Windows 10: Preparing ahead - clean Win11 install

I have a legit but old install of Win10 Enterprise. The PC it's on has HW too old to qualify for a Win11 update.After the new year I plan on doing some fundamental upgrades mobo, CPU, GPU, etc. to bring the PC fully up to date, and as part of that would like to do a clean Win11 install on a new M.2 SSD. Is this much of hassle - upgrading the OS while also upgrading the core HW? Does MS have a suggested "how to" to do this using your existing Product Key? I assume have Win10 Enterprise will qualify me for Win11 Pro, so I am planning ahead to make the transition as smooth as possible.Thanks!

:)

 

Clean Install Workaround for Vista

You may remember this news story on techPowerUp! a couple of days ago relating to the lack of clean installs when using the Upgrade Editions of Vista, which required an old OS to be installed. However, Paul Thurrott has managed to find a workaround for this issue, which ironically lets users do a clean install Vista without any previous version of Windows, albeit a little tedious. Here are the steps:

• Boot from the Windows Vista Upgrade DVD as normal
• When prompted for a product code, leave this blank
• Select the version of Vista you have purchased and let Vista install
• When you boot to your desktop for the first time, run the Vista setup from Windows
• This time enter your product key
• When asked whether you want to do an Upgrade of Custom install, select custom and choose a clean install
• Windows will now install for a second time and you should be able to activate it

Remember, these steps are only advised for use in order to achieve a clean install of Vista, it is only legal to use the upgrade editions if you have previously purchased the appropriate version of Windows.

Source: DailyTech

 

Activation of Win11 Clean install with Win10 product key doesn't work

Hi,

I'm located in The Netherlands and running (licensed) Win10 Home English.

I have 2nd Hard drive on which I want to do a clean install of Win11. Just to get used to Win11 and migrate slowly, app by app, to Win11.
My PC meets all the requirements for Win11 and I had no hardware upgrade in between.

I used the MediaCreationToolW11 tool to create an USB boot drive ....2 different ones.

1. One USB boot drive for Win11 Home English
   
2. One with recommended settings for my PC (then I get Dutch, which don't want, I always use English)
   

• When I use the first one to install Win11 on my 2nd hard drive, everything goes well but I can't activate Win11 with my Win10 Activation key. Not a valid key or something went wrong. Why?
  
• When I use the second one, it looks like the installer wants to upgrade my current Win10 version. I do have a system image but still, I don't want that, it costs you always a lot of work and time to roll back.
  

Microsoft says on

Redirecting

Windows 11 is a free upgrade for Windows 10 users. As long as your current Windows 10 installation is activated, you can upgrade for free or perform a clean install using your existing Windows 10 product key. Just make sure you are installing the Windows 11 edition that currently corresponds with your Windows 10 edition.

What am I doing wrong? And...

How can I meet this requirement below is true?

Just make sure you are installing the Windows 11 edition that currently corresponds with your Windows 10 edition.

Is that possible only through using the second option of my USB boot drive?

With all respect but getting help in chats with Microsoft didn't work. Tried 2 times, but I gave up.

Please help.

Lex

 

Windows 10 infinite restart black screen


The tutorials provided are just a list of troubleshooting steps. Use only the steps which apply to you.

Since none of the troubleshooting steps here worked, I'd suggest you do a Clean install.

John