Windows 10: Downgrade Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Home - no media

So my PC crashed and the repair place re-installed Windows. My problem is now, nearly a year later, my PC has informed me that my Windows 10 is about to expire (I was using Windows 10 before).....it says please enter a product key, but mine doesn't work. My key is for Windows 7 Home Premium and I find I have Windows 10 Pro. From looking around it seems the repair place should have installed Windows 10 Home, so that's why my key doesn't work.


Q1 - Am I right in thinking my key from 7 Home Premium is only good for 10 Home, not Pro?

Assuming yes:

Q2 - How do I install Windows 10 Home on my PC - ie downgrade my 10 Pro to 10 Home? Please say this is easy and no clean install needed

Assuming I have to do a clean install (and yes everything is backed up/in the cloud):

Q3 - How do I do a clean install without media?


Ta everso

:)

 

windows 7 8 or 10

We can kick Windows 8.1 to the curb right away. Windows 10, in tablet mode, is effectively identical...not that I would recommend using tablet mode.

The only advantage Windows 8.1 has over Windows 10 is Windows Media Center. Windows 10 doesn't have it and likely will never support it. Microsoft wants you to buy an Xbox One and use that, instead of your computer, for media, and then stream it to your Windows 10 machine from the Xbox One. Windows Media Center on 7 seems to not be getting updates anymore (worked off of Vista guide info which shut down). Windows Media Center on 8.1 costs $10 to upgrade on Pro or $100 to upgrade on Home.

The Windows 7 upgrade (should still work for about 10 months yet) requires:
1) Install Windows 7.
2) Activate Windows 7.
3) Upgrade to Windows 10.
4) Activate Windows 10.
At this point, you could either stay with Windows 10 or downgrade to Windows 7 by doing a clean install.

Personally, I would go with Windows 10. It has some bugs but it is pretty good overall.

 

Is it time for Windows 10 already?

Again, for those that want the update reservation and you meet the requirements ---> Upgrade to Windows 10 for Free

And, some info from the FAQ page:

Also, some interesting info from the Specifications page:

 

Windows 10 Tweaks

Pressing “Windows+Pause Break” (it’s up there next to scroll lock) opens the “System” Window.

Windows 10: In the new version of Windows, Explorer has a section called Quick Access. This includes your frequent folders and recent files. Explorer defaults to opening this page when you open a new window. If you’d rather open the usual This PC, with links to your drives and library folders, follow these steps:

• Open a new Explorer window.
• Click View in the ribbon.
• Click Options.
• Under General, next to “Open File Explorer to:” choose “This PC.”
• Click OK

credit to Lifehacker.