Fresh install on new laptop w/Win10-Home

Thank you for your input.

NavyLCDR said:

Once you have home installed - trigger the upgrade to Pro by entering the generic Windows 10 Pro key that everyone gets when upgrading.

After the upgrade to Pro, activate it by entering your Windows 7 Pro product key.

I'm not sure I understand what you meant by the above. Where does one obtain this generic Win-10 Pro key?

Thanks,

Unless you have a windows 7pro key RETAIL version or a windows 8 or 8.1 RETAIL Pro key. not a OEM key, their is no way to change your windows 10 Home to Pro on your new laptop, unless it came with Windows Pro version when you bought it. As far as I know.

nkaufman said:

Thank you for your input.
I'm not sure I understand what you meant by the above. Where does one obtain this generic Win-10 Pro key?
Thanks,

First, run your Windows 7 Pro product key through showkeyplus "check product key" function:
Solved Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

If it comes back as a retail product key and not OEM:
1. I would highly recommend you make an image of your current Windows 10 Home. I prefer to use Macrium Reflect Free for that. Or be prepared to do a clean install of Windows 10 Home. The next step will permanently upgrade the Home to Pro - and if the activation step does not work, you will be stuck with a non-activated Windows 10 Pro.

2. Use the generic Windows 10 Pro product key (not "N" version, and not "Single language" version - N and SL require a different product key) to trigger the upgrade to Pro. On the activation screen from settings, use the change product key option.
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
This is the generic product key that everyone gets when then upgrade Windows 7/8/8.1 Pro to Windows 10 - it will NOT activate Windows 10 Pro - it will only cause the upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

3. After the upgrade, go back to Settings and activation screen and enter your Windows 7 Pro product key, which should activate your Windows 10 Pro (you have to be on version 1511, build 10586 - also known as November update - of Windows 10).

If step 3 fails for some reason, you will have to re-install your Windows 10 Home - either a new clean install, or restore from a backup image.

Thank you for your response.

NavyLCDR said:

First, run your Windows 7 Pro product key through showkeyplus "check product key" function:
Solved Showkey - Windows 10 Forums

I found my paperwork and Win 7 Pro that I have is a retail edition.

NavyLCDR said:

If it comes back as a retail product key and not OEM:
1. I would highly recommend you make an image of your current Windows 10 Home. I prefer to use Macrium Reflect Free for that. Or be prepared to do a clean install of Windows 10 Home. The next step will permanently upgrade the Home to Pro - and if the activation step does not work, you will be stuck with a non-activated Windows 10 Pro.

Am quite disappointed with Lenovo. They have a System Backup Utility that one can use to make back ups of C:\. If future backups are made to the same folder then the utility makes incremental backup.

Now, the issues:
Why the utility does not backup D:\ partition where Lenovo has System Drivers beats me.
Backups cannot be made on external HDD greater than 2TB even on Win-10 systems. Why? Why?

Of course, I digress.

But will be making a system back up of C:\ using Lenovo utility. Make a full backup of D:\ that has all drives.
Install Macrium Reflect and make another backup just in case of whole system. Can never be too careful

NavyLCDR said:

2. Use the generic Windows 10 Pro product key (not "N" version, and not "Single language" version - N and SL require a different product key) to trigger the upgrade to Pro. On the activation screen from settings, use the change product key option.
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
This is the generic product key that everyone gets when then upgrade Windows 7/8/8.1 Pro to Windows 10 - it will NOT activate Windows 10 Pro - it will only cause the upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

Great. Had no idea about this generic key. So this just allows system to upgrade to Win-10 Pro? Nice!
Will need to look at how to manually trigger the update to Win-10. I thought it comes as a windows update. Unless I misunderstood you and you meant to download Win-10 iso and do a complete Win-10 install.

NavyLCDR said:

3. After the upgrade, go back to Settings and activation screen and enter your Windows 7 Pro product key, which should activate your Windows 10 Pro (you have to be on version 1511, build 10586 - also known as November update - of Windows 10).

How does one ensure that the Win-10 update will be a specific build?

NavyLCDR said:

If step 3 fails for some reason, you will have to re-install your Windows 10 Home - either a new clean install, or restore from a backup image.

With 2 backup images that I'll have after my first step, I should be good for this.

Thanks again for your input.

nkaufman said:

Now, the issues:
Why the utility does not backup D:\ partition where Lenovo has System Drivers beats me.
Backups cannot be made on external HDD greater than 2TB even on Win-10 systems. Why? Why?

That is why I use Macrium Reflect Free.

nkaufman said:

Great. Had no idea about this generic key. So this just allows system to upgrade to Win-10 Pro? Nice!
Will need to look at how to manually trigger the update to Win-10. I thought it comes as a windows update. Unless I misunderstood you and you meant to download Win-10 iso and do a complete Win-10 install.

Download the Windows 10 ISO from Windows 10 Media Creation Tool or Microsoft Tech Bench. Either mount the ISO using a program such as UltraISO or make a USB/DVD from the ISO. From the mounted ISO or USB/DVD with Windows 7 running, run setup.exe. (don't boot from the USB/DVD, just insert it with Windows 7 running). Running setup.exe from within Windows 7 will do the upgrade to Windows 10. If you are running your Windows 7 Pro, it will upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

If you want to clean install Windows 10, then you would boot from the WIndows 10 USB/DVD.

nkaufman said:

How does one ensure that the Win-10 update will be a specific build?

I can't tell you what you will get with Windows Update (for upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10). If you have old files saved on your computer, that might upgrade you to build 10240. The ISOs you get with the current Media Creation Tool or Microsoft Tech Bench downloads will be version 1511, build 10586.

Thank you for your assistance. Afraid I'm a bit lost on the exact steps now to follow:

NavyLCDR said:

Download the Windows 10 ISO from Windows 10 Media Creation Tool or Microsoft Tech Bench. Either mount the ISO using a program such as UltraISO or make a USB/DVD from the ISO. From the mounted ISO or USB/DVD with Windows 7 running, run setup.exe. (don't boot from the USB/DVD, just insert it with Windows 7 running). Running setup.exe from within Windows 7 will do the upgrade to Windows 10. If you are running your Windows 7 Pro, it will upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

If you want to clean install Windows 10, then you would boot from the WIndows 10 USB/DVD.

I can't tell you what you will get with Windows Update (for upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 10). If you have old files saved on your computer, that might upgrade you to build 10240. The ISOs you get with the current Media Creation Tool or Microsoft Tech Bench downloads will be version 1511, build 10586.

Not sure I understand what you meant here.


Earlier it was suggested to upgrade from Win-10 Home to Pro using generic key, then enter my Win-7 Pro key to try and activate Win-10 Pro.

Now, with the need to use specific version, it seems that I need to
- first install Win-7Pro on laptop with Win-10Home,
- download the specific version of Win-10Pro from MS
- then upgrade to Win-10 Pro while running Win-7

Please let me know if I misunderstood.

Thanks again for your help.
Getting closer. already made my backups and will be downloading Win-10 iso soon.

can I use an iso from a friend who has MSDN account (he won't provide any license, just an iso)? The iso he has says version 1511 but am not sure about build.

nkaufman said:

Thank you for your assistance. Afraid I'm a bit lost on the exact steps now to follow:



Not sure I understand what you meant here.


Earlier it was suggested to upgrade from Win-10 Home to Pro using generic key, then enter my Win-7 Pro key to try and activate Win-10 Pro.

Now, with the need to use specific version, it seems that I need to
- first install Win-7Pro on laptop with Win-10Home,
- download the specific version of Win-10Pro from MS
- then upgrade to Win-10 Pro while running Win-7

Please let me know if I misunderstood.

Thanks again for your help.
Getting closer. already made my backups and will be downloading Win-10 iso soon.

can I use an iso from a friend who has MSDN account (he won't provide any license, just an iso)? The iso he has says version 1511 but am not sure about build.

No do NOT use your friends copy with the MSDN account. That could be a different Windows 10 OS.
Simple question for you, IF your windows 7 you have right now ON your laptop IS Windows 7 Pro, then download Windows 10 Pro. What you should be doing is upgrading your Windows OS to the SAME version of Windows you ARE Running Now.
Home for Home, Pro for Pro. Its that simple.
Here is the link for down loading Windows 10, read the instructions, and then download the Windows 10 version you are actually running right now on your laptop. I would suggest you download the Windows 10 version from Tech Bench.
Here is the link to read instructions, and download link also.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9...ad.html?filter

OldMike65 said:

No do NOT use your friends copy with the MSDN account. That could be a different Windows 10 OS.
Simple question for you, IF your windows 7 you have right now ON your laptop IS Windows 7 Pro, then download Windows 10 Pro. What you should be doing is upgrading your Windows OS to the SAME version of Windows you ARE Running Now.
Home for Home, Pro for Pro. Its that simple.
Here is the link for down loading Windows 10, read the instructions, and then download the Windows 10 version you are actually running right now on your laptop. I would suggest you download the Windows 10 version from Tech Bench.
Here is the link to read instructions, and download link also.
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9...ad.html?filter

I'm afraid that isn't accurate.

My situation recap:
Old laptop (which I'm getting rid off) with Win-7Pro retail license.
New laptop with Win10-Home

Want to upgrade new laptop to Win10-Pro.

nkaufman said:

I'm afraid that isn't accurate.

My situation recap:
Old laptop (which I'm getting rid off) with Win-7Pro retail license.
New laptop with Win10-Home

Want to upgrade new laptop to Win10-Pro.

It is accurate I'm afraid, this is not rocket science I typed it pretty simple. If your computer has Home, you upgrade to the HOME version, if your computer has Pro, then you upgrade to the Pro version. This means simply download the Windows 10 Home version, for your new laptop, do your clean install, then after Windows 10 Home IS activated, and updated with all the new updates. Because after you install windows 10 home, you will need to check for updates, as their will be a few. THEN after everything is updated, and Windows 10 IS activated, you should be able to Upgrade your windows 10 Home, to Windows 10 Pro using your RETAIL Pro key, but you might end up having to call Microsoft to activate your Home to Pro when trying to use your retail Pro key. As you can not be using two computers with the exact same Pro Key #'s One will have to be deactivated, that may require a call to Microsoft.

nkaufman said:

New laptop with Win10-Home

Want to upgrade new laptop to Win10-Pro.

In the settings -> update & security -> activation screen: click change product key.

Enter the Windows 10 Pro generic product key:
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

When it is done upgrading to Pro, it will not be activated. To activate it go back to the same activation screen and click on change product key again and enter your Windows 7 Pro product key to activate it.