Windows 10: Hypothetical question re Win 10 home-Pro upgrade.

And that is definitely a possibility. Sometimes when the Windows 8 product key is entered to attempt to activate Windows 10, Microsoft will respond that the product key is in use on another computer. When that happens, Windows 8 (or Windows 7 as applicable) must be installed temporarily on that computer either on a spare hard drive or on a separate partition. Use phone activation to activate the Windows 7 or 8 on that computer. Then you can go back and activate Windows 10 on that same computer with the Windows 7 or 8 product key.

When I built my new computer a few months ago, I didn't even bother taking any chances. I installed my retail Windows 7 on it, activated it over the phone, grabbed the genuineticket.xml file and then clean installed Windows 10.

 

Then it's possible that entering the key on the new laptop will say it's already in use on the deceased laptop.
I suspect that in the long run it'll be best to not try & upgrade using the Win 8 key I have.

 

Assumptions can be proved or otherwise refuted by actually trying them out - the acid test.

Faint heart never won... as the saying goes.

Your situation may need to be decided by a telephone call to the Windows Activation centre whose function is primarily to facilitate tricky activations rather than weed out those who would unfairly try to run Microsoft products illegitimately, who generally employ more cowardly, covert methods than straightforward asking agents what could be going wrong.

 

Showkey says Win 8 RTM retail Professional. Now all I need to know is how to try & enter it & where, I know there's change product key but apparently I require where to upgrade he key.

 

Well I plunged ahead & tried the key but it wouldn't allow me to upgrade it, stated I was running home & I couldn't use the key. *Sad

 

That's because you have to trigger the upgrade with the Windows 10 Pro generic product key. You can't use a Windows 8 product key to trigger the upgrade.

 

Thanks NavyLCDR, have now triggered the upgrade with the generic key & successfully entered Windows 8 pro product key.
I am now running Win 10 pro which says is activated.
Will keep an eye on it over the next few weeks - 90 days to see if it remains so.

Thank you so much to all who helped & offered advice. *Thumbs

 

One more suggestion now that you have your Windows 10 installed and activated. Please make a Complete Image backup NOW. I suggest you use Macrium Reflect and NOT Windows backup. This is insurance for you if something goes wrong down the road.
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

 

Good for you Doc...go out and celebrate with a pint or two!!

 

I'll probably have a glass of wine or 3. *Wink