Re-Installing W10 from USB onto a VM

I have
- a licensed/activated Windows 10 10586.545 Dutch as VM (Ultimate version)
- Windows 10 anniversary update English, on USB (created using Media Creation Tool)


I would like the Dutch .545 be replaced by English Anniversary Update version.

Resetting the VM version just gets me the same 545 Dutch version again.

Is it possible to re-install Windows using the USB, if so, how?
I might create a new VM, but then I run into a license issue, the product key has already be taken.

Thanks
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First, there is no such thing as an "ultimate version" of Windows 10. Did you mean Pro?

Second, you cannot perform an "upgrade" install between different language versions.

You should be able to do a clean install, since this is a pro version. Single language editions cannot be activated with a different language, but I think single language only applies to Home (I could be wrong though). So you should probably just install to a clean VM.

You don't mention which Virtual Machine software you're using, VMWare or Hyper-V or VirtualBox? The procedure is different for all of them to use a physical USB to install.

Ah .. yes, sorry, about the Ultimate, the source was 7 ultimate (then upgraded to 10 Pro)

Whilst writing this Windows 10 Pro EN is installing as VM. Don't know what will come out, whether the key is accepted.

First did
slmgr.vbs -upk
in the existing VM

then deleted that one
and now created a new one using media creation tool's ISO
used the Windows 7 Ult. NL key
and selected English language.

let's see.. seems it is accepted as sofar the setup is going normal.
I am not sure, AFAIK one could only 'upgrade/use the same language...?



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cereberus said:

This will only activate in a new vm if the unofficial grace period for free upgrades is continuing.

To be clear, you need to re-install in the same VM it was originally installed in.

Ehm...
Am a little confused, possibly my question was unclear, for which I am sorry.

The situation is like this:
1. Months agi I installed Windows 10 Pro as a VM (VMware Workstation v12) using the key of a Windows 7 Ultimate NON-English version
2. the other day I uninstalled the key
3. I then entirely deleted the VM, so I need to start from scratch
4. downloaded the .iso (Media Creation Tool)
5. create a new VM using that iso
6. at the very beginning one has to select language, keyboard, etc.
there I select English...
7. next step, enter key, I enter the key of the NON-English version

Windows 10 Pro does not report any issues with regards to the language, i.e.
it does not report that the selected language, that is going to be installed (English), does not correspond with the key.

English version is installed and is activated. All seem to work fine.

So far so good.

The question now is: Is this the correct way of changing the interface language to English?
Considering that with the Pro-versions of Windows 10, it is possible to retroactively add another interface language
(see tutorial from Kari How to Add or Remove Language Packs and change Display Language in Windows 10)
Sure, you have more languages to select from, when going thru the steps in that tutorial.

So... maybe it is a legitimate option to re-install an English version right from the start over an previously activated Windows 10 Pro non-English version?
(I admit, it is more drastic)

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Hello Kari

Thank you very much indeed!

This is exactly the answer that I was looking for. I was quite confused on the language matter.
To be honest, whilst having retail licenses of Windows 7 Ultimate (2x) and Windows 8.0 Pro and 8.1 Pro,
but all being non-English, I bought a single retail Windows 10 Pro English.

I discovered that one might apply an language pack alright on a non-English version and things
look pretty much English, but when going into very detailed matters, such as some Event Log
events (errors), they may not always be translated/converted into English and therefore seeking
solutions for such errors can be difficult at times.

Anyway, many thanks again!

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Kari said:

Windows product keys are version and edition specific and language independent, meaning you can always install and activate a Chinese Windows 8.1 Pro with a Dutch Windows 8.1 Pro product key, or a Finnish Windows 10 Home with a South African Windows 10 Home product key.

That's true of Pro and Multi-Language home, but not true of Single-Language Home. Single-Language home keys are specific to that language.

Windows Single-Language versions replaced the old "Core" editions as the "cheapo" version.