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

bradlymathews said:

Scenario: Bought Win10 Home OEM for new computer build. Installed it and all of my requisite 3rd party software. Then find out that Home 10 does not allow RDP connections. Buy 10 Pro OEM for $128 (rather than pay $99 for an upgrade through the Windows store so I have a copy of Home on hand which you know will come in handy some day).

Try to put in the new product key to do the upgrade. Get error 0xC004F050.

Call Microsoft and find out that I need to do a clean install to get Windows 10 Pro. I forgot to ask if the problem was the original Home OEM or the new Pro OEM or the combination.

In the off chance that I could save some time, I tried to do un upgrade from the setup.exe on the disk. The options for keeping the existing files and programs were grayed out - only the clean install option was available. And it said it was going to do a clean install of Window 10 Home, rather than Pro, even though the disk was a Pro disk. Weird.

I found no mention of this anywhere on the web so I am mentioning it here and a couple of other places to maybe save someone else some grief.

- Brad

Hi.
Have you tried this?
Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro - Windows 10 Forums

It may work .

To upgrade from Windows 10 Home if you have a Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8.1 Pro, or Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product key, enter the default product key below. It will upgrade your device to Windows 10 Pro, but won't activate it.

VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

After your device is upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, you'll need to activate Windows with your Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8.1 Pro, or Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product key.

I'm thinking you'd be able to activate your W10 Pro install with your W10 Pro key after the upgrade.

bradlymathews said:

Yeah, that and a few other tricks. Doesn't work with OEM, only full version. One of the tradeoffs for a cheaper version of Windows.

Oh bummer.

Do this download the windows media tool just to make sure you get all the new updates i used a usb stick much faster then use the OEM key and ask any of the "TenForum Nerds" there is no difference between OEM and the Retail DVD :)) so it should work when i bought Windows 10 home oem it said Retail on DVD so it should work

bradlymathews said:

Yeah, that and a few other tricks. Doesn't work with OEM, only full version. One of the tradeoffs for a cheaper version of Windows.

Did you check your key with ShowKey? That error says the key is invalid.

bradlymathews said:

@simrick, I looked at your post originally on my phone and the link looked just like a different post I tried. Actually, I did not try what you suggested (don't want anyone else giving up on that trick in case it might work for them.) But it is was too late for me in any case.

Oh! So it may still work - would be interesting to know that. :)

bradlymathews said:

@Superfly, MS tech support said the key was fine. And it worked find when doing the clean install. The key is "invalid" in that you cannot use it for an upgrade. MS error codes are notoriously opaque and duplicative.

@kimkl. Correct, it is the key that makes it retail, OEM, pro, home, etc. And I did use my USB install drive I keep handy (I am the IT department for my friends and family as I am sure many of you are.)

@simrick, I looked at your post originally on my phone and the link looked just like a different post I tried. Actually, I did not try what you suggested (don't want anyone else giving up on that trick in case it might work for them.) But it is was too late for me in any case.

Yea i am the IT Technician for my whole Town "Small Town" most are over 75 so When i say Wireless they say "Yes my lad we used that during the War" Vietnam War !!SMACK%¤# get hit with a cane on my Head no you slacker the Great War WW1 hehe

bradlymathews said:

@Superfly, MS tech support said the key was fine. And it worked find when doing the clean install. The key is "invalid" in that you cannot use it for an upgrade. MS error codes are notoriously opaque and duplicative.

@kimkl. Correct, it is the key that makes it retail, OEM, pro, home, etc. And I did use my USB install drive I keep handy (I am the IT department for my friends and family as I am sure many of you are.)

@simrick, I looked at your post originally on my phone and the link looked just like a different post I tried. Actually, I did not try what you suggested (don't want anyone else giving up on that trick in case it might work for them.) But it is was too late for me in any case.

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

@kimkl.... LOL!