Windows 10: I bought a Windows Ten Pro key and it doesn't work...

I bought a new Dell Laptop with Windows Ten Home. I wanted to wipe the laptop clean and set it up the way I set up all my machines, partitioning the drive basically. Plus to wipe out whatever crap they pre-install. The product key for the OS it came with is "injected" into the computer so I can't retrieve it, so I bought a new Windows 10 Pro key from a buyer online that I bought two other keys from.

While installing the OS it never asked me for a key??? After installing, it booted right into the OS as Windows 10 Home and it was already activated. So I went to change the key to the new key and it didn't work. I got an error saying the key didnt work.

Have any ideas as to whats going here?

Thanks.

:)

 

Windows 8.1 pro updates to Windows 10 home

The update screen appeared on my computer and I used it. There never was a requested product key nor an indication it was upgrading to Windows Ten Home during the entire process from Windows Pro 8.1 . I surrendered to my time constraints and bought
the upgrade to Windows Ten Pro so I could keep working unimpeded. Thank you for your interest but please excuse me from the discussion as I've have other commitments to complete.

 

Getting windows 10 pro without a product key

Hi,

I've bought windows 10 pro product key before I realize that my actual windows is windows 10 enterprise, so the product key doesn't work. And now I want to get windows 10 pro without a product key, if it is possible, and use my product key to activate it.
is it possible? if yes, how?

[Moved from Insider]

 

Hi, Perhaps this tutorial which I looked up for you in the extensive professional Tutorials section will help:
Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

 

That tutorial is nothing I don't already know. I'm saying that when I enter my purchased key, the OS is telling me the key doesn't work.

 

So then maybe you got a bad key.

 

That can actually happen? How does that happen? Damn it. I dont have time for this.

 

Download Showkey Plus from this forum:
ShowKeyPlus

Run it and it will show you the product key stored in UEFI and what edition of Windows it is for. Then you can click on Check Product Key and manually enter your purchased product key and see what edition of Windows it is for. I'll bet you will find an edition mismatch - if you purchased a valid product key.

For example - you have Windows 10 Home installed and the product key you purchased is for Windows 10 N Pro - the N is the edition mismatch.

 

If you buy from a third party anything is possible. There is no guarantee when you deal with gray markets.

 

Ok. I downloaded ShowKeyPlus and checked the new key. It said it's Win 10 RTM Professional OEM: DM EULA Type: OEM

 

Well, I purchased two other keys from them and those worked fine. Just this one I am having trouble with.

 

You said your machine booted into W10 Home, you're entering a Pro key, why don't you install W10 Pro?

 

Change product key to the Windows 10 generic Pro product key:
VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Once the upgrade to Pro finishes, change product key again to your purchased Windows 10 Pro product key. You can't do an upgrade with an OEM product key.

The product key in the computer's UEFI is blocking the installation of Windows 10 Pro. The solution is to put the Windows 10 Pro product key in a PID.txt file, save it to the \sources folder of the Windows 10 installation USB flash drive and that will override the Windows 10 Home product key stored in UEFI.

 

How do I install pro? I created a boot disk using MS's media creation tool. I booted the laptop from that and was never asked what to install. How do I install pro?

 

See my post #11 above on how to upgrade your 10 Home to Pro.

And, ironically, my post #11 here for detailed instructions how to install 10 Pro:
Method of buying Home to Pro Upgrade that gets a Re-usable Key?