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bogs

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 6, 2021
2
0
Hello guys, I have a CD key for windows 10 not 11 and would like to install it on Parallel Desktop, the only option on internet to download is Windows 11 arm. Do you guys have some copy of Windows 10 arm I can get it from you. I would appreciate any help on that. Thank you.
 

lclev

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2013
551
393
Ohio
Same issue here. I migrated from my 2020 MBP (Intel) to my 2021 MBP (M1max). Parallels 17 migrated along with Windows 11 but of course would not work so I downloaded and installed Windows 11 ARM from the link for the insider program. Now it wants an activation code. Not paying for that! The former installs of Windows 10 and 11 (intel) were activated. I guess my biggest mistake was not getting the activation code from my previous Windows 11 (intel) version before wiping my 2020 MBP and returning it.

Any other ideas?
 

Mike Boreham

macrumors 68040
Aug 10, 2006
3,919
1,905
UK
Same issue here. I migrated from my 2020 MBP (Intel) to my 2021 MBP (M1max). Parallels 17 migrated along with Windows 11 but of course would not work so I downloaded and installed Windows 11 ARM from the link for the insider program. Now it wants an activation code. Not paying for that! The former installs of Windows 10 and 11 (intel) were activated. I guess my biggest mistake was not getting the activation code from my previous Windows 11 (intel) version before wiping my 2020 MBP and returning it.

Any other ideas?
Were your Windows X86 licenses linked to your MS account?

Mine were and I have activated Windows 10 and 11 ARM by signing in to my MS account.

As you probably know the whole licensing situation of Windows ARM seems to be in a sort of tolerated limbo, while Parallels, MS and Apple work out their positions. There is no way to buy an ARM license for 10 or 11. The Windows ARM EULA only allows Windows ARM on OEM machines, which is preventing some business users from putting Windows ARM on M1 Macs because it would fail an audit. I am told in this thread that contravening the EULA doesnt make it illegal per se, but MS could in theory sue. I am not losing any sleep over this because MS know very well what processor I am using and activated both 10 and 11 with my X86 licenses.

My Windows 11 ARM was a fresh new VM of the release version VM using an ISO from uupdump.net. (using this). Before that I used 10 and 11 from the Insider. As said above you can get Windows 10 from uupdump.net. As I understand it uupdump.net is not a dodgy alternative source, as I first thought, but a way of downloading ISOs from the MS servers.
 
Last edited:

lclev

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2013
551
393
Ohio
I ended up digging out my Windows 10 activation code from my previous install in Parallels before I updated to Windows 11 on my 2020 MBP. So when I migrated to my 2021 MBP and installed Windows 11 ARM version, it was not activated (I kept saying just look at the Windows 11 Intel version next to you! Didn't work...). But I had the original Windows 10 code and that worked.
 
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python0704

macrumors regular
Apr 8, 2015
197
65
Try install windows 11 ARM on parallel and see if your windows 10 code can activate it. I even activated with an old windows 7 code.
 
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Xenomorph

macrumors 65816
Aug 6, 2008
1,400
842
St. Louis
I don't have a working cd-key

Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 keys all work on Windows 11, as far as I know.

I just installed & activated Windows 11 on my M1, using an old "Windows 7 Pro (French)" key I got really cheap back in 2009.
 
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