This key came with the lenovo e545 I purchased in 2014(I think). The "Free" win10 upgrade would never complete...allways went to the end and said, "there was a problem" and reboot into win7 pro. Thought what thread was saying was the key could be used if it never been used to update. No buying illegal keys happening.
Is it possible to upgrade a Windows 10 Home PC activated on a retail key to Windows Pro using a Pro OEM key ?
This document from Microsoft seems to indicate otherwise:
https://devicepartner.microsoft.com/...ing_Guide-docx
"System Builder product may not be used as an upgrade license to an existing underlying Windows operating system.
With the Windows 10 System Builder product, you:
Can do only clean installs for new PCs (no upgrades).
Will not be able to keep settings, files, or user preferences as it is a clean install."
System Builder product is another name for OEM. In addition, in the latest versions of Windows, I think in 1803 and 1809, possibly even earlier, Microsoft has disabled the ability to upgrade from Home to Pro using the generic Pro product key of VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T unless there is already a digital license for Pro for that computer established. It used to be that you could upgrade to Pro using the -3V66T product key and without a digital license you would just end up with Pro that was not activated. With the latest versions of Windows 10, Microsoft has closed that loophole.
Last edited by NavyLCDR; 19 Feb 2019 at 21:24.
Thanks for the replies @Brink and @NavyLCDR. When I said the Pro key was an OEM one I'd jumped to conclusions, it turned out to be retail when I checked it in ShowKeyPlus. I'd been browsing Amazon for Windows 10 Pro and noticed that keys were being sold for stupidly low prices (the reason I assumed they were OEM keys). My 10 Home upgraded to Pro in about fifteen minutes and activated with no problems. So the upgrade for the price of two pints of beer
Last edited by DooGie; 20 Feb 2019 at 08:51.
Thanks for the replies @Brink and @NavyLCDR. When I said the Pro key was an OEM one I'd jumped to conclusions, it turned out to be retail when I checked it in ShowKeyPlus. I'd been browsing Amazon for Windows 10 Pro and noticed that keys were being sold for stupidly low prices (the reason I assumed they were OEM keys). My 10 Home upgraded to Pro in about fifteen minutes and activated with no problems. So the upgrade for the price of two pints of beer
Great news.
I am hoping to upgrade to Win 10 Pro from Home but as I haven't been educated in what all the strange MS terms mean, I find have two questions - dumbo!
1. Using Keyfinder I learn that my refurb Lenovo PC has
Windows 10 Home
Product Part No.: [TH]X19-9
Installed from 'OEM' media.
Product ID: 00***-*0000-00000-AAOEM match to CD Key data
CD Key: *****-*****-*****-*****-***** (my asterisks for a real MS code)
I wonder about that AAOEM bit. Is that a problem?
2. I have a key for an install I bought online for Win 7 Pro which was used to install on an old PC which no longer works. It was accepted for activation 5 years ago without any problem. Does that have to be deactivated somehow before I can use it for the Win 10 upgrade?
I have been rummaging around in old devices and trying Keyfinder on the ones that work. Also looking at the old Microsoft Certificates stuck on the cases. That has given me quite a stock of genuine keys! Win 98 (2), Win XP Pro, Win 7 Pro (2) and now Win 10 Home. I don't suppose the very old ones are any good for this task
Tony
By the way, I see that Keyfinder has the phrase "Installed from 'OEM' media." on all the scans it did on 4 different devices. So I suspect it doesn't actually mean much!
@Snugglebugs
Are ONLY valid to for the machine they are stuck on and no other. They are NOT transferable. SorryMicrosoft Certificates stuck on the cases.
Useful to know.
However, both of my Win 7 Pro were from product I bought as 'electronic downloads', to upgrade existing machines. One machine was bought with XP installed and the other with basic MS-DOS installed for me, the user, to install whatever I wanted.
So they were not supplied with specific machines.
OK?
As I wrote, one machine does not even exist any more. As there is no way to "deactivate" the OS, I must assume that I can use that code without problem?
Tony
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