Can you activate Windows 11 with a Windows XP key?

[@LucidTownn]

Windows: What was your childhood nickname? Andrew: 3

[@retroboot2837]

nice

[@Austinkeith2010]

Me: Ex ZD'&,Fred %$z gdxhzyd:ryajdm,nfh6##6b5$^

[@Ziv_]

oh cool now i can call him 3 wow

[@Hayatttiii]

“Hello 3!”

[@SecurityFormedGuardSystem]

:3

[@wiger_]

i think this is how activation works: 1. you input a key 2. it checks it against a local algorithm 3. if it passes that algorithm it will send it to the server 4. the server then checks if it's a valid key that would explain why the windows 98 key was rejected instantly (the algorithm changed) but the windows xp key took a couple of seconds again, i don't know how it really works, it's just a guess

[@ejazali4]

i believe that is exactly what happens, beat me to it!

[@yakov5776]

It probably took long because it ratelimited after an attempt of multiple negatives, most likely would've failed the same as all the others.

[@michaelepica3564]

@@yakov5776 hmmmmm

[@ejazali4]

@@yakov5776 That could be a possibility, but the 95 requests came back scarily instantly. As for the rate-limit, a product key's validity status isn't something that wouldn't change much - so Microsoft would probably be caching this at Akamai (probably), meaning that MSFT's servers only actually received two real lookup requests.

[@ejazali4]

but I know that my theory is incorrect as the Windows XP requests after the first one should have been instant too

[@Sophron.]

Actually you can activate modern Windows versions (8, 8.1, 10, 11) with Win 7 key, it can be also OEM key though, but not all keys works

[@velwark]

Not Quite Right. You can't Activate Windows 8(.1) with an Windows 7 Key.

[@outrowed]

Retail key (key you buy in a box for around $100) will always work, at least for me.

[@thefallenwarrior4349]

It has to be the same edition of windows for the key to work. You can't activate a a Windows Pro install with a Windows Home key. And because most people used Windows 7 Starter, they can't use those keys anymore, since Win10/11 don't have Starter editions.

[@JPX64Channel]

@@thefallenwarrior4349 well i just used an oem windows 7 ultimate key from my laptop to activate windows 10 in a pc, and i used linux in that laptop instead

[@velwark]

@@thefallenwarrior4349 Okay, I will try that later, but as far as i know, none of the Windows 7 Keys I had worked.

[@MSWinNT]

It's funny how MS can still let you activate 11 with a Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 key, this shows even more that windows never changes.

[@Palkia8-Bit]

They really that lazy

[@sebestein09]

@@Palkia8-Bit The codes are reused , not them being lazy. A code is always random numbers and letters and it may repeat.

[@Palkia8-Bit]

@@sebestein09 ??? And look at the rest of the OS, and you’re saying that’s not lazy

[@MSWinNT]

@@sebestein09 they have changed the activation system before for 8, and 8.1, but there was an upgrade thing for windows 10 for free back in 2015 and 2016 for a year, it allowed Vista, 7, 8, and 8.1 keys, and for some embedded versions of XP, (including x64-bit) then there is a windows 11 upgrade assistant which uses Windows 10 keys, so that would explain why it still uses old versions of windows keys. But that does not mean it is reused, ms is a multi billion dollar company, with professional teams. That company has a passion for money, duh, so the first thing they would change the product activation.

[@SkyyySi]

@@sebestein09 You actually think that this code is just coincidentally also valid in 11? No, it is not. With a 25 digit alphanumeric key, there is basically infinite. If they only take uppercase and numbers (36 possible characters), it's 808281277464764060643139600456536293376 ( (26+10)^25 ) possible keys. If they also use lowercase letters (62 possible letters), it's 645345427773512447880377451634304602899218432 ( (26*2+10)^25 ) possible keys. Windows 7 keys work on 11 because Microsoft wants it that way.

[@IceBotYT]

I don’t know. Can you? Edit: I’m sorry that this is the most liked comment

[@bigtitmaster]

watch the vid idk?

[@Українский]

?

[@Yuvraj-Sachdeva]

Uhh

[@txuk]

Every teacher be like

[@Pokycraftgamer9]

@@bigtitmaster i don't know how, can you?

[@j0hnf_uk]

There was a time when Microsoft only allowed users to downgrade to a maximum of 2 previous versions of Windows. Back when Vista first came out, unsurprisingly, most users wanted XP on their machines and this could be done, easily. The same applied to Windows 7, for those who still wanted XP. When Windows 8 came out, the oldest version that could be downgraded to was Vista, but most chose 7 instead. They relaxed that stipulation when 8.1 came out, it would seem, and have been allowing users to upgrade to newer versions ever since.

[@Galaxy.Windows]

Vista is the best Windows version of all time. its sad to see that program support for it is going away. not too sad for Windows 7

[@christopherleubner6633]

Yup XP and 7 were the two best ones ime. Vista and 8 were horrible..😮

[@Q0AL62]

windows 7 can be activated with an XP key so if you upgrade from XP to 7 then to 11 you have technically activated windows 11 with a windows XP key

[@MSWinNT]

Nope, it cannot be activates from any older versions of windows

[@koopatroopa6882]

Wait, how do you upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7?

[@shadowthefurryscientist]

@@koopatroopa6882 upgrade from XP to Vista, then Vista to 7 i think

[@uni6002_sp2]

@@koopatroopa6882 when upgrading,there will be no product key installed,so that XP Key gets rejected

[@alfonsojon1997]

You cannot upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7

[@angieandretti]

I've activated Win10 installs with Win7 keys plenty of times, so I'm not surprised that it works for 11 as well. After all, 10 was offered as a free upgrade from 7 and 11 is offered as a free upgrade from 10, so if you had a Win7 machine that you free-upgraded to 10, and now it somehow magically passed hardware validation for 11... well it makes sense to me that it works from a key perspective since the upgrade path exists - even though I doubt any PC was ever sold with Win7 that actually has new enough hardware to pass the upgrade validation for 11. There are still ways to do it though, of course.

[@freevbucks8019]

Just use Linux at this point

[@guidelamp4025]

It's very possible someone with a retail copy of Windows 7 built a PC back in the day and then gradually upgraded their hardware throughout the years while reactivating Windows and moving onto the next edition.

[@petertrex]

So here 's my story. I upgraded to vista from XP then to 7 and it kept the product key. then to 8, 8.1, and even WIndows10 I used the same key despite all the upgrade I have done is those times. and I'm actually using windows 11 with same key as XP because it was registered as key of WIndows7,8,8.1, and 10's key at some point, so it really worked. So I never paid for Windows after XP lol *added* I forgot to mention vista, and I used phone activation glitch thing which should have changed my key but it stayed the same somehow. so I don't think this is re-doable now because MS patched the glitch soon (it came back on early stage of Win10 when you could activate WIndows by just making a call completely free)

[@koopatroopa6882]

Wait, how do you upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7?

[@tallpaul9475]

How did you get the Windows 7 Upgrade for free? Did you download ISO file to bypass paying for it?

[@Austeja608]

@@koopatroopa6882 maybe he forgot vista

[@Rodrigo-ks6oc]

Wrong You can't upgrade from XP to 11. Even if you go XP - Vista - 7 - 8 - 8.1 - 10 The Windows 10 install will still be 32bit And Windows 11 is 64bit only

[@truesyner2009]

@@Rodrigo-ks6oc If you link your key to a Microsoft Account, you can still use that key in a different PC. Just sign in with a Microsoft Account on Win 8.1 (ig) or 10 then just log in with the same account on a new PC that supports Win 11. Simple bro.

[@josangoj78]

I found a Toshiba laptop on a trashcan, and it still got a Windows 7 OEM license sticker, with a perfectly readable product key. As it ran sluggish when I first managed to boot it, eventually I installed Windows 10 on it. Used the product key from that sticker on a fresh install, and although it took a bit or time to grab it, it finally activated without any hassles!!! Still running like a champ one year later!!!

[@gentlepersuader]

A lot of people don't understand the Windows licencing model. That $50 eBay version is probably a leaked volume licence copy that is sold as a bootleg version. Windows has retail licencing, OEM and volume including MAK (multiple activation key) and KMS (key management services) and others I can't recall right now. Most of these are not interchangeable. For instance, just the other day I loaded a Win 10 Pro for a client using one of my volume licence copies as it was quicker to install from thumb drive. The client had an OEM (genuine) Win 10 Pro licence card and DVD but her single use OEM key wouldn't activate my volume licence install. Installing the version that came on the DVD did however work of course. In the volume licence world there are Windows versions from Microsoft's volume licence web portal including Windows N, Windows KN (uses the KMS licence) and others. It really is a complex model that I still don't fully understand decades later. I work with many Government funded organisations and they typically all use a form a multiple activations from a single key. It is often these types of licences that end up on the black market as a single key can be used hundreds or even thousands of times. Often Microsoft will blacklist a leaked key and your cheap online copy you purchased won't subsequently activate. This is why the vendor will often just provide another key as they probably have many themselves. Interesting video nonetheless.

[@paradiselost9946]

ive always made it a habit to jot down the key, os, and version whenever i see it on a machine in a junkpile... very handy to have.

[@Boxuga]

Hey Enderman, I have used a windows 8 pro key on windows 11 and it works just fine. I believe it because when they were forcing people to update to windows 10 with annoying popups. they added code to windows 10 to look at 7/8 product key databases. They either did not care to change this later and kept in their code or just did it so people would keep updating. also, with Windows XP/98 keys windows 11 could maybe of parsed the 98 keys threw something maybe a character was not supposed to be in it. Windows XP system may have been very similar to windows 11. so, the characters were not banned so it parsed it over to a key database probably stored at Microsoft somewhere.

[@MGmirkin]

Yes, valid 7, 8, 8.1 keys should all work for 10+ installs, since Win10 pushed "free upgrades" for all OSes back to Win7 (including Win8/8.1). Basically, anything with a valid Win7/8/8.1 key would "validate"/"activate." Which is why you can still activate Windows 10 when installing via Media Creation Tool from a machine with Win7/8/8.1 via in in-place upgrade. After which point it links the machine hardware [and Microsoft account, if any] to the Win10 Digital License, and it will allow you to reinstall Win10 on that machine clean, and just say "I don't have a product key," and the activation server will still recognize the hardware and validate/activate it, since it was already activated/validated & associated with that hardware at least once previously.

[@Foxtrot200]

I just want to acknowledge that you said, "rate the video," and not "leave a like." As I understand, dislikes aren't entirely negative in terms of engagement and I appreciate that you recognize that. I found this video interesting, especially since you explored multiple levels of activation keys. Personally, this is useful because I _may_ be able to use my OG Win7 Home Premium key to activate a Win11 instance should I need to drastically upgrade my system. In any case, thanks for the video!

[@2022_temporary]

?

[@Klusio19]

@@2022_temporary ?

[@2022_temporary]

@@Klusio19 ?

[@RhuBin02]

@@2022_temporary ?

[@SuperTort0ise]

? Does anyone remember the YT rating system?

[@kildozer2012]

I've been in the recycling service for a few years now and have gathered a collection of W7 pro keys from recycled computers that I give away or use on personal machines, I still remember finding out that you could use them to activate W10. The people that I give them to are always skeptical on weather or not it will work but always thank me when they realize that it did work, saving them $200 or if you want to go really cheap you can get retail single use keys for as low as $6

[@TankerLover69]

Cool thing called data mining from cheap keys:

[@prysp]

Isn’t it interesting that people just decide to toss away their old PC hardware without even thinking once that the software keys are reusable. By the way, would you lend me one for free... 😘

[@kildozer2012]

@@prysp Sending you a DM on discord

[@Archmage1809]

A lot of you guys might know, W7 and W8 keys are the reason why HWID activation works. Technically they use a bug in Microsoft system, and if Microsoft fixes that, all of the W7 and W8 keys are gone. Because M$ already promised that W7 and W8 keys will work on W10 as free upgrade, they probably won't fix that bug, so, free windows activation for people who know about this.

[@gamecuber6]

Wait... does that mean i can activate 7 with a 11 key?!

[@kyoudaiken]

Yes. Even with Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 keys.

[@velja1312]

I don't think you can activate Windows 7 with Windows 11 key. However, you can try with one from e-bay, but the chances are that sellers are selling old keys (presumably from business laptops/rigs) that work with any system newer than the one that was installed on that specific rig.

[@anonymmos]

No this is the True 😅😊 Aber du kannst Windows 11 mit einen einem Windows 7 key aktivirn

[@a_nicegaming]

Does that mean when windows 12 activates i can activate windows 7 with a windows 12 product key ?

[@SOS_Studios]

@@kyoudaiken what about Vista?

[@kFY514]

Just another tip: if you set up a local account _without_ a password, and add a password later through Settings instead, it won't force you to set the recovery questions.

[@-_.-_.-_.-_.-_.-_.]

Truly apprecating you man, you are spending $$$$ for getting the original boxes for showing us good content. I really want these xp,win7 boxes too, so expensive..

[@321sas]

The fact that the key is censored with “Subscribe or I’ll bite you” 😂

[@sksksksksksksksksksksksksksksk]

no thats the key

[@321sas]

@@sksksksksksksksksksksksksksksk bruh wrong

[@xnike9004]

you're so wrong that's the key!

[@321sas]

nope it s a joke@@xnike9004

[@SimplyFrog12]

is that the bite of 87?!??!?!?

[@DezsikeDevil1]

I have my Windows 10 activated with my old Windows 7 key I got for free by my University on launch day (of Win 7). I used Win 7 on a 2008 PC until end of support, when that PC's motherboard broke. So I built a completely new, modern one in May 2020, installed Win 10, input my old Win 7 key and it still works perfectly. It didn't let me activate another copy of Win 7 on a different PC but with Win 10 it worked. So you most probably can still activate Win 7 with that key (assuming activation servers are working) but not Win 10/11.

[@fredskronk]

I activated a virtual win xp a couple of years ago. Had a real key so why not? Online activation was down but a phone activation worked great!

[@Sb129]

I already knew the Win7 key would work, it only makes sense since when Win10 first came out you were able to directly upgrade to 10 for free. Plus, I've done this already long ago with Win10 on a few systems and I would have suspected 11 worked if 10 did.

[@damienf15]

You and Michael MJD are my favorite tech channels ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

[@ejazali4]

In some instances, you can active windows while you're offline, try that with a Windows XP product key.

[@MSWinNT]

Actually he can't, check my reply in my comment, cause now I can't be bothered to type the full explanation, but I'll only say this, if he bought the Windows embedded posready 2009 key and applied it on windows 11 iot, it would most likely, despite the edition, as long as it's Windows 11 iot, cause that is the embedded version of windows 11.

[@djnikdee6224]

I truly believe it worked because that key was never used in any system and has been openly available . It might have worked on a windows 10 system as well as a first time ever used key. But this has been great to see .

[@sksksksksksksksksksksksksksksk]

no

[@cdfactory]

❤😊😊❤😊l

[@khaliil12mm]

windows: what's your childhood nickname? enderman: my childhood nickname is 3

[@windowsvista3193]

Try windows vista because it is basically windows 7

[@lukeb7954]

Enderman's videos are just getting better and better

[@ltxr9973]

definitely. Very talented guy and the presentation is getting better and better.

[@TriegaDN]

I am still using windows 10 with the windows 7 key I purchased over a decade ago! I am on my third PC since that time. I actually felt pressured to switch to windows 10 pretty early because I was worried I wouldn't be able to use my windows 7 key for a windows 10 install in the future eventually. I liked windows 7 and I would have stuck up to end of life if I knew they would just keep that free upgrade deal going indefinitely!

[@MaleShaho-sv3bh]

Finally I got windows from keyr (Make sure to include the dot (.) between "keyr" and "org") I like some of the transitions, but sometimes they're a bit too much and are seemingly random. Since we use these persistent elements that transition across pages to indicate some kind of relationship between the previous and the next states, some of your transitions confuse me because I can't immediately see what the relationship is. For example 2:23 of the selectable tiles (which weren't selected) transition into being two switches... does that mean anything? are they related in some way? I see this as random and a bad use of the design language. However, at 1:14 I like the transition from switches to the ticks on a paper, that makes sense to me. Epic presentation tho

[@hanro50]

I own a valid windows 8 Pro retail key. Yes you can activate windows 11 with it. I believe it still works because since Windows 10 can be activated with a 7, 8 and 8.1 key. Many less reputable market places started to sell 7, 8 and 8.1 keys as Windows 10 keys. I'd wager it would likely not work with Vista or any older versions of Windows.

[@andresbravo2003]

“Can you activate Windows 11 with a Windows XP Key?” Me: “Wait, that’s illegal.”

[@KrystPl]

Vsauce: or is it?

[@bsaednnmgointuvtjstairhvrqujnb]

That's great to know! I knew it would work since Microsoft wants its users to migrate to Windows 10 then how you mentioned they made the same with Windows 11!

[@optimusdodo9593]

I used a 15year old CD key I had laying around from a late 2000s HP to activate my windows 11 on my Steam Deck.

[@clouds661]

why would you put windows on a steam deck. keep it on SteamOS Linux

[@properlylino]

@@clouds661 because its his

[@clouds661]

@@properlylino ok but why. Most games i can think of run just fine and windows has so many problems on the deck. driver issues and stuff. valve is making that better but what's the point. What are you getting out of installing Windows, a spyware-ridden slow-ass peice of absolute garbage. even ME was better than 11

[@berthold64]

@@clouds661 windows has better battery management, simple as that

[@optimusdodo9593]

@@clouds661 because I break Linux just by looking at it.

[@portableappsbyjeder]

If you use your win7 key to activate win 10 or 11, yes, you can activate win7. With Win 7 key you can activate Win 8, 8.1, 10, 11, no matter it was OEM or Box version. Also you can activate new win version with Retail keys. One note - don't use same key on different win/PCs at one time. Win 7-11 has same activation service method.

[@Ragnar8504]

THe one thing that doesn't seem to work is 7 Upgrade keys. I once had a crappy laptop with a Vista key and a 7 Upgrade key stuck to the bottom and neither would work on Windows 10. OEM keys work for activating Win 10 but I haven't managed to download anything from Microsoft using one of them.

[@GTAIVisbest]

I'm really really happy you swapped from just having music, to doing a voice-over. Your english is great, so much better than other ESL youtubers. Thank you so much, I can finally listen to these hella interesting videos while I work out

[@JuandiSanchez-tp5rf]

Couldn't agree more. Especially for a Russian person his English is excellent.

[@fredskronk]

I started to use win 7 about a year before it was released. Sure. It was buggy during the beta periods but better than vista :) Then, when it got released I got an RTM key from work. Last time I used it was a few years ago and then for installing win 7 on an old laptop. Never struck me that I could use it for win 10. I got a few win 10 keys for a customers way back when it was new. One was never used so I kept it (with their permission). Still works fine. But maybe I should try the old win 7 RTM key next time :)

[@thebyzocker]

that is REALLY interesting as you can find tons of windows 7 keys on the internet just lying around... even upgrading from home to pro with an ultimate key i found in a 1 minute google search worked in my vm? wtf

[@tamoghnapal6619]

FYI No that key won't get used up, microsoft just grants you a second digital license against that key on your microsoft account. I activated a Windows 10 copy with a Windows 8.1 key for my PC in 2018 (Upgraded it to 10). Later in 2020 I installed Windows 8.1 again in a seperate parition, and yes the original key worked. Now I have two OSes, windows 8.1 an 10 on a same PC using the same product key, and haven't recieved any activation failed errors.

[@phamnguyenductin]

The activation keys are tied to your hardware (more specifically your motherboard) and not the Windows version (7/8/10/11). So, as long as you're running the same hardware, the key will work.

[@moonlover5544]

You can re-use a Windows product key (Or alteast I think so.), I have a photo of my laptop's Windows 10 product key, and I sometimes use it for my VM Windows 10 setups. May not work for earlier versions, depends.

[@That_Son_Ofa_Itch]

It’s nice to know that if you buy a windows version and don’t use it. Or can’t afford the newest version that you can basically use that key eventually. Imagine if someone bought windows 8 and then didn’t use it because of some reason. Now years later their key still works but on windows 11. That would be a hella good look to them. It honestly makes windows look more like they care about customers than intended lmao

[@ColdFlameEcosystem]

Once switched to linux, we will never see windows back again

[@pafik_]

Nah, I was forced to try Linux once and I just installed windows back as soon as I could

[@ErraticPT]

Only when Linux becomes remotely average user friendly instead of actively user hostile. You got more chance of half the world suddenly deciding to speak nothing but latin, i.e. probably never.

[@GoogleDoesEvil]

@@ErraticPT That will never happen. Even when Unix was a commercial product the people that used it were actively hostile to users.

[@Clyde6790pYoutube]

Oh God, Enderman's activation code is "Subscribe or I will bite you".

[@pugzgamez8891]

Why are you asking me-

[@charleshines2142]

I found that on Windows 10 you can personalize without activating if you are not connected to the internet and you do it early enough. Then once it checks to make you activate, your changes are locked in until you activate. If it is an embedded license you will just get to customize any time you want. It is a good way to lock in your own wallpaper and personalizations if you get people messing with your settings and don't like that. The only real reason not to activate is if you are only testing something. If you were like Linus and tested a lot of hardware it would get expensive fast to activate Windows for each one!! That is especially true when you consider that most of those are temporary installs for the purposes of testing and discussing some oddball device that no one has ever seen or been able to justify the cost of.

[@InfopeAlese]

The knife with he cut the box for Windows 7 is... Interesting

[@KrystPl]

yeah it looks wacky, for example it looks like the top of an S but reversed.

[@thunderbolt10031]

It really shouldn't be a surprise that 7 keys work. I upgraded from 7 Home Premium to 10 just last year and 10 kept 7's activation key in place with no fuss. It tossed me onto 10 Home and I went on with my day.

[@ZakTDuck]

Could the reason why the XP key failed is because of it being a 32 bit version whereas Windows 11 would be expecting a valid 64 bit version key? I would be interested in seeing a follow up if the same were to happen with XP x64 edition (and/or Server 2003) as well as maybe Vista/Server 2008 x64 editions.

[@willgallatin2802]

both 32 and 64 came on the disk for XP PRO. No joy there either.

[@MGmirkin]

The reason the XP key didn't work is because it was a key from an OS prior to Windows 7. Period. Vista [presumably] also would not have worked. When Win10 was released, Win7, 8, 8,1 were all allowed to be upgraded to Win10 for free. Meaning all the retail home/pro keys [and presumably OEM keys, or whatnot] made for those OSes were basically "grandfathered in" to the activation process on the activation server, and would "validate" and would then generate an associated Win10 Digital License, associated with that computer's hardware (and Microsoft Account, if one was active / logged in and associated with it). Vista, XP, Me, 98Se, 98, 95a/b were never part of the "free upgrade" program. So their license keys, presumably were "grandfathered in" on the activation server. Hence, they wouldn't validate. If he'd used a Vista disc, and it failed to validate, well, that'd pretty much be your proof. XP/Vista, no. 7/8/8.1, yes. When the "free upgrade" period ended, Microsoft **should have** turned off the ability to activate using old keys ... but they didn't. So, you've basically always been able to use the media creation tool to either do an in-place upgrade on a Win7/8/8.1 machine, or else a clean install and then enter the valid Win7/8/8.1 key post-clean-install, and validation would simply work. Had they wanted to they could have recoded the activation server to kick back with an error "free upgrade period has ended" when trying to validate a machine / key that hadn't been upgraded during the "free" period. But they apparently never did. So, even though you're technically "not supposed to be able to," Microsoft never really enforced the "end" of the "free upgrade" program on the activation server side. IMO, it was low-key intentional to ignore people who took advantage, 'cause it got them off older less secure machines and onto the new Windows OS, Windows Update treadmill, and into the Microsoft Store ecosystem, where they could potentially sell people software-as-a-service and make more money. So, it really makes sense to just ignore the putative "piracy" as a "loss leader" and get them into the updated ecosystem, buying new software, hardware that's compatible with it [making hardware vendors happy], etc. Could they go back and sue 1/10th of their Win10 install base for "piracy"? Yeah, probably. Would they ever recover from the bad press? Maybe, maybe not... IMO, the good [read: potential profits] of leaving it de facto "free" and not pursuing action against folks who picked up "free upgrades" in violation of the EULA / TOS, outweighs any negatives of missing a "sale" of the OS...

[@Niudento_mayrotastic_kompani]

0:41 It's Michael MJD

[@dieguix]

8:55 I thought exactly that you explained about the Windows 11 activation with a Windows 7 product key, there´s a video from NTDEV channel making an upgrade from windows 7 to 11 directly (modifing the ISO) , keeping everything (i thought, maybe this include the windows license), i made this experiment on a virtual machine with a activated copy of windows 7 to upgrade to 11 and yep, it works, i kept all and my activation of windows, and this applies for Windows 8/8.1, too. So yes, it´s not a sorprise, we can activate windows 10 or 11 using a windows 7 or 8 product key. Interesting video and experiment.👍🏼

[@Nieczytelny_official]

orginal title : trying to activate crappy windows 10 update with the orginal windows 10 key

[@greenlemon6838]

What bout downloading earlier builds of windows so you can upgrade from an earlier windows system and slowly make way up to windows 11 ?

[@A7mad3109]

I haven't watched your videos in a while, now that I'm back I realize you talk in your videos, AMAZING! For some reason that weird youtube thing unsubbed me but idgaf and I re subbed :D

[@MrAeral]

I really liked this video. This just shows us that windows is never changes, it's just have a one kernel and every 5 years they are changing the design 💀. But this is really groudbreaking! I love it. Keep going with these videos, they are amazing!

[@youravghuman5231]

That goes for every os. No one gonna write a code from scratch just for other version. Everything is just an updated version.

[@abo_9al7]

1:38 “I love being responsible” saved you like 20 minutes you’re welcome

[@TechNerd22]

What about Windows Vista? Would you be able to activate 11 with a Vista key?

[@ZipplyZane]

It makes sense to me for it to only work for Windows 7 and up, since Windows 10 was a free upgrade for those versions, and Windows 11 was a free update for Windows 10. But there was no free update to Windows 7 from XP or to XP from 98. As for why the Windows XP key took longer: Windows XP was the first version of Windows to actually use Windows Activation. (Windows 98 just had a product key, which would work on any copy.) So maybe it's still ultimately the same activation system. Back then it would have been good to instantly reject the old public Windows keys. So maybe they are included in a local blacklist. Or maybe they changed the checksum that would verify it wasn't a mistyped key. Hence the XP key made it past the initial check, and had to wait on the servers to check it.

[@nathanyellowstarthegoanimator]

Windows 98 keys will not work. Because it's Windows 9x Window 7 until Windows 10 Keys will work because they are Windows NT Edit : Windows XP Fails because it's not a part of the Windows Vsta ERA. Modern Windows is All based in Windows Vista and even if they jumped to NT 10.0, Windows 10 and 11 are just Vista with features

[@MSWinNT]

Dude, this is 100% fake, Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 Beta have the same major kernal, but not the same minor kernal, service pack, updates, and branch, stop spreading false info, Windows 10 use 6.3 kernal in some areas, but is overall 10.0.

[@nathanyellowstarthegoanimator]

@@MSWinNT I see that Windows 7's is 6.1, Windows 8 being 6.2, Windows 8.1 being 6.3 and Windows 10 being 10.0. Starting Windows 11 it still use 10.0. however some areas still bear 6.3 and most is 10.0

[@MSWinNT]

I can't be bothered to tell the reason why those keys work, just go to my comment, check my new reply to understand it, but I will tell you this, take my word for it, regular xp keys won't work, but embedded would work, check why on my reply in my comment.

[@fxaeec]

Years ago I bought a used ThinkPad X220 that came with Windows 7 Pro, and for some reason randomly tried to type it in the activation step for another computer (don't remember which version of Windows). Just worked. Since then, I have used the same key for every Windows install. The computer I'm typing this on has also been activated using the same key. I don't really do piracy, so I have joked about how the computer that cost much less than a Windows license has saved me thousands over the years.

[@ThePrinzKassad]

"You need to activate Windows before you can personalize *OUR* computer" 😂😂😂 What Micro$oft would also tell you ^^

[@HelloKittyFanMan]

Wow, I had no idea that you could activate one version of Windows with that of another, but cool to see that 7's can activate 11!

[@MGmirkin]

11's just Win10[.1] effectively, with a few facelift and under the hood updates... Windows 12 will basically be 10.2, or whatever. So, it makes sense that if Win10 would accept Win7/8/8.1 keys as upgrade [since Win10 was originally a "free" upgrade from those OSes], that Win11 would still validate much the same way and presumably accept the old license keys to get into the "Win10+" ecosystem. Granted Win11 has a few [now mostly circumventable] system hardware requirements that 10 didn't. But otherwise, the core is still much/mostly the same. So, it is what it is...

[@HelloKittyFanMan]

OK, @@MGmirkin, thanks. Now it seems pretty silly that they skipped 9, doesn't it?

[@uranium5694]

What about Vista? Can you use a Windows Vista key to activate Windows 10/11?

[@Supra_Muligi_Gopyright5]

IDK

[@Qwerty-uiop]

1:38, I love being responsible

[@LAST_V]

What if you activate a windows 98 then upgrade to xp then to 7-8-8.1-10 and 11?

[@thatwindowsxpfan1234]

Nope. They only added carring over from 7.

[@83n80y]

I rate this video a thumb! Glad MS allows us to use these older keys to "actiwate" Windows 10 and 11. Just remember that a Home key will only activate Windows 10 or 11 Home. To "actiwate" Pro you'll need a Pro or Ultimate key. Now I want to go around "actiwating" my impression of Chekov from Star Trek TOS. 😁 Thanks for the vid!

[@chrismcgraw3399]

you can use use xp key to activate windows 7 or vista then upgrade to windows 8 /10 then 11? i already know you can upgrade from win3.1 up to windows 7 but can it actually go up to windows 11? That i'm not sure but it would be nice to try and see .

[@thatwindowsxpfan1234]

unfortunaltey, windows 10 and onwards doesn't like the "Programs and users" folder that is made.

[@UEJacob]

I got a question. Will your real personal Microsoft Account get banned for using the virtual machine?

[@BoosterTMP]

No

[@tucker21222]

Definitely a great video But I don't think That upgrading every computer To even Windows 10 Even though Windows 10 is good It's a great idea I think You should always Think about your hardware And how powerful it is And you should always think about it What you want to do with your hardware Some operating systems work better than others I think it's all Dependent On What works for you And what works for your hardware

[@LumiLumiLumiLumiLumiLumiLumiL]

Also to get a windows 11 Account on the Pro version you can select "Setup for an Organisation" and then "I'd like to join a Domain" and then it will let u create a local account

[@nmindovskiy]

эндер, когда видос на русском языке?, я конечно все и так понимаю на английском , но хотелось бы русскоязычное видео или отдельный русскоязычный канал для тех, кто английский не понимает. ролики у тебя познавательные и интересные, иногда я даже новое узнаю

[@Jurtaani]

one bizarre way i could think to activate Windows 11 pro would be with the Windows 8 Media center pack. initially Windows 8 didn't come with Windows media center anymore, but they sold separate activation keys for people with Windows 8. this key on it's own would be enough to activate Windows 10 or 11 pro versions.

[@asdfghjklnqwerty]

A really intriguing question, must say.

[@ko83na]

great video. i used also a win7 oem key on my old thinkpad to update it to win10. worked without a problem. i wonder if you could also use a vista key ... because 7 was an update to vista... and vista an update to xp... perhaps it is possible to activate them after each other ^^

[@1992eylul]

Does the Windows 7 key have to be genuine?

[@UrekGamer123]

1:34 you steal my grandma’s cimputer

[@Killer-zz1lr]

Ah yes, i also had "3" as my childhood nickname

[@SovietUnion-tu6xx]

Me in estonia:Enderman made a video 3 mins ago Me seeing comments from people typed 16 mins ago: :( My brain has ran into a problem and needs to restart

[@jesusitox12]

i love the windows 98 box, reminds me of old school pc videogame boxes, still have some around somewhere

[@GamingWithRandT]

Enderman has 1000000000000000 IQ + he’s cool + we’re both smart

[@Thatguy101987]

Not surprised Windows 7 works. I had a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate, that I upgraded to 10 in 2015, and just updated to 11. Never had to activate it once the update was complete.

[@alexjobsofficial]

@1:16 : "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana Thanks for this master-easter egg-piece Dude !! @5:24 "Subscribe or I'll bite you". > Bite me and then I will subscribe. Will you dare?

[@Wii_Player555]

You can also in the setup process press Shift + F10 to bring up CMD and type in OOBE\BYPASS NRO and press enter

[@MGmirkin]

I would have liked to see if Windows Vista activated Win11. Though I suspect not. If you'll recall, Windows 10 upgrades were allowed for free from Win7, and Win 8, so presumably, Windows can parse those keys and tie them back to the OS they were originally issued for and the activation server continues to "validate," since those OSes were originally on the "green light" list when Win10 was originally released and pushed as an upgrade. It's the same reason you can still upgrade from a Win7 machine to Win10 using an in-place upgrade with the media creation tool, etc. I suspect that if you tried a Vista key, it would fail, since Vista was not allowed as an upgrade path to Win10 for free, even if many of the machines it was installed on could also run Win7 and may have later been loaded with it by cheap manufacturers using older hardware reissued with the newer OS. Anyway, that would have been an interesting test, which I suspect would have failed, despite Win7 basically being a "refresh"/"fix" of Vista (fixing many of the things people hated about Vista, such as intrusive widgets, etc.), just as 8.1 was a refresh of Win8, and Win10 was basically built on top of Win 8 with a bunch of feature updates, additions, fixed, etc. (fixing many of the things people hated about 8/8.1, e.g., the default "Metro" tablet-style interface, which everyone detested on regular desktops, which were *not* tablets).

[@ZipplyZane]

Oh, and in my experience, using the Windows 7 key to activate Windows 10 doesn't actually prevent you from using it on Windows 7. Or, at least, it doesn't if that copy of Windows 7 was already activated. I suspect this was so you could go back to Windows 7 if Windows 10 didn't work out. And, if course, I would expect Windows 11 to work the same way.

[@robertwittjr1198]

saw this video and started digging around in my software box and found - windows 7 home premium 32/64 retail from microsoft dated 02/28/2011, originaly installed on my hpxw 4300 workstation. activation key worked for me, thank you.

[@HelloKittyFanMan]

I thought you said that your point of hiding your key of XP was because you paid $300 for it, so it's kind of a big deal. Well, since you only paid $50 for those Windows 7s, then why the same treatment (esp. without a similar explanation)?

[@ShaggyCZ]

A good way to get product keys: Buying older pre-built computers and trying the keys on their stickers

[@someone-yeah-123]

why for me "subscribe or i'll bite you" product key doesnt work :(

[@windestruct]

3:38 Back in the day: Hi, 3!

[@yellowwinner1]

I thought this was pretty common knowledge considering as you said Windows 11 uses Windows 10's activation so that would include all Windows 7 and newer keys.

[@MPCMaster2089]

That keyboard sound is soothing.

[@veritassyfer1185]

OEM keys from manufactures for Windows 7 also activate on W10/W11 also as long as you use the key on system that has manufacture's motherboard.

[@millenniumedition]

The "Subscribe or I'll bite you edit is soooo clean

[@reboxtherapy]

There was a time when a lot of people didn't want windows 10.Windows 11 isn't desired by a lot of people either. There's a program called Never 10, which helped prevent people with Windows 7, from automatically updating to Windows 10(free of charge).

[@Krist4President]

Hey enderman, i used to watch your channel in 2019-2020 when you were still small and doing reviews. Im wondering if you remember me.

[@TwistySponge]

It's been so long since I watched this channel. Last video I saw you were still using text instead of a microphone xD

[@samtechtips12]

1:06 Why does it say Apple Inc. ? Am i the only one who noticed it ?

[@BlixeRemastered]

That one kid: *enters 'Subscribe or ill bite you'* "Mum! I think your pc is gone!"

[@tieradlerch.217]

The laptop monitor blitz when you throw the Windows 7 packaging lmao

[@TeddyBearGaming999]

You can still use win7 keys on win10 and 11 just fine. And Microsoft cares so little that you can use even a oem key on multiple computers with no repercussions

[@jjb0894]

I’m pretty sure because the XP key follows a newer formula, it at least checks the key, whereas with a Windows 98 key, it knows right off the bat that it’s invalid.