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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

181 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-03-05T22:10:05+00:00

    I've done dozens of these now and it works just like you said it does, Greg.  Assuming you've established the "Digital Entitlement" ahead of time, I've never had a problem (just did one yesterday, as a matter of fact).  It's a bit of a pain to have to do that extra procedure with the Generic Key but it's light years better than having to go back and reinstall an older version of Windows and then "upgrade" your way back up.  You just have to take it in the logical order of steps which you've described and it works just fine; I've yet to have one fail after you wrote that "mini-manual" on how to do it correctly...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2016-03-05T22:35:28+00:00

    Thanks, Travis.  Really glad to hear it.

    Please know that we advocated repeatedly in MVP Communications channel to remove the change in Version 1511 that forces install of 10 Home where there is an embedded Windows 8 Home Product Key, but were dismissed because developers felt that it was more important to prevent the wrong version being installed.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-03-05T22:58:51+00:00

    As I've said earlier (& ad nauseam), just put a disclaimer in there somewhere about Home-to-Home and Pro-to-Pro and if they choose to ignore it then a message appears that says "Sorry, you can't do that" or better still, just don't allow it to install.  Make them have to be the ones who have to go and do a re-install, not us. It puts a burden on those of us who do this over & over again for a living while letting the newbies and casual users off the hook for not paying attention.  Microsoft kind of pushes for everybody to upgrade to Pro and above and yet ultimately penalizes those who do (& did) when we have to do a re-install later on down the road...

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-03-06T03:53:11+00:00

    Thanks Greg, I will try it again.  I have to reinstall 10 again and will use the key and cmd.  It is good that the MVPs are on the threads more these days.  It is not surprising that you were denied a com channel.  It is illustrative of the overall tendency to poor prioritization that has followed the program.  I remember in the beginning that we Insiders were clamoring for a PM system.  They acted like it was future tech and impossible.  Funny that when I'm helping people with HP/W10 issues on the HP forum that we use it all the time.  I'll let you know how it works.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2016-03-06T04:50:23+00:00

    Yeah it sux but it seems that often MSFT's  goals diverge from those they originally set for us.  They have an agenda but won't let us in on it, and allow us to help achieve it.  I wish I were as enthusiastic about this program as I once was, but I will see it through to the end.  Unlike MS most of us still remember the meaning of commitment.

    Sorry to ramble. The upshot is that I agree with you, though.

    mm

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments