Windows 10 Home > Windows 7 Pro > Windows 10 Pro

Hey,
I got a new PC with Windows 10 Home. I already have retail versions of both Windows 7 and 8 Pro, so I clean installed 7 Pro over 10 Home (wiping existing partitions in the process), then did an upgrade to 10 (using the media creation tool) expecting to get Pro, but I got Home again, even though I upgraded from 7 Pro. The 7 Pro install was fully activated.

That seems wrong. How do I clear the hardware ID registered with Microsoft that forces 10 Home?

Seems a bit silly to have to pay £99 to upgrade to Pro when I already have 7 Pro! Can I get a 10 Pro key by giving my 7 or 8 Pro keys without having to pay again?

Thanks

This is what I think where you did wrong..................
At the window which showed choice of language, edition and bit version, you did not read what were listed. You just clicked Next and continued. The window showed Windows 10 Home and you took it.
What you should have done was to UNcheck the box " Use the recommended options for this PC" and then click the pointer at Edition and chose Win 10 Pro.


Have a look at this answer given in Microsoft Community forum:
How to upgrade 1511 from Home to Pro?


If that does not work for you, you will have to use the media creation tool again > download the Win 10 Pro iso file > burn it to a bootable media > and use the media to do a clean install.
You will be asked to enter a product key. You can use your Win 7 Pro key, or you can use the Skip option and continue. If you choose the Skip option, after successful install, use your Win 7 Pro key to activate.

Sorry, I should have said I did do as your screen shot. I don't even get offered Pro in the list:



The first post in the link you posted is exactly what I'm experiencing. If I try to use my 7 or 8 Pro keys it tells me they're for a different version. I'll carry on reading the thread.

You are right. It does not give you the choice of Pro version. The older MCT does.
However, according to Tech Bench, it says : Windows 10 editions below are valid for both Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Professional.
So, the installer is supposed to know which edition you should have.
There is something missing here that I have forgotten.

Please try this one I posted earlier.....................
Have a look at this answer given in Microsoft Community forum:
How to upgrade 1511 from Home to Pro?

Thanks David.

Yeah, I've read that whole thread now.

The OP is exactly what I'm trying to do, but it seems the installer pulls the embedded BIOS/firmware product key before install so in my (and his case) it's defaulting to the embedded (Home Edition) key.

I've asked on that thread what the score is for subsequent clean installs - having to use the default Windows 10 Pro key, then your own Pro key to get to Pro each install is a bit of a pain! Especially as MS could pull/change the default Pro key at any time!

Ironically, I did have the old MCT ISOs for Pro and Home separately, but deleted them when the new, combined ones came out!

PS: Just to confirm what I'm seeing:

PC came bundle with Windows 10 Home
Clean installed Windows 8.1 Pro and activated (wiping existing partitions)
Use MCT to upgrade to Windows 10
MCT wizard moaned that I can't keep settings and apps because I'm going to a different edition of Windows 10
The last page of the MCT wizard, before starting install says, "To confirm, you're going to: Install Windows 10 Home"

So it's clearly preferring the embedded key to the version that's currently installed.

ldoodle said:

having to use the default Windows 10 Pro key, then your own Pro key to get to Pro each install is a bit of a pain! Especially as MS could pull/change the default Pro key at any time!

1. For the moment, it's the only option I can think of.
2. I don't think you have to do that again on each install. To my understanding the server will store your Pro key and will use it next time you reinstall Win 10 Pro.

I'll post back with the results re: point 2.

ldoodle said:

I'll post back with the results re: point 2.

Yes. Please do.
I would like to know with certainty too.

When you are running Windows 7 Pro:

You download the ISO file for Windows 10 and you either make a USB, DVD or mount the ISO file using UltraISO.

Then with Windows 7 Pro running, you run setup.exe from the USB, DVD or mounted ISO file to start an in place upgrade of the current operating system. That will get you the same version of Windows 10 that you ran setup.exe from. Pro to Pro, or Home to Home.

Boot from the USB or DVD and it will read the product key in bios first.

The "Upgrade this PC now" option of the Media Creation Tool will also upgrade to the same version of Windows 10 that it was run from originally - Pro to Pro, Home to Home.