Experienced converting to Win 11

[syldon13]

@BearsAreCool510

Hmm interesting thought. I had assumed one could simply log in with their MS account (which is associated with the Win10 key), even on a clean Win11 install, and it would transfer? Is this really not the case, are you sure?

This is how it works. If you have a full license attached to that account then you can transfer it to another machine by simply logging in. I think I am on my 4th machine on my current license.

You can change to a different license also, either by inputting new details within windows or supplying the license details at the installation point.

How to Use Slmgr to Change, Remove, or Extend Your Windows License

[TenPatrol]

As I mentioned earlier, it is recommended to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for free. Everything is explained in detail on the Microsoft website, which I’ve linked above. I will end the discussion about system licenses here as the forum users might get confused by the overload of information.

[syldon13]

@TenPatrol That link does not provide the same information to all users. All I see is that I have Windows 11 already.

I simply corrected your statement in that post that says that you cannot just log into your MS account to transfer a window license over. And with a full license this is exactly how you do it. You could do this from a full windows 10 license, as I did, to update to Windows 11 with a fresh installation.

@tclayton2k

I’ve always been told NEVER install Windows while there are more than one drive. You may end up with your OS on a D: or E: drive and end up having to start over. Install with one single drive installed, then add drives or partitions as needed.

I do not know where you would get this from. Windows adds extra partitions to the boot drive. Installing Windows into a partition that is not on the boot drive may make it more confusing to completing a fresh installation later on though. But not having Windows on your boot drive will have nothing more than a cosmetic effect on system performance.

Windows installs into 3 partitions:

1. EFI partition ( extended firmaware interface: this talks to the hardware and gives it basic intructions.
2. Basic data partition (usually your C drive)
3. Recovery partition

If you want a fresh installation then delete these three partitions with the windows installation process. If you do not, then you may see multiple versions of windows after the installation.

FAIR WARNING: Deleting the wrong partition can make you loose data, so do this with care. You can find these partitions if you open the disk manager by right clicking the start menu. Don’t delete partitions that you are unsure about.

[MSFSRonS]

@syldon13

Installing Windows into a partition that is not on the boot drive may make it more confusing to completing a fresh installation later on though. But not having Windows on your boot drive will have nothing more than a cosmetic effect on system performance.

The boot drive is the drive that has the Operating System installed on it.
It can be any partition on any drive.
Normally C: on drive 0 by default.

But not required.
Linux on C: on drive 0
Windows 10 on G: on drive 1
Windows 11 on K: on drive 1

If more than 1 boot drive, you need to use Dual Boot to choose which one to boot up on startup.

[hobanagerik]

@SmotheryVase665

I always temporarily remove all but one drive - either by physically removing them or disconnecting their power supply connection - before installing Windows.

A handy way to stop the installer from putting the system partition on to a separete disk as well. I’ve been down that road before on 2+ disk systems.