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

Anonymous

2018-01-24T15:10:37+00:00
What version are you running? Check at Settings > System > About.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.16299.192]

btw I had to get this via cmd line, because this "great" OS closes the system window when I click on about. NOT kidding....

I also tried to enter the pro key via cmd as described in some threads, but also without success.

BTW: I found another thread where ppl had the same issue with same error codes and they solved it. The issue is that the OS got upgraded from win 8 Home to win 10.... their solution was to upgrade with a win8 Pro key to win 10 Pro. This works successfully according their reports. So I tried a generic Win8 pro key. without success again.

No matter if I use win 8 Pro, win 8.1 Pro or win 10 Pro generic key always the same:
1. It detects the key as valid and asks to start the upgrade
2. klick start
3. progress window opens and keeps some seconds on 0%
4. error, upgrade not possible because I have no valid digital license or no valid product key. error code 0x803FA067
But of course windows is activated. Also the activation menu states that it is activated with a digital license linked to my microsoft account.

really funny that this makes so many problems on so many machines.... also just a clean install is not possible, because the Home version is linked to this HW and setup will not even ask for a product key... really good job....not

I know why my main machine will stay at Win7 as long as possible.... problems with app updates from microsoft store also the whole time.... even with workarounds... mentioned only as a side note here... look and feel is not bad, but so many bugs.... just crap.
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Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2018-01-23T17:12:34+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/
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Anonymous

2018-01-18T20:15:25+00:00

Is this still working?

We bought a notebook with Win 10 Home and our school has licences for Pro. But when I type them in, windows doesn't accept them.

Here

https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/help/12384/windows-10-upgrading-home-to-pro

is told just to type in a Pro serial. But this doesn't work.

Greetings Steffen
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Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2018-01-05T23:38:57+00:00

What version are you running? Check at Settings > System > About.
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Anonymous

2018-01-05T19:57:01+00:00

Hi DarrenC1,

We are going to make these steps more visible and easier to find for folks. Sorry that has not been the case. The process is not really straight forward; I guess we were hoping folks would upgrade their 8 PCs to Pro and then upgrade to 10. Well we have lots of people and lots of scenarios and lots of folks want to start fresh.

From your Windows 10 Home running Version 1511, enter the Windows 10 Pro Default key under change product key.

VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T This default key will not activate the system, just take you to Pro so you can activate using a valid Pro key that you will provide.

Once you have done this, the system will go through an upgrade process from Home to Pro, but will not be activated on Pro. You can now enter your Windows 8 Pro key into your Windows 10 Pro system and it will activate.

I hope this helps

Charles

the mentioned code VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T doesnt work.... error code 0x803fa067 nice official guide here...
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