Update Conundrum

Unfortunately I think that is not possible as of now.

Your logic is right: With the Windows 8 Pro key you could install Windows 8 Pro and update that to Windows 10 Pro then. And you would also be using Windows 10 Pro, if you now did an upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro.

In newer versions of Windows, Microsoft wants to change the way how an upgrade activates. That way it then might be possible to directly do a clean install of Windows 10, not having to do an upgrade from an older version first. The setup routine then is said to accept keys from Windows 7 and Windows 8 as well. However, these changes currently only are planned for Insider Builds. They are not (not yet?) part of the release version of Windows 10. In how far they want to make upgrading from Home to Pro easier as well? I don't know. But basically, for the key, that is exactly your situation.

I could imagine one way, how it could work: From your Windows 10 Home, use the WIndows options to change the version to Pro. It will tell you that you have to buy the Pro version; don't do that, but instead use the "I have a key" option. Then it will present you an option to enter your Windows 10 Pro key.

Is it maybe possible to phone the Microsoft hotline and to tell them you want to change your Windows 8 key into a Windows 10 one? If they gave you a Windows 10 key, you would be ready to go!

Hi Joergi - thanks for your response. I'll give your suggestions a spin and let you know how I get on

google. from winsupersite

1. Open up All Settings and tap or click the Update & Security component.
   
   
2. In Update & Security, drop down to the Activation section on the left and tap or click the "Go to Store" option.
   
   
3. You'll be whisked straight away to the Windows Store app and land directly on the page that provides quick access to purchasing the Windows 10 Pro Pack.

$99 later and the upgrade starts. The upgrade that downloads is not like the original Windows 10 upgrade. Its much smaller and takes a lot less time.
Here you can also enter your Windows 10 Pro product key if you obtained it through other means.z


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Thanks for posting the pics, firebasejay! This is the procedure I mean.

Joergi said:

Thanks for posting the pics, firebasejay! This is the procedure I mean.

did it work? you can also do it from the System page (WinKey+X and hit System, then click Upgrade down in the activation section)

I don't know. I don't have the problem.

oh right

The problem is, I don't want to pay microsoft any money to upgrade to w10 pro - I have w10 home, and I also have a copy of win8 pro. Obviously I could use the w8 disk to install w8 pro and then upgrade to win10 pro, but I was hoping to avoid all that hassle and simply input the w8 key and upgrade directly. However, it just doesn't seem to be possible...
Anyway, thanks for the help and advice you've given

I have understood what you want to do.

Have a look at my answer again: If you just wait for the next bigger update (maybe getting out at the beginning of November), then you might already be able to use the Windows 8 Pro key to activate Windows 10 Pro.