How to upgrade 1511 from Home to Pro?

Anonymous
2015-11-16T20:31:01+00:00

I'm not having any luck figuring out how to upgrade from Home to Pro with an existing key.  My system has been running Home and is currently running version 1511.  I've decided to go ahead and use an existing key to upgrade to Pro.  I did a clean install, expecting to be asked to specify a version and provide a key during install, but was never asked for either.  The installer simply formatted the hard drive and installed Home and activated it, with no input from me after the install started other than agree to the terms and tell it my language.

OK, no problem I thought, I'll just go to the Activation setting and give it the new key from there.  However, if I tell it I want to change the key it comes back and says the key I'm giving it can only activate Pro and I'm running Home.  If I go the Store route and tell it I already have a Pro key, it gives me the same message - it tells me my key is for Pro but I'm running Home.  Nowhere along the way does it offer to take my key and give me the upgrade, rather it implies that I must somehow magically upgrade it myself before changing the key.  And that would be fine if I could figure out how to do that.

Anyone know how to force an install of Pro when the installer automatically installs Home with no option given to change it?

Volunteer Moderator/MVP Edit 4/21 -

One must insert the Generic Version Key to first change to Pro.  After Version 1803 if you don't yet have a Digital License for Pro it will not change to Pro version by inserting the default Version key.  So access Action Center at right end of task bar to turn on Airplane Mode to go offline, copy and paste the Generic Pro Key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T in Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change Product Key which will change Home to Pro, then go back online and it will activate with your Pro Product Key or Digital License.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-03-08T05:30:09+00:00

    Just tried it and it works like a charm!  It shows the product key for Internet Explorer, the Windows OEM key embedded in the BIOS and the one for Windows 10 Professional; who could ask for more?  However, people should be aware that Windows SmartScreen throws-up all manner of scary warnings about "Do you want to run this on your PC", etc.  That could be enough to frighten some of the newbies into not running the program.  There's also one that I downloaded from somewhere that's called "ProductKeyFinder.vbs".  Even I'm scared of unknown programs that end in ".vbs" - that could be a recipe for disaster.  However, anybody who needs to know their product key would do well to obtain this program; just make sure to jot the info down for future reference.  Thanks!

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  2. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-03-08T05:20:22+00:00

    Please explain the exact procedure you followed.  I thought you had reinstalled Windows 7 and were upgrading again.   Did you complete the in-place Upgrade, confirm it was activated?   Is this now  Home Version? 

    What Pro Product Key do you have?  How are you trying to apply it to an in-place Upgrade from WIndows 7?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-08T05:13:27+00:00

    This thing has clearly gotten out of control. Microsoft, what's going on here?

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-03-08T04:51:07+00:00

    I'm at a loss at this point.  Even with the product key for PRO, the procedure for restoring to W10 Pro won't work.  And whenever I revert my W7 activation is invalidated and wont revalidate with the PK.

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  5. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-03-08T03:45:49+00:00

    Use the full install link from author's site ProduKey - Recover lost product key (CD-Key) of Windows/MS-Office/SQL Server  which installs to x86 Program File so should work.

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