Questions about Windows licence, BitLocker & Installation

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00 00 00 00

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Hi Everyone,

I've a few questions about the Win licence, BitLocker, Installation etc.
Sorry for the dumb questions, it's been a long time since I bought new parts and reinstalled Windows.

1. My Win11 licence key is retail so I can use it with my new parts (MoBo, CPU & GPU).
But is it best to deactivate it, before I use it before clean install Windows again (on the same drive), or don't bother?

2. Currently my C and D drives are encrypted with BitLocker. Would you decrypt both or either when installing Windows again?
For the C drive, I plan to format it during the Windows installation, but don't know if it's best practice to decrypt first.
For the D drive, which is storage. I'm not sure if the new install of Windows would recognise the drive if I didn't decrypt it. It should do, but I thought I'd ask.

3. Do I still need to disconnect all spares drives when installing Windows? Does it still put boot data on those spare drives, so that if they were removed, Windows wouldn't boot?

Thank you very much :-)
 

My Computer

System One

#2 and #3 kinda go together, Yes, decrypt both drives as any action on the boot/system drive can lose the ability to access other drives and Yes, disconnect everything not needed except the boot/system drive. Leaving a internal drive connected has the ability to create a RAID system and removal of that second drive later can break the boot process, had it happen to me a few years ago, fortunately it was not my main/production computer.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Berton said:
#2 and #3 kinda go together, Yes, decrypt both drives as any action on the boot/system drive can lose the ability to access other drives and Yes, disconnect everything not needed except the boot/system drive. Leaving a internal drive connected has the ability to create a RAID system and removal of that second drive later can break the boot process, had it happen to me a few years ago, fortunately it was not my main/production computer.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I appreciate the advice :-)
 

My Computer

System One

You're welcome. Main thing is to pay attention to the prompts on the install process.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
00 00 00 00 said:
1. My Win11 licence key is retail so I can use it with my new parts (MoBo, CPU & GPU).
But is it best to deactivate it, before I use it before clean install Windows again (on the same drive), or don't bother?
Click to expand...
Don't bother. Actually you can't revoke a PC's Windows 10/11 digital licence on the MS activation servers even if you wanted to.

To comply with the retail EULA it's sufficient to stop using Windows on the old machine - which you will be doing any way, just by rebuilding it as a new one.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October 2021 it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update, and 24H2 on 3rd October 2024 through Windows Update by setting the Target Release Version for 24H2.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package. In-place upgrade to 24H2 using hybrid 23H2/24H2 install media. Also running Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro.

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 8GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Dev, Beta, and RP 24H2 as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds (and a few others) as a native boot .vhdx.

    My SYSTEM SIX is a Dell Latitude 5550, Core Ultra 7 165H, 64GB RAM, 1TB NVMe SSD, supported device, Windows 11 Pro 24H2, Hyper-V host machine.
Bree said:
Don't bother. Actually you can't revoke a PC's Windows 10/11 digital licence on the MS activation servers even if you wanted to.

To comply with the retail EULA it's sufficient to stop using Windows on the old machine - which you will be doing any way, just by rebuilding it as a new one.
Click to expand...
Thank you for advice :-) I didn't realise that.
 

My Computer

System One

00 00 00 00 said:
I'll disconnect my LAN cable too. Then install O&OShutup as well.
Click to expand...
I ran into a new kink about that over the weekend with a clean reinstall of Win10 on a 3-year-old HP Desktop computer given me that had big problems when the client tried an Upgrade to Win11, even disconnecting that cable didn't accomplish anything because the computer also had a Wireless adapter on the motherboard. Seems more OEMs are including that on Desktops, my Vostro Desktop from April has it, my ASUS from 2016 had it as a PCIe X4 add-in card which I had removed to give room for a card with USB 3 ports I needed.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Berton said:
I ran into a new kink about that over the weekend with a clean reinstall of Win10 on a 3-year-old HP Desktop computer given me that had big problems when the client tried an Upgrade to Win11, even disconnecting that cable didn't accomplish anything because the computer also had a Wireless adapter on the motherboard. Seems more OEMs are including that on Desktops, my Vostro Desktop from April has it, my ASUS from 2016 had it as a PCIe X4 add-in card which I had removed to give room for a card with USB 3 ports I needed.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help.
If I disconnected the LAN cable, the WiFi card on the MoBo wouldn't be configured to my WiFi network, so Windows wouldn't have internet access during the installation.
 

My Computer

System One

00 00 00 00 said:
Thanks for the help.
If I disconnected the LAN cable, the WiFi card on the MoBo wouldn't be configured to my WiFi network, so Windows wouldn't have internet access during the installation.
Click to expand...
That should be true but don't rule out the possibility of any open Wi-Fi in the area.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Berton said:
I ran into a new kink about that over the weekend with a clean reinstall of Win10 on a 3-year-old HP Desktop computer given me that had big problems when the client tried an Upgrade to Win11, even disconnecting that cable didn't accomplish anything because the computer also had a Wireless adapter on the motherboard. Seems more OEMs are including that on Desktops, my Vostro Desktop from April has it, my ASUS from 2016 had it as a PCIe X4 add-in card which I had removed to give room for a card with USB 3 ports I needed.
Click to expand...
The HP doesn't have a BIOS provision to disable the onboard WiFi?

Haven't bought an appliance desktop in years. My Asus motherboard's BIOS has a setting to disable WiFi.

I wouldn't expect it to automatically connect to the wireless router during a new Windows install, regardless. I assume that WiFi passwords are not retained in CMOS. Am I mistaken about that?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 26100.3025
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) G.Skill DDR5 6400 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    BeQuiet! Straight Power 12 1500W
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    SilverStone Technology XE360-TR5, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    2000/300 Mbps (down/up)
  • Operating System
    windows 11 26100.3025
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
bobkn said:
The HP doesn't have a BIOS provision to disable the onboard WiFi?

Haven't bought an appliance desktop in years. My Asus motherboard's BIOS has a setting to disable WiFi.

I wouldn't expect it to automatically connect to the wireless router during a new Windows install, regardless. I assume that WiFi passwords are not retained in CMOS. Am I mistaken about that?
Click to expand...
No entry for either the NIC or the Wireless.

And I don't think passwords used after the OS is loaded are saved in the CMOS/BIOS, only those to enter the BIOS and to start the booting.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Berton said:
(snip)

And I don't think passwords used after the OS is loaded are saved in the CMOS/BIOS, only those to enter the BIOS and to start the booting.
Click to expand...
Then the PC's WiFi shouldn't automatically connect to the router.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 26100.3025
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) G.Skill DDR5 6400 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
    Sound Card
    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @ 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Crucial T700 2TB M.2 NVME SSD
    WD 4TB Blue SATA SSD
    Seagate 18TB IronWolf Pro
    PSU
    BeQuiet! Straight Power 12 1500W
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
    Cooling
    SilverStone Technology XE360-TR5, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    2000/300 Mbps (down/up)
  • Operating System
    windows 11 26100.3025
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
00 00 00 00 said:
Thanks. I'll double check. I think everyone close by has their networks locked down.
Click to expand...
If you're clean installing Windows 11 you might need to do one of the hacks to install without internet.
Edit: One of the things I don't like about doing a clean install of Win 11 is that MS wants to force us to have internet access so we can setup a MS account. I don't mind the account. What I do mind is that we can't choose our username. MS uses the first five characters of our email address. If MS would stop wasting time and effort worrying about new emoji's and desktop stickers maybe they could fix this.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec B746
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-10700K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Z490 Phantom Gaming 4/ax
    Memory
    16GB (8GB PC4-19200 DDR4 SDRAM x2)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 TI
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    #1. LG ULTRAWIDE 34" #2. AOC Q32G2WG3 32"
    Screen Resolution
    #1. 3440 X 1440 #2. 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    NVMe WDC WDS100T2B0C-00PXH0 1TB
    Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB
    PSU
    750 Watts (62.5A)
    Case
    PowerSpec/Lian Li ATX 205
    Keyboard
    Logitech K270
    Mouse
    Logitech M185
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge and Firefox
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Canary Channel
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    PowerSpec G156
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400 CPU @ 2.80GHz
    Motherboard
    AsusTeK Prime B360M-S
    Memory
    16 MB DDR 4-2666
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Speptre HDMI 75Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 EVO 500GB NVMe
    Mouse
    Logitek M185
    Keyboard
    Logitek K270
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge and Edge Canary
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
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Hey 00 00 00 00,

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