My laptop is running 10 home, upgraded from 8.1 core. I have a retail license for Windows 10 Pro. Will installing Windows 10 Pro affect my eligibility to clean install Windows 10 Home (based on my upgrade from OEM 8.1 Core) in case I want to sell my laptop and use my retail 10 Pro license on another computer?
Thanks
As far as I know once the license is activated it is associated with the specific hardware. If you want to sell your computer, you could install Windows 10 Home again (maybe you need to first install 8.1 core and then upgrade to 10 Home). Then install Windows 10 Pro on the new computer and activate by phone, if automatic activation is not possible. When asked you can tell that your old computer is damaged and you replaced it and maybe the Microsoft representative is kind enough to give you the activation code. I would not risk it! What to you need the Pro version for? Unless you want to join a domain there is little use for a typical user. If you need to disable or postpone Windows Updates, there are other hacks for that.
I am 99% sure you will be able to go back to a clean install of Windows 10 Home. I am dual booting pro and home now on my computer, upgraded to Pro first, then did 7 Home Premium on a second partition and upgraded that to 10 Home. Haven't done a clean install of Pro, though, which was the first one on my computer.
Yes, in theory a retail license can be activated 2-3 times when you upgrade your computer, but it is a risk. Don't forget that the key is stored in the BIOS for OEM computers and the new owner may try upgrading to Windows 10 Pro for free before you can take advantage of the license for your own computer. So don't use it, unless you need the Pro features, or you are not going to sell it soon.
Thanks guys!
The whole purpose is that I install 10 home for the new owner. I won't tell him I have a pro licence as I want to use that on my new laptop. (Saving up for the new Dell xps 15 released the other day.)
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