Comment on You can no longer activate new Windows 11 builds with Windows 7 or 8 keys; maybe last chance to activate using Windows 7 or 8 keys, for 22H2.

Drbreen@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

• PotjiePig@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

  If I’m not mistaken your key is linked to your motherboard as well as your Microsoft account. So I think you should be fine

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  • Drbreen@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

    OEM keys are linked to motherboards I believe. Mine is a retail key and I’ve used it across many different builds over the years.

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    • pjhenry1216@kbin.social ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

      Keys are usually stored in the TPM chip and/or tied to Microsoft accounts if you use one. If you don't have an account, there's actually a limit to how often a key can activate new hardware. If there's no TPM, there's simply a limit within a certain timeframe that it can be used to activate on the same hardware.

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      • Drbreen@sh.itjust.works ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

        Right, I’m pretty sure this key is tied to my MS account.

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    • tleb@lemmy.ca ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

      Retail keys can also be linked to the hardware or Microsoft account

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  • Capitao_Duarte@lemmy.eco.br ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

    That on laptop or desktop? I had a laptop and always did like you said. For the first time I have a desktop and don’t know how things go now

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    • PotjiePig@lemmy.world ⁨1⁩ ⁨year⁩ ago

      Super late reply to your question, but when you add Windows and punch in the key it links to the motherboard of the PC (laptop or desktop, doesn’t matter). Once you sign in to your Microsoft account, the key and mobo serial gets stored there. If you bought a new PC and with it a new motherboard you can find your key in your account or use the one on the back of your old laptop and delink it from your old device so that you can reuse it on your new one. It moves with your account.

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