Activating Windows 7 N with a regular (non-N) key

NoelDP said:

Definitely! Very few people in Europe actually use N which is the full edition without IE. About the onlpeople who do are corporations because they can limit access to those who need it

Sorry to jump in a solved thread but let's make this clear:
Windows N (in Europe) and KN (in Korea) do come with IE but without Windows Media Features, for example Windows Media Player. Users installing a Seven N or KN version can download and install the Media Features Pack which includes Windows Media Player free from here: Download Media Feature Pack for Windows 7 N with Service Pack 1 and Windows 7 KN with Service Pack 1 (KB968211) from Official Microsoft Download Center.

As an individual edition Windows 7 N needs its own individual product key. A Home Premium N cannot be activated with normal Home Premium key, nor can Professional N be activated with normal Professional key.

I have all Windows 7 and 8 editions and matching product keys, normal and N available as ISO files (TechNet / MSDN subscriptions) and just to satisfy my own curiosity I have tried installing both 7 and 8 normal editions and activating them with a respective N key, and vice versa, installing N editions and trying to install them with respective normal key. Both ways it's a no go, not working.

Kari

Sorry - you're correct - I always get confused between the N and E editions!



As you rightly say, though, a Key is locked to a particular edition and cannot be used for any other (so I was kinda right :))

Of course you were right, Noel :). I guess nobody here has more activation knowledge than you.

I simply wanted to confirm that, not only as something I have read about but something I have really tested myself out of personal interest.