Can't Upgrade to Pro


  1. Posts : 103
    Windows 10
       #1

    Can't Upgrade to Pro


    I have Windows 10 Home x64 (latest version) installed on my PC. Over the weekend I purchased a Windows 10 Pro key to upgrade the system, but when I go to enter the new code I'm presented with the error: The product key you entered didn't work. Check the product key and try again, or enter a different one. Error Code 0xc004f050.

    After doing some research it was suggested to change the product key to the generic Windows 10 Pro one (VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T) and once that took enter my activation code. However, when I tried that, I get a similar error: We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key. If you think you do have a valid license or key, select Troubleshoot below. (0x803fa067).

    The only thing I can think of is that my currently installed copy of Windows 10 comes from the Windows 8.1 upgrade path. Windows 8.1 was updated from Windows 8 OEM, so Windows 8 Home -> 8.1 -> 10. Once the system was upgraded to 10 I formatted the drive and did a clean install of 10. This was two years ago, or whenever 10 was released. However, the 10 Pro key I purchased is OEM so it should work, at least in my mind, unless there's something I'm missing.

    I should also mention I tried uninstalling the product key to deactivate Windows using the command 'slmgr /upk' and 'slmgr /cpky' but that didn't help.

    So I guess my question is am I missing something, or will I need to do a clean install of Windows 10 and use the new Pro key during the install?
    Last edited by thunderclap; 20 Nov 2017 at 10:37. Reason: Added details
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  2. Posts : 42,737
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 103
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Not really, no, as it provides the generic code I've already mentioned. In this tutorial it does mention that "OEM product keys will not be accepted. It must be a retail key." However, it doesn't clarify if that applies to all codes or just the generic one mentioned in the tutorial. And, again, the new code I have is OEM, so I assume upgrading from Home OEM to Pro OEM wouldn't be an issue. Maybe I'm wrong?
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  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    thunderclap said:
    However, the 10 Pro key I purchased is OEM so it should work, at least in my mind, unless there's something I'm missing.
    First using an OEM license on a personal computer that you intend to keep and use yourself violates the OEM license agreement.

    Second, last time I read on forum threads here, OEM product keys could not be used for upgrades from Home to Pro. They could only be used to activate clean installs. Once you get a clean install activated, then it gets converted to a digital license by Microsoft and you can upgrade Home to Pro on that same machine by entering the generic product key and it would pick up the stored digital license for Pro stored earlier by the clean install.

    Third, you can manually run the Pro product key that you purchased through showkey plus from this forum and see if it passes muster:
    ShowKeyPlus - Windows 10 Forums
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  5. Posts : 103
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Good to know. My understanding of OEM was a bit different at the time of purchase which was years ago. Thank you for the clarification.
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  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    thunderclap said:
    Good to know. My understanding of OEM was a bit different at the time of purchase which was years ago. Thank you for the clarification.
    Device Partner Center


    If you are building a system for your personal use or installing an additional operating system in a virtual machine, you will need to purchase a full version of Windows 10, available in FPP. Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 system builder software does not permit personal use, and is intended only for preinstallation on customer systems that will be sold to end users.
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  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 10 Pro
       #7

    thunderclap said:
    I have Windows 10 Home x64 (latest version) installed on my PC. Over the weekend I purchased a Windows 10 Pro key to upgrade the system, but when I go to enter the new code I'm presented with the error: The product key you entered didn't work. Check the product key and try again, or enter a different one. Error Code 0xc004f050.

    After doing some research it was suggested to change the product key to the generic Windows 10 Pro one (VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T) and once that took enter my activation code. However, when I tried that, I get a similar error: We can't activate Windows on this device because you don't have a valid digital license or product key. If you think you do have a valid license or key, select Troubleshoot below. (0x803fa067).

    The only thing I can think of is that my currently installed copy of Windows 10 comes from the Windows 8.1 upgrade path. Windows 8.1 was updated from Windows 8 OEM, so Windows 8 Home -> 8.1 -> 10. Once the system was upgraded to 10 I formatted the drive and did a clean install of 10. This was two years ago, or whenever 10 was released. However, the 10 Pro key I purchased is OEM so it should work, at least in my mind, unless there's something I'm missing.

    I should also mention I tried uninstalling the product key to deactivate Windows using the command 'slmgr /upk' and 'slmgr /cpky' but that didn't help.

    So I guess my question is am I missing something, or will I need to do a clean install of Windows 10 and use the new Pro key during the install?
    I just found out that if you have Windows 10 installed and have already done the Fall Creators Update, if you try to switch to pro you will get this error and you will not be able to move forward. Try to roll back the Creators Update and try it again. This actually worked for me.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    I know this is an old thread but I had this problem a few days ago and have found a solution online. It seems that problem is the Home version itself, It just doesn't allow for an upgrade to Pro. In the following link, I found that I needed to use a temporary pro key, VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T , to first upgrade the version without any activation. To use this key I needed to cut off the internet, which was suggested by someone else on this page also, otherwise it just gives an error. Without internet connection, this key upgraded my computer to Pro and then I used the new Pro key I purchased to activate the windows 10 Pro. I wanted to post it here so that maybe someone still needs this solution, seeing that I had the same problem even after 2 years from the original post. More detail could be found in the following link. Cheers.

    https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...3-d25f5f83b906
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