to every folder or app I frequently visited or used. I even came to appreciate the widget-like live tiles; what redeemed it in my eyes was its customizability - I could tweak and reorganize it as I pleased. But Windows 11's? For crying out loud...

Small pet peeve: I'm still not used to the windows start menu icon being in the middle of the taskbar. Every time I try to open it, I end up accidentally clicking on the weather widget. Thankfully, there's the Windows key on the keyboard.
P.S. Yes, I'm aware that the taskbar icon group and start button can be moved to the left - I've since switched, but I was --unsuccessfully-- trying to adapt to the new alignment and get on with the new design language as a whole.

[Renegade334]

Something that others might find useful: on Windows 10, press "Start" (Windows Key), go to "Settings", then "Update & Security" then go to the "Activation" tab. Make sure there is the following mention: "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your account". (this means you're logging into Windows using a Microsoft online account rather than a local account) This opens a new way of getting Windows 11 without spending a dollar. More about this further down in this post.

Now, open the command-line interface (keyboard shortcut: press "Windows key" and "A" simultaneously) and type "slmgr /dli", which will open a small window detailing your license type. If you see "RETAIL channel", you're all set; if you see "OEM_DM channel", the discussion ends here as the hardware-bound license cannot be transferred.

So! In my case, I originally had a Windows 7 Ultimate (genuine retail) installation, which I upgraded to Windows 10 Pro when that OS came out. During that time-limited free upgrade process, the W7 product key was replaced on W10 by a generic key (which you can find in regedit at the following location: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Win dows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform, then look up the BackupProductKeyDefault entry).

Caveat emptor: this generic key cannot be used to activate a new Windows 10/11 install! However, if you happen to own a retail Windows 10 product key (either store-bought or procured from an online marketplace), you can still use that to activate your new W11 install, since they share the same system. Windows 7 and 8.1 keys, on the other hand, cannot be used to activate Windows 11 as they are from an older cycle/generation.

However, since my W10 license is account-linked as I detailed at the beginning of this point, I can install W11 on a completely new rig, skip the "insert the product key" part and activate Windows just by logging into my Microsoft online account.

It is however advised to do the following on your old PC before sunsetting it:
- Go to cmd.exe and type the two commands:
slmgr /upk
slmgr /cpky
The first command deactivates the product key and the second scrubs it from the registry.

Should an issue arise, use the command line slui 4 to generate an activation ID, which you'll use to contact a Microsoft representative by phone and negotiate the activation of your new PC. Just precise that it's all new hardware and, no, your old PC won't be used anymore (your digital license is for one PC at all times).



Why am I making this post at all?
1. I'm looking to build a new PC (a tentative Ryzen 7 + X670E sleeper build, but it remains a fluid situation) this year. My current rig gave me a VERY nasty scare earlier this month with a possibly deteriorating RAM slot on the motherboard, and the DRAM_LED indicator now briefly lights up during the first second of the boot process. As painful as it is for me to think about it, I shouldn't expect my already venerable (admirably long-lived, I must say) hardware to last me another ten years; I have to upgrade at a time when hardware has become hideously and unreasonably expensive and it is in my best interest to save money wherever and whenever possible (I'm bargain-hunting on Amazon right now and Jesus Christ I feel the pain of that price tag all the way down to my gonads!). With Windows, I'm fortunately all set, but alas, no joy for Office: I will have to buy a new license (149 Euros for Home & Student perpetual retail license, not that 99-Euros-a-year Office 365 paid subscription cr**).
2. There are RUMORS that the offer to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free will end this year. Yeah, Microsoft is really anxious to boost those W11 adoption numbers and they've just announced end of support (i.e. no new features to be added, etc) for Office 365 apps on W10 around October this year (but pls pls pls move on to Windows 11 and you'll get that O365 support back!). That said, do keep in mind that MS did maintain the "upgrade from W7 to W10" option far longer than expected before finally removing it; miracles could still happen.
...And, yes, the login trick reference above will no longer be available should that free upgrade offer get the proverbial boot.

[larethian]

Office sub had a price hike of nearly 50% in my country sometime last year that I decided to cancel the sub. Didn't use much last year anyway and I could live with google docs and sheets for now.