How to upgrade 1511 from Home to Pro?

Anonymous

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.

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181 answers

Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2018-01-31T16:18:15+00:00

You can temporarily use Team Viewer if possible, since it works much better anyway.

We had been told by Support manager that the V.1703 would limit the ability to change to Pro version with the default key to only those who already have the Pro Digital License assigned to the PC. Did you?

If so using a Pro Product Key should work. That it doesn't needs attention from Support to either get it fixed or know why not.

I'd use chat here: https://partner.support.services.microsoft.com/en-us/contact/menu/software/windows/setup/

Please observe what they do or ask them specifically so you can report it back here to help others.
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Anonymous

2018-01-30T17:48:12+00:00

Hi Kathrin.

I had EXACTLY the same!

Was your machine also original upgraded from win8/8.1 to 10? during free upgrade period?

than you have to enter a win 8 PRO key.... I read it several times and it also worked for me... my win 10 PRO key was rejected with same code like yours....

ppl spend money for win 10 Pro keys for nothing...

this seems to be a HUGE bug.... thanks BILL.... not...
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Anonymous

2018-01-30T08:49:37+00:00

There have been some changes lately. I would try inserting both the Pro Default Product key and your retail Product Key in Activation Settings link to Change Product Key. http://winaero.com/blog/generic-key-to-install-windows-10-rtm/

Ok... give it another try...

Go to activation mask, <Change Product Key>

-> entering the retail key for Win10 Pro immediately gives error 0xc004f050 ("entered product key does not work"). The screen for entering a key remains open.

-> entering the generic Win10 Pro key from the linked page first opens the "upgrade Windows Edition" mask. Click on <Start> seems to start some process, but stops after 0% installation and error 0x803fa067. After this, I'm back on the activation mask.

I also did a reboot, tried the the generic key first and retail key afterwards, with the same result. My retail key is rejected immediately, the generic key just needs one more step to fail, and the error code differs. But at the end of the day, the result is the same: I keep sticking on Win10 Home.

It it was not for Remote Desktop which I really need for my work, I would give up :(
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Anonymous

2018-01-24T18:26:11+00:00

ah ok, thanks for clarification. Didnt read anything similar about this change so far....

OK, I have a retail key. When I use it there is another error code. 0xc004f050

It says the code doesnt work. According to all the guides all over the net this is "normal" and you have to use the generic key to upgrade and use the retail afterwards...

Thatwhy I wasnt thinking about it, but now I assume I got a faulty or blocked code, whatever... Is there any chance to check if a code is valid?

update:

I found an old key from win8 pro which I am not using anymore. With this the upgrade worked fine.

PS:

perhaps you should add a FAQ entry that the generic keys dont work anymore... the net is full with this workaround....
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Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2018-01-24T16:06:37+00:00

The change that was made in last version is that one cannot use Default Pro Product Key to change from Home to Pro unless there is already a Digital License for Pro on the PC. Previously you could do it without the DL being there yet.

If you have a retail Pro Product Key, use it.

If you have a Store Pro Upgrade, sign into the Store account and reapply it.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.
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