Help ungrade to Win 10 Pro.


  1. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
       #1

    Help ungrade to Win 10 Pro.


    Hi,

    Need help in "upgrading" to Windows 10 Pro X64

    Evidently somewhere/how, I ended up with Windows 10 Home on my laptop instead of Windows 10 Pro (x64). For the record this laptop came with Win 8.1 Pro; then I upgraded to Win 10 Pro, then wiped the drive and did a clean install a few months back (perhaps that's when I "accidentally" installed Home?). I don't know, it's just weird that I somehow ended up with Home instead of Pro.

    Anyway I found out I had Home when troubleshooting a Remote Desktop issue... which turned out to be because I have "Home" installed. Imagine the surprise!

    That said, my question - Is there a way to upgrade from Home to Pro without doing a complete clean install? Kind of hate having to completely reinstall everything I'm kind of tapped for time. Have a few school projects which requires my laptop.

    Yes, I've legit copies of Win 7 (Ult. & Pro x64), as well as 8/8.1 Pro (x64). I also have the latest Win 10 ISO disc which I used it to do a clean install on my desktop. Yes... the desktop is showing Win 10 Pro x64.

    With all of that, I just need to know if there's an easy way solving this without reinstalling.

    Thanks

    BTW simply trying to change the Product Key results in Windows telling me wrong OS...

    Help ungrade to Win 10 Pro.-capture.png
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #2

    Since 10 Pro was already activated on the laptop I would simply pass on entering any key and allow the Digital Entitlement to take over when the MS activation server record is refreshed. As for avoiding a clean install of 10 Pro since you obviously went through the first screens too fast once you had apparently downloaded the TH2 multiple edition iso either from Tech Bench or using the Media Creation tool option and booted live from the media made up.

    The method for entering a generic Pro key and then trying the 7 Pro or 8 Pro key once afterwards may work for you. That would be the "VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T" key some have already been posting around a bit. Then after seeing a confirmation of the changeover to Pro you then enter the 7 or 8 key you intend to use. You could end up needing to try both or end up calling into MS while the previous activation if you did see 10 Pro previously activated should go fast from the previous hardware profile id being logged.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
    Thread Starter
       #3

    You didn't read my post thoroughly as the issue didn't just happen. Meaning waiting for the server was long long past that point.

    Anyway I solved the issue by using the generic Win 10 key my desktop is using and it worked. It's the same generic key you posted. All is good now.

    Thanks.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #4

    Unless you blotted the key you showed in the image out a bit that wouldn't work anyways for not having the correct number of digits. But at least the generic key works long enough until the MS activation servers refreshed the activation for you. And you did answer part of your own question in your own post.

    Yes, I've legit copies of Win 7 (Ult. & Pro x64), as well as 8/8.1 Pro (x64). I also have the latest Win 10 ISO disc which I used it to do a clean install on my desktop. Yes... the desktop is showing Win 10 Pro x64.
    When you entered the wrong key you got the Home edition type error and likely had entered a Home not Pro key. Since it wasn't a 10 Home key you weren't able to downgrade from Pro to Home! When going to upgrade from the Home to Pro edition with any version since that is an "in the same version" type upgrade you would need that version's key and why the generic Pro key immediately took. Anyways for future reference, Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 5,899
    Win 11 Pro (x64) 22H2
    Thread Starter
       #5

    • Yes... the key is blotted for security purposes.
    • No... the key used was NOT a Windows 10 home key, but an actual Windows 8.1 key.
    • I'm familiar with the linked procedures; but it turned out I just needed the generic key being I already had Pro.


    At any rate I do want to say thank you for taking the time to help. Appreciate that.

    Peace
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 3,367
    W10 Pro x64/W7 Ultimate x64 dual boot main - W11 Triple Boot Pending
       #6

    Well I'm sure you are relieved at seeing things work out! With several VMs and having seen one Pro VM never activate and leaving it unstarted while having seen a second newer one created I went to fire it up again lately and surprise! it had seen the Digital entitlement take place.

    With the latest 7 Ultimate VM being on the main as well as the physical dual boot that took the 7 key and I now have that available for a trial run of upgrading to 10 to see if that runs into any problems. Subsequently for Hyper-V on the 10 side on the second build there I will be trying it with a 7 Pro VM using that edition's key as well. Unfortunately to grab a good recording for the how to I would either need a camcording pointed the monitor or some other program that can record the full process while happening on a VM since each attempt so far only sees a darkened window instead of the OS!

    As for the guide itself that was seen last summer when 10 was first generally available for those who had initially purchased on flash drive if not downloaded 10 for a clean Home install or wanted to move up from Home to Pro and why the MS purchase option was seen there. When needing a key following a full clean some have mentioned getting a license for only $40 from the MS store and not paying the full $99 upgrade price it seems. So you can see from that MS is pushing 10 by whatever means including dropping the prices for grabbing a key if needed!
      My Computers


 

Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:03.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums