Windows 10/11 OEM Question

[Arnie Rimsy BSc.SSc.]

I have a physical disc OEM version of Windows 10. I already have a gaming PC which I built in 2019.
I have decided to build a brand new PC.
My plans are to install windows 10 and then get the free windows 11 upgrade on my new PC when I build it in a few weeks when parts arrive, (can I take the windows 11 free upgrade without installing windows 10 or is the offer only open to people who "own" windows 10 on their machine?)
After this I will sell the old gaming PC with windows 10 pre-installed.

If I upgrade to windows 11 on my new PC, then install windows 10 on my old PC to sell it how will that go?
Will Windows 11 be taken from me on my new PC because I installed windows 10 on my old PC?
Am I better off buying a cheap windows 10 key for my old PC and just keeping the windows 10 OEM for myself?

This is either a really simple thing or a really complicated thing. I'm unsure due to lack of knowledge.

Thanks.

[redjokerblue]

If you build your new rig and using the W10 OEM for installing (and Upgrade it to 11 afterwards), then this Key is in use (with your W11). You can not use that Key for installimg W10 on your old rig. You would make 2 Licenses out of one. You see.
My advice would be: Use the OEM version for yourself and sell the old rig without OS. I would not trust any cheap Keys from the Net.
Hope that helped.

cu
rjb

P.S.: The "free" Upgrade to W11 is for Licenseholders only. Means you must have a valid W10 License.

[Agent]

Once you put your OEM key in the license will be linked to your Microsoft account, but tied to your motherboard unlike a RETAIL key. All you have to do then is put the Windows 11 media file on a USB drive and boot and do the usual setup. Make sure to delete all partitions obviously.

[Illusion of Progress]

If I'm understanding this right, you have a PC and have Windows 10 OEM, which i presume is already activated/tied to your current PC.

If so, OEM licenses are tied to the "PC" they are activated on. There's a long technicality on what constitutes a "PC" for this, but in general terms, it's going to be the motherboard.

So for one, you probably won't be able to activate it on the new PC to begin with. It's the new PC that will need a new license.

And if you had retail (which can be deactivated from a PC it is activated on and transferred to another one), you'd still need a separate license, as the same one can't be used on multiple PCs at the same time.

So you'll need a new license, yes, but for the new incoming PC not the older existing one. Your current license is tied to the PC you have now.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

You never need to install 7/8 to get 10 activated for free; or install 10 to activate 11 for free.

Simple make your own bootable USB media installer from the Microsoft Media Creation Tool + ISO (both on local disk drive, downloaded from MS). But for Win11 it will be a good idea to use the latest beta version of RUFUS should you wish to have an un-supported system spec, or simply wish to bypass the TPM + Secure Boot; as you can select this option in RUFUS when making your boot usb media so that these things are bypassed and Win11 won't throw a fuss or block you from installing it on whatever machine.

To use 7, 8, 8.1 key to activate Win10 for free; or to use a 10 key to activate Win11 for free... Once USB Media is made, boot from this media on the machine you wish to have it on; you can use that to put the OS on ANY PC, not just yours. However for the purpose of activation, when installing 10 or 11 OS, during install it asks for a key, click Skip or Do Not Have a Key. But after this step, you must choose the OS edition to install from a list of all of them available, so make sure you choose the correct one that your key (which you will enter later) is for. Such as HOME vs PRO. Once 10 or 11 is installed and reaches the Desktop and you have Internet connection, press WINKEY+I to go to the Settings. Then click Updates & Security > Activation. This is where you will enter the product key you will use to activate that OS on that system; such as your legit Win10 key so you can activate Win11 for free.

Avoid using any Microsoft account, select Local Account. Otherwise you will always be forced to use that Microsoft account on that Motherboard. I love to try out and re-sell hardware so I never use Microsoft Account based logins. Otherwise the OS key can't be re-used down the road should I want to sell that build or motherboard to another person.