Windows 10: Can't upgrade to an OEM version of Windows 10 Pro with product key

Superfly said:

Yup, just tested in a VM - OEM keys are not accepted for anytime upgrade - has to be a retail key.

@kimkl.... LOL!

Cheers. Thanks for testing that. Maybe @Brink should add a note to the tutorial.

Thank you guys. Note added under step 5 below. :)

Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

OEM product keys will not be accepted. It must be a retail key.

Brink said:

Thank you guys. Note added under step 5 below. :)

Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

Cheers Brink!

sherriff83 said:

I moved an SSD with Windows 10 Home (OEM) from the computer it was licensed for to a new Optiplex 3040 that was licensed for Windows 10 Pro (OEM) and obviously the activation failed since the hardware was changed. Entering the Windows 10 Pro (OEM) key that was embedded in the Optiplex 3040 failed as well. So I found this forum and entered the Windows 10 Pro retail key that Simrick provided, which allowed the OS to do an Edition upgrade, then I just changed the key to the embedded key and activation succeeded!

Brilliant!

Hi sherriff83 and welcome to Tenforums.
You referring to this section of the tut?



Yep, that's not a retail key per se - it's a generic/default/public key used for edition upgrades, and, as the tut says, it will upgrade but not activate your OS. But you had everything under control with the key on the new system. Glad to hear it worked for you, just like it's supposed to! Thanks for posting to let us know. Cheers!