I've been following the guidelines regarding upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11 for our enterprise setup, mostly with Dell machines. I thought all upgrades were free as long as the hardware is compatible. However, our head of infrastructure thinks we might face fines during a software audit because OEM licenses don't transfer with the Windows upgrades. I want to clarify this because I don't want to get in trouble. Dell confirmed that if a laptop has a Windows 11 Pro License upgrade, there should be no issues. They mentioned a method to check if the machine can upgrade, but it wasn't straightforward. I've also spoken to a competent sys admin who backs my understanding that the upgrade is free. So, can anyone confirm if we're on safe ground updating from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 11 Pro with OEM licenses?
3 Answers
You're definitely in the clear! All Dell PCs with OEM Windows 10 can upgrade to Windows 11 for free. I mean, a quick Google search could’ve sorted out any doubts. Just remember, the device needs to be running Windows 10 version 20H1 or newer and meet the hardware specs. It’s really straightforward.
Right! But keep in mind, while activation is important, the EULA mentions compliance is on the customer. So, make sure you're managing licenses correctly!
As long as your devices activate without any unusual workarounds, you should have nothing to worry about. Just keep your licensing documentation ready in case of an audit.
In my experience, doing in-place upgrades from Windows 10 to Windows 11 has gone smoothly. Just a heads-up though, older machines (pre-10th gen Intel) may have performance issues. For those, I added more RAM, which helped until we can upgrade them. Concerning the fines, I haven't heard of Microsoft actually fining companies over these audits, so I wouldn't worry too much. It's more about compliance flags than outright penalties.
True! As long as the activation is valid, you should be fine. Just ensure you're aligned with the licensing terms because they do matter!