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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  2. Anonymous
    2017-11-17T19:52:52+00:00

    Hi Greg, i followed your instructions and now the laptop is running Windows 10 Pro.

    Thank you very much!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-12-08T11:20:44+00:00

    Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro using the following default product key:

    VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T 

    Unfortunately, this did not work for me. Suppose I have the same problem as reported over and over: I bought a Win10 Pro license and updated a Win7 Home system to Win10. I had no chance to specify the Win10 version during update. I tried and downloaded 4 GB of data three times and cancelled installation before I gave up. In the end, Win10 Home installed and was activated automatically.

    Until now, I found no way to upgrade to the Pro version I purchased. Error messages again and again.

    I asked at the shop where I bought the key, they told me there is only one chance: a clean install. Meaning I have to format my system partition and the re-installation of about 25 other applications that are also running on C:\ which would be very time consuming and surely make a lot of other new problems!!

    Is there any chance to update to the version I purchased without a partition wipe?

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-12-08T12:43:53+00:00

    follow the above instructions but don't use the upgrade key  use the new key you purchased ---if that doesn't work than its not a pro key   I used a windows 7 pro key on my windows 10 home and it upgraded to pro

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  5. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-12-09T05:03:52+00:00

    Either the default Pro Product Key or your retail Pro Product Key should change the version to Pro and activate (with the Pro retail key). 

    Even if you Clean install it may still read the embedded Windows 8/8.1 Home key and select Home version without giving you a choice.  You need to insert one of the Pro keys to get back to Pro. 

    Make sure you copy and paste the default Pro key to be sure it's accurate, which is the main reason it can fail to activate.

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