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#11
Personally I would not touch the bios.
If you are using an SSD it could be going bad...I had this happen a while back. Back-up important data just in case.
Just one thing I am not sure of. This "digital entitlement" is always opened to misinterpretations to me.
What if.....................
I started with a Win 8 computer > upgrade to Win 10 Home > bought a Pro key > updated to Win 10 Pro.
Now, I needed to do a repair install.
If I used this Upgrade Now option, which Win 10 version would I end up with after the repair was completed.?
[QUOTE=davidhk;562468]Assuming your Win 10 is activated.
Do a Repair Install, also known as In-place upgrade Install.
This method allows you to keep your files, settings and apps.
Activation is automatic.
Use this tutorial:
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
I'll probably try this in the weekend, becase i dont have time now.. And yes my Windows is activated.
I was waiting to see if someone else would respond David. But....seeing how nobody has I'll try. :)
I have actually gone thur this myself. I bought a slightly used computer from Ebay last year (Was a GREAT DEAL) it came with Windows 8.1 Home, which I have never liked or wanted to run. After receiving my computer I set it up, checked out a few things, found out the original owner didn't do a very good job cleaning his personal information off the machine. I really didn't care thou as I was going to do a clean install and upgrade this computer to Windows 10 Pro. I bought a retail Windows 10 Pro key online, but not from the Windows Store. This is where it can get tricky. Not buying my key from the Windows Store, Activation can be harder to do. Anyhow, I made my image backup 1st, (Wish everyone would do this step) then erased everything on the SSD, using my Windows ISO 10 Pro version which I had on a USB stick. Helping me at this point was a member on here that walked me thru every step, to make sure I didn't screw it up ( Topgundcp) I didn't enter my Windows key at this point, after Windows 10 Pro was installed successfully and I was at my new desktop, then Windows asked for my Windows 10 Pro key. I entered my retail key, and Windows did not accept it right off, told me I needed to verify by phone. Windows gave me the information to call Microsoft and I did, talked to the tech, he then verified my retail key, gave me the special code to put into Windows 10 Pro, and after that my Windows was fully activated. :)
Now that I have gone thru this process with activation my Windows 10 Pro is ON the Microsoft Servers, and MS knows which version of Windows is installed on THIS computer. Even thou it came with Windows 8.1 Home.
But I always keep a Full Image backup on a external drive, I also keep all my Key licenses on same external drive, plus I even printed my license out using Showkey. My information for this computer being on the Windows servers should be all I need, but I always like to have more than just ONE choice incase something happens. Hope this helps you a little more.
Doing a repair install over a activated Windows 10 should be NO problem, as user will have to choose which version they are repairing anyhow. Windows will check also.
Mike :)
My scenario is ................. start with pre-installed Win 8 > upgraded to win 10 Home >sometime later on bought a Pro key > updated to Win 10 Pro.
Some time later, I need to do a repair install. I use that link and select Upgrade Now.
Which Win 10 version will I get after completion. ?
Last edited by davidhk; 10 Feb 2016 at 11:12.
I would think it should be Windows 10 Pro, as the Windows server should already know and give you the correct version.
Of course, if you wanted to test this theory out, I would make a complete image backup 1st!!!! and....I would NOT use Windows to make my image backup. But...I know how stubborn you can be David. :)
Mike.. :)
The down side of this scenario is it will keep the partition scheme carried over from 8 with an extra partition at the end of C drive.
In Windows 8, fresh install:
For MBR installation: 350MB system partition and C Drive
For GPT: 300MB, EFI System, 128MSR and C drive
Upgrade to 10 will add another 450MB Recovery partition
In Windows 8 pre-install, depending on the PC manufacturer, there's also Recovery partition to recover Factory image, extra partition that contains their tools etc... Making it even more messy.
If you've already had the Win 10 Pro key then why not doing fresh install of Windows 10 directly ? Of course, you'd have to re-install third party apps, reconfigure + optimize etc... but it will be cleaner and disk size will be smaller without any remnants carried over from previous Windows.
If you are happy with the current, running Windows 10 and want to clean up those uneccessary partitions without losing data/apps to make it look like a fresh Windows 10 install then there's way to do that using Macrium.