Windows 11

I might also add that as I stated I use my Windows PCs very little today. In fact, if I could get some of my apps to run in Linux I might not even use Windows at all. I do ALL my high-security online Banking on my iPad using a good VPN. I don't even use Windows for my social media.

 

Your comment is confusing me a bit. If you don't mind me asking what brand of PC are you using and what was the native OS in it? Starting with Windows 8 Microsoft MANDATED ALL OEMs running Windows 8 start using UEFI in place of BIOS. Also as far as I can tell this is when the OEMs started using SLIC to activate the OS. I have handled maybe 50 or so such PCs that had Windows 8 or 8.1 and every single one of them has UEFI and SLIC. The only PCs that don't have SLIC are custom-built PCs like mine. I have an activated OS because I have a digital license through my Windows Account. I have installed Windows 10 on every one of the PCs I just spoke about some of them came with Windows 8 native. Every single one of them allowed me to install Windows 10 and the activation was automatic. This is why I am asking what type of equipment you are using and what OS came with it out of the box. Anything built before Windows 8 OR Custom built will require either you buy a license to use 10 now or you will need a digital license. I am yet to see any exceptions.

This SLIC is why you no longer see that Windows License code on the COA located on the back of the case. They stopped shipping PCs with this label when Windows 8 was released. Now all you see is a generic Windows label.

 

I'm not a Microsoft support person. All I can report is my experiences with OEM PCs that came with Windows 8 and 8.1. I have never encountered a problem getting Windows 10 to install and activate during the install process. I have done this over 50 times now with almost all the OEMs. You don't have to do anything it's automatic. There are some errors that can cause activation problems. Some people like to use a hacked Windows 10 ISO where during the install process you get a menu of all the versions of Windows 10 to install! If you use such an ISO and try to install Windows 10 Pro onto a PC that did not come with Windows 8 Pro or vice versa you WILL NOT get an activation. This is why I always keep a recent download of the Official Windows 10 ISO in my PC toolbox. Using this ISO you should not get any activation errors as this entire process is automatic. You get activation errors you did something wrong. Again let me stress, I am NOT speaking about Windows 7, Vista or XP PCs. These PCs won't install Windows 10 through this automatic process.

 

Last I heard Windows 11 will be out and available on the 5th of Oct, in about 2 weeks!