Upgrading Windows 10 Home to Pro with a Full Key - Help?

Hi All,

I bought a laptop a few weeks ago that came with Windows 10 Home provided. I purchased a Windows 10 Pro Key last night from the web. But it wont allow me to upgrade. I went back to the supplier and they advised the key provided doesn't allow upgrading, but a full re-install.

I was trying this through the normal activation panel in windows 10, but it that didn't work.

I was wondering if there is a workaround for this?


Regards

John

Disconnect the computer from all sources of the internet. Once the computer is disconnected from the internet, change the product key to:
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Once the upgrade to Pro is finished, change the product key again to your purchased product key. Then reconnect to the internet.

jvenables said:

... they advised the key provided doesn't allow upgrading, but a full re-install.
I was trying this through the normal activation panel in windows 10, but it that didn't work.
I was wondering if there is a workaround for this?

@NavyLCDR's suggestion to upgrade offline would work, but there is a risk that if the key is still not accepted you'd be stuck with an un-activated Pro. The upgrade to Pro is one way only, you cannot downgrade Pro to Home.

The safest thing would be to first use Macrium Reflect (Free) to make a system image of the installed Home before trying anything, then you could restore it should the Pro not activate.

But if you have made such an image, the you would be free to clean install Pro as the supplier advised to get your PC a digital licence for Pro on Microsoft's activation servers. If that too fails, then the key is not valid and you should ask for your money back.

With a digital licence for Pro you could restore your Home system image and upgrade it to Pro with the generic Pro key that NavyLCDR gave above.