Cannot upgrade existing PC to Pro

shipinomore10 · 26 Jul 2021

HP Ryzen 3 3250u 8gig memory 1 TB hard drive. model 22-df0023w. passes all points req. in windows 11
first off since this new hardware does my key for windows 10 work?
Unit came with windows 10 home installed. I have talked to HP about upgrading to Pro and they say no problem.
I have a dvd of windows 10 for installs 21h1 and when I tested installing it it comes up in the beginning with a list of the various OS's and I selected 10 pro and all went as expected and was had the digital sig. etc. activated for windows 10 pro.
I tried to do a clean install on the new HP. ran clean and started the install.
Never stopped to ask what version. Never asked about a key. Installed windows 10 home again.
any ideas would be appreciated. I have updated my hardware for just about all questions.

Shipinomore.

dalchina · 26 Jul 2021

I have a dvd of windows 10 for installs 21h1 and when I tested installing it it comes up in the beginning with a list of the various OS's and I selected 10 pro

Hi, where did you get this DVD? You don't 'install' Pro- you activate Pro.

Your activation is dependent on the digital entitlement on MS's activation servers where Win 10 has already been installed on a machine. In some cases this is complicated where an OEM license is embedded in the BIOS/UEFI.

You have Home. This is the normal procedure for upgrading to Pro:
Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

More:
How to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro for free | ZDNet
Do you have a key for Pro, or one that entitles you to a Pro license?

See too:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...5-d1a218cc2818

What is it that you hope to gain by upgrading to Pro?

You might find this interesting as it somewhat resembles your case and refers to a DVD and HP:
Upgrading Windows 10 Home to Pro

shipinomore10 · 26 Jul 2021

I had just read several of your posts and was surprised to hear from you.
the dvd's are dual layer 8 gig. read only. got a good deal on 50.
I use pro on my machines as it seems hyper v and others work on it.
I have tried to upgrade this machine using the option to enter a key but it rejects saying the machine is not registered with a valid digital signature.
I thought that since this is a different PC that the license was no longer good.
will check out your links in the reply.
shipinomore

Bree · 26 Jul 2021

shipinomore10 said:

I tried to do a clean install on the new HP. ran clean and started the install.
Never stopped to ask what version. Never asked about a key. Installed windows 10 home again..

That is normal for a machine that was supplied by the OEM with Win10 Home pre-installed. Your PC came with a key for 10 Home embedded in its firmware, you see this for yourself with ShowKeyPlus

When running a clean install Setup reads the key from the bios and uses that to choose the edition to install. Only if it can't find any key will it ask which edition to install.

There are various ways to modify the install media to force it to offer you a choice of editions. But by far the simplest way to clean install Pro on your PC with a Home key is to let it install Home, then upgrade that to Pro by installing the generic Pro key. As the PC has previously been upgraded to Pro it will have an existing digital licence for Pro which will allow you to upgrade Home to Pro with the generic key, it will activate from the existing digital licence.

Windows 10 Pro generic key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Generic Product Keys to Install Windows 10 Editions

dalchina · 26 Jul 2021

the dvd's are dual layer 8 gig. read only. got a good deal on 50.

Thank you for your reply.

Note that there was a long-running offer posted twice on tenforums for a Pro license for around £40.
ComputerActive Windows 10 Home offer.