3 ms·

The last I looked into this these were the conclusions I reached (depending on individual situation): - If you're looking to do this 100% to the letter, then y

The last I looked into this these were the conclusions I reached (depending on individual situation): - If you're looking to do this 100% to the letter, then you'll need to enter some form of VL agreement with an authorized reseller. This will come with a minimum purchase of 5 licenses. - If you're looking to do this with a "real" key, but not by the book, then one of the gray market sites. - If you're looking to do this morally (by paying Microsoft), but don't care if the actual activation is completed with the license you purchase, then purchase a Windows 11 Pro license but use https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts/ https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts/ to activate your Windows 11 LTSC. The ISO itself can still be sourced from Microsoft. - If you don't care about any of this, then the same as the above except don't buy the Windows 11 Pro License - If you absolutely want to buy a single license "by the book"... there is no official offering available.

inversetelecine 1y ago
https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links
crtasm 1y ago
I'm curious why massgrave hosts Windows ISOs if you can get one direct from Microsoft?
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- zamadatix 1y ago
  That's a good callout. My understanding is there are 3 options: - You can download the eval ISO from Windows and add in the ~couple MB of additional XML files to be able to change the eval ISO to a version of the installer with the full SKU. The specific files will change per version. There were also some variations for doing this post-install for Windows 10 LTSC but I'm not sure if anyone has bothered for Windows 11 LTSC. - You can download the full ISO from somewhere else (so you don't have to add anything). E.g. the massgrave links. - Of course, if you have access to the VLSC for other reasons you can just download through the portal. Practically, I see the first option as a waste tbh because Microsoft publishes the SHA256 hashes of the ISOs anyways. massgrave most likely rehosts the full ISOs because it is both easier to work with and easier to validate. #3 is nice, but not applicable to most folks. If sourcing the ISO from Microsoft sounds like too much work I don't think you lose much (if anything) by sourcing it elsewhere instead.
  - sitzkrieg 1y ago
    VSS subscriptions allowed full iso downloads of most windows versions windows all the way back to 7 as of last year
ThrowawayB7 1y ago
If you're looking to do this by paying Microsoft, I think(?) an MSDN subscription still includes access to various Windows editions. What you probably want is Windows 11 Enterprise edition, meant for large corporate deployments, but not LTSC. The last I recall, the Windows license keys don't expire even if you let the subscription lapse.
- numpad0 1y ago
  Aren't MSDN licenses supposed to be for R&D only?
- zamadatix 1y ago
  MSDN was rebranded to Visual Studio subscriptions (it makes more sense when you remember it's for development). Apart from the note the sibling comment made that these are supposed to be used for development testing only, the lowest priced option which includes the LTSC license https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/pricing/?tab=paid-subscriptions#:~:text=Windows%2C%20Windows%20Server https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/pricing/?tab=paid-subs... requires an up front payment of $1,200 - so you're better off buying the 5x permanent LTSC licenses. That said, if you don't mind breaking the letter of the agreement and you had already been thinking of getting the subscription for the other perks it may be an option for you.

inversetelecine 1y ago

https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links https://massgrave.dev/windows_ltsc_links

crtasm 1y ago

I'm curious why massgrave hosts Windows ISOs if you can get one direct from Microsoft?

deleted 1y ago
[deleted]
zamadatix 1y ago
That's a good callout. My understanding is there are 3 options: - You can download the eval ISO from Windows and add in the ~couple MB of additional XML files to be able to change the eval ISO to a version of the installer with the full SKU. The specific files will change per version. There were also some variations for doing this post-install for Windows 10 LTSC but I'm not sure if anyone has bothered for Windows 11 LTSC. - You can download the full ISO from somewhere else (so you don't have to add anything). E.g. the massgrave links. - Of course, if you have access to the VLSC for other reasons you can just download through the portal. Practically, I see the first option as a waste tbh because Microsoft publishes the SHA256 hashes of the ISOs anyways. massgrave most likely rehosts the full ISOs because it is both easier to work with and easier to validate. #3 is nice, but not applicable to most folks. If sourcing the ISO from Microsoft sounds like too much work I don't think you lose much (if anything) by sourcing it elsewhere instead.
- sitzkrieg 1y ago
  VSS subscriptions allowed full iso downloads of most windows versions windows all the way back to 7 as of last year

ThrowawayB7 1y ago

If you're looking to do this by paying Microsoft, I think(?) an MSDN subscription still includes access to various Windows editions. What you probably want is Windows 11 Enterprise edition, meant for large corporate deployments, but not LTSC. The last I recall, the Windows license keys don't expire even if you let the subscription lapse.

numpad0 1y ago
Aren't MSDN licenses supposed to be for R&D only?
zamadatix 1y ago
MSDN was rebranded to Visual Studio subscriptions (it makes more sense when you remember it's for development). Apart from the note the sibling comment made that these are supposed to be used for development testing only, the lowest priced option which includes the LTSC license https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/pricing/?tab=paid-subscriptions#:~:text=Windows%2C%20Windows%20Server https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/pricing/?tab=paid-subs... requires an up front payment of $1,200 - so you're better off buying the 5x permanent LTSC licenses. That said, if you don't mind breaking the letter of the agreement and you had already been thinking of getting the subscription for the other perks it may be an option for you.