Windows 11 Edu - I'm at a loss please help

[6Foot3]

Just for timescale, I deployed 115 Windows 11 PC's with Intune through Autopilot in 3 days. 

 

Make a strategic plan and present it to SLT.

Give them all the information in a non techy way, etc (Chat GPT)

 

We have X computers that meet Windows 11, and we have X that don't. Give them options.

 

1. We purchase X amount of computers to resolve the issue.
2. Two, we dispose of X amount of computers until the next financial year, or do them in batches over a few years.

[BrennanNCS]

Hello,

 

I just wanted to follow up after my first post, where I shared only a small portion of the chaos I inherited when stepping into my first IT Manager role at my current school. Apparently it made for a great trending topic! 

 

In the three weeks since, I’ve had some interesting discussions and ultimatums with the higher up and uncovered a few more things I honestly wish I didn't know. 

 

After a lot of back-and-forth, however, I’ve managed to get approval and have now ordered 260 refurbished Windows 11 compatible PCs with 5 year warranty! WooHoo! 

 

These refurb units will be with me in two weeks, and, truthfully, out of the many quotes I received, I believe I got the best lead time and the best price I could get which was a major issue I was facing so late in the game - an all around win!

 

Thank you to all of you that viewed and replied to this thread, I know I haven't replied to many but I have read everything and really appreciate the help and encouragement! 

 

I have a Windows 11 24H2 MDT build ready and waiting, still waiting on my OVS agreement though I am now not too worried as I now have options in that regard. 

 

Feeling a little less stressed now. Happy Friday everyone! 

Edited July 11, 2025 by BrennanNCS

[5nowman]

Late night moment of madness.. ignore

Edited July 12, 2025 by 5nowman

[5nowman]

14 hours ago, BrennanNCS said:

Hello,

 

I just wanted to follow up after my first post, where I shared only a small portion of the chaos I inherited when stepping into my first IT Manager role at my current school. Apparently it made for a great trending topic! 

 

In the three weeks since, I’ve had some interesting discussions and ultimatums with the higher up and uncovered a few more things I honestly wish I didn't know. 

 

After a lot of back-and-forth, however, I’ve managed to get approval and have now ordered 260 refurbished Windows 11 compatible PCs with 5 year warranty! WooHoo! 

 

These refurb units will be with me in two weeks, and, truthfully, out of the many quotes I received, I believe I got the best lead time and the best price I could get which was a major issue I was facing so late in the game - an all around win!

 

Thank you to all of you that viewed and replied to this thread, I know I haven't replied to many but I have read everything and really appreciate the help and encouragement! 

 

I have a Windows 11 24H2 MDT build ready and waiting, still waiting on my OVS agreement though I am now not too worried as I now have options in that regard. 

 

Feeling a little less stressed now. Happy Friday everyone! 

Late night moment of madness.. ignore

Edited July 12, 2025 by 5nowman

[amartin]

On 27/06/2025 at 12:48, buzzard said:

We did this and I run the below script in MDT which I've not had issues with on W10 boxes when reimaging to W11. (I'm sure I may have posted this a few days ago on another thread!?) If you have no other choice to use the older unsupported hardware this may be a way around the licencing. If its activating via MS then you're fine

 

<# 
Reads Windows OA3 product key from BIOS/UEFI and installs the key and activates Windows
Written by Ben Drew 2017
#>

$ProductKey = (Get-WmiObject -Class SoftwareLicensingService).OA3xOriginalProductKey
Invoke-Expression "cscript /b C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs -ipk $Productkey" 
Start-Sleep 5
Invoke-Expression "cscript /b C:\Windows\System32\slmgr.vbs -ato"

 

can I ask at one point in the task sequence do you run this script? Thanks 

[buzzard]

14 hours ago, amartin said:

can I ask at one point in the task sequence do you run this script? Thanks 

On ours, this is run under State Restore > Custom Tasks folder