Windows 8.1 upgrade to Windows 10?

Swift0r · 05 Apr 2016

Hello, I have a cracked version of Windows 8.1 Enterprise Edition and would like to upgrade to Windows 10. Do not judge me please I plan to go legit with Windows 10 activation. What I really need to know is the best way to switch from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

I cannot upgrade from Enterprise to Windows 10 through the app and that is what I want to do preferably. Upgrade without having to do a fresh install.

So what do I need? Can I do this by buying Windows 8.1 Home or Professional verify the key and activation on my current Windows 8.1 and then upgrade that way or would I need to do a fresh install and buy a Windows 10 copy?

NavyLCDR · 05 Apr 2016

You are going to have to do a clean install of a legally purchased Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10, Home or Pro. That's the only way. You can't downgrade Enterprise to Home or Pro, and you can't activate Enterprise with a Home or Pro product key.

Kari · 05 Apr 2016

Swift0r said:

Hello, I have a cracked version of Windows 8.1 Enterprise Edition and would like to upgrade to Windows 10. Do not judge me please I plan to go legit with Windows 10 activation. What I really need to know is the best way to switch from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.

Before we start, I have to tell you that personally I do judge you, despite your request for not to do so. OS and software piracy is theft, to put it plain and simple. For the future, see the forum rules, especially paragraph 4:

4) No piracy or discussion of piracy allowed at all. Such as software, music, videos and other intellectual property violations (e.g. downloading youtube videos locally etc).

That being said, Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 Enterprise editions are not entitled for the free upgrade. To do what you want to you must start by going legit. To begin with, get Windows 8.1 Pro install media with a valid product key (it will be needed).

Do exactly as told below:

1.) Open Registry Editor (WIN + R, type regedit, hit Enter)

2.) Browse to key HKEY_Local Machine > Software > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion

3.) Change EditionID to Professional (double click EditionID, change value, click OK). In your case it should at the moment show Enterprise

4.) Change ProductName to Windows 8.1 Professional. In your case it shoud at the moment show Windows 8.1 Enterprise (screenshot shows the values you must change)

Windows 8.1 upgrade to Windows 10?-2016_04_05_08_25_371.png

(Click / tap to enlarge.)

5.) Browse to key HKEY_Local Machine > Software > Wow6432Node > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion, change the same two values as in steps 3 and 4 above

6.) Close the Registry Editor

7.) Insert the Windows 8.1 Pro install media, do an in-place upgrade by launching the setup from desktop (not booting with 8.1 Pro install media)

8.) When asked, enter your valid Windows 8.1 product key and select what to keep (settings, personal files and apps, only personal files or nothing)

9.) Windows 8.1 Pro in-place upgrade will be done now. When ready you can use the free upgrade offer to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro

Kari

Swift0r · 05 Apr 2016

NavyLCDR said:

You are going to have to do a clean install of a legally purchased Windows 7, 8, 8.1 or 10, Home or Pro. That's the only way. You can't downgrade Enterprise to Home or Pro, and you can't activate Enterprise with a Home or Pro product key.

I will go ahead and get Windows 10 home or pro dependent on price difference. Thanks for the reply.

Is Windows 10 stable yet? Software driver support etc. I use software like OBS, Shadowplay and video editing software a lot and play lots of games through Steam and want to buy Quantum Break so it's important for it to all run well :).

NavyLCDR · 05 Apr 2016

Swift0r said:

Is Windows 10 stable yet? Software driver support etc. I use software like OBS, Shadowplay and video editing software a lot and play lots of games through Steam and want to buy Quantum Break so it's important for it to all run well :).

That all depends on who you ask. At home I have 3 desktops, 4 laptops, 1 netbook, and 1 tablet running Windows 10 all completely stable with all hardware fully operational. I have less problems with Windows 10 then I have had with Windows 8. There are plenty of people who have had a completely different experience.

Kari said:

...

Thank you @Kari, for that amazing information. I had no idea that was possible. Would that also work if you changed everything to "Core" or "Home" instead of Professional to downgrade Enterprise to Windows 8.1 Home?

Kari · 05 Apr 2016

NavyLCDR said:

Thank you @Kari, for that amazing information. I had no idea that was possible. Would that also work if you changed everything to "Core" or "Home" instead of Professional to downgrade Enterprise to Windows 8.1 Home?

Yes. As far as I know this is the only way to do an "in-place downgrade", change to lesser edition keeping settings, apps and files. Notice that it only works with the same version of Windows; you cannot do this for instance from Windows 10 Enterprise to Windows 8.1 Pro.

Swift0r · 05 Apr 2016

You will be glad to know that I went ahead and ordered a retail version of Windows 10 Home from Amazon for £85 :). Instead of messing around with upgrades and trying to keep my settings I thought I would start afresh.

Am I right in thinking that it is 1 user per license and I cannot activate it on the other PC in the house?

NavyLCDR · 05 Apr 2016

Swift0r said:

Am I right in thinking that it is 1 user per license and I cannot activate it on the other PC in the house?

It's one install per license. You can have multiple user accounts on the one computer, but, yes, only one computer.