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. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-11-15T17:02:26+00:00

    From my able MVP colleague Andre Da Costa: 

    Yes, you can.

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

    VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T 

    Review instructions how to perform an Easy Upgrade using the default key:

    How to Perform an Easy Upgrade in Windows 10 

    After upgrading, proceed to enter the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Windows 8 Pro product key.

    Click Start > Settings****> Update & security****>Activation > Change the product key then enter the new product key then click Nextto Activate

    Keep us posted.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-11-15T13:51:56+00:00

    Hi Greg, i know is an old thread, hope you see this. Where i work we have a bunch of licenses of windows 7 pro that we are not using. We purchased the licenses through the Volume License Program. Recently, we bought a laptop with windows 10 Home pre installed. Can we update to windows 10 Pro for free using the windows 7 pro volume license key? thank you in advance.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-11-08T05:06:02+00:00

    Please do!  I compel all my clients to immediately upgrade to Windows 10 Professional Edition (if I don't order their hardware, in which case I always specify Win 10 Pro) and I'm constantly stymied by this issue, even though there is a pain-in-the-neck

    "workaround".  As long as somebody has legitimately bought the upgrade license (which my guys always do) there's no reason to make the customer go jump through all those hoops.  Just allow Pro to be installed as per usual and let the customer's license (digital or otherwise) or product key do the "talking".  If they don't have the proper credentials then the thing simply won't "activate", that's all...

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  5. Greg Carmack 24,780 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-11-08T04:26:52+00:00

    This happens in the case of a Windows 8/8.1 embedded Product Key - or now with a Digital License detected for Home - it forces the installer to install the lesser version without offering a menu.  MVP's have complained about this but the company thinks it keeps people from installing the higher version because they think they can get it. 

    The solution is to insert the default Pro Product key from here:  Generic key to install Windows 10 RTM

    This will change the version to Pro so you can insert your Product Key to activate. 

    Sorry for the hassle.  We will keep pressing this matter with Microsoft.

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