Fresh install on new laptop w/Win10-Home

NavyLCDR said:

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.

Still don't think Windows will activate it if user uses same Pro key on his old computer IF Windows see's its registered to another computer. Can't use same key on TWO Computers. That's why I said this might require a call to Microsoft to explain this issue.

OldMike65 said:

Still don't think Windows will activate it if user uses same Pro key on his old computer IF Windows see's its registered to another computer. Can't use same key on TWO Computers. That's why I said this might require a call to Microsoft to explain this issue.

The key has to be used multiple times to get blocked from automatic activation. The second use won't block it. It's a retail product key - it's allowed to be transferred to a new computer. I have a retail Windows 7 key I have used at least a hundred times and it's not until the 5 or 6th time I use it in a space of about six months that it gets blocked from automatic activation - then it seems like if I don't use it for 6 months or so it resets to automatic activation again.

NavyLCDR said:

The key has to be used multiple times to get blocked from automatic activation. The second use won't block it. It's a retail product key - it's allowed to be transferred to a new computer. I have a retail Windows 7 key I have used at least a hundred times and it's not until the 5 or 6th time I use it in a space of about six months that it gets blocked from automatic activation - then it seems like if I don't use it for 6 months or so it resets to automatic activation again.

Interesting cause when I updated this computer from Home to Pro using a Retail key I Bought, I ended up having to call Microsoft to verify the Retail Key that I had just bought.
A screen came up after entering my retail key, and told me I had to activate by phone. Then gave me a code to type in, then displayed the phone # to call. This was on a NEW Retail key. So maybe your right, but how does Windows know his old computer is still not being used?? Oh well.....time will tell, and I hope everything goes well with his activation to Pro. :)

NavyLCDR said:

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.

I think this seems to be the simplest way to upgrade and then once my Win-7Pro key is used to activate Win-10Pro and is successful, I can wipe out the HDD (removing all partitions etc) and install Win-10Pro again with separate OS and Data partitions etc.

So both of my needs - Upgrading to Win-10 Pro using Win-7Pro and cleaning new laptop (with Win-10Home currently) of all Lenovo installed crap, fresh install Win-10Pro, would be met.

nkaufman said:

and install Win-10Pro again with separate OS and Data partitions etc.

So both of my needs - Upgrading to Win-10 Pro using Win-7Pro and cleaning new laptop (with Win-10Home currently) of all Lenovo installed crap, fresh install Win-10Pro.

Almost, but not quite. If the laptop has a product key for Windows Home in bios then when you do a clean install of Windows 10, it will automatically install Windows 10 Home based on the product key in bios. Then you will have to upgrade again to Windows 10 Pro by entering the generic Windows 10 Pro product key. This time, though, the Windows 10 Pro will be activated because it was previously activated on that computer.

There is a way around that - use a PID.txt file on the install media with the generic Windows 10 pro product key in the file. You need only do the PID.txt file part of this:
Windows Setup Edition Configuration and Product ID Files (EI.cfg and PID.txt)

NavyLCDR said:

Almost, but not quite. If the laptop has a product key for Windows Home in bios then when you do a clean install of Windows 10, it will automatically install Windows 10 Home based on the product key in bios. Then you will have to upgrade again to Windows 10 Pro by entering the generic Windows 10 Pro product key. This time, though, the Windows 10 Pro will be activated because it was previously activated on that computer.

There is a way around that - use a PID.txt file on the install media with the generic Windows 10 pro product key in the file. You need only do the PID.txt file part of this:
Windows Setup Edition Configuration and Product ID Files (EI.cfg and PID.txt)

thank you for your continued assistance.

i didn't realize that even if one upgrades a unit from Win-10 Home to Win-10 Pro, one cannot do a fresh install of Win-10 Pro on that machine because the bios will still have the older Win-10 Home key.

nkaufman said:

i didn't realize that even if one upgrades a unit from Win-10 Home to Win-10 Pro, one cannot do a fresh install of Win-10 Pro on that machine because the bios will still have the older Win-10 Home key.

If the manufacturer put a key in bios. Windows 10 won't write anything to the bios.