Windows 10: I have Windows 10 pro Activated on my laptop and i got offered an update to upgrade to...

Can I go back to windows 11?

:)

 

Can't upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Pro

Hi Bill,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and will assist you in the best possible ways.

I suggest you to download and create an installation media for Windows 10 Pro form the link provided below:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/software-download/windows10

After the installation media is created, suggest you to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from the installation media. When the upgrade asks for product key, enter the product key purchased for Windows 10 Pro. If it does not accept, suggest you to skip the activation
step. After the Operating System is installed, suggest you to activate by phone by following the steps below:

• Press “Windows key + R” and type “slui 4” and press Enter.
• Select the Region from the list and click Next.
• Call the Toll-Free number provided on top and can activate via phone.

Hope this helps. Keep us posted on the status for further assistance.

 

Windows 10 not offering upgrade to Pro for free

Sequence of events:

• Lenovo Yoga 500 purchased with Windows 10 Home
• Upgraded to Windows 10 Pro via the Store using Microsoft account
• Time passes... few quirks in use and want to upgrade to SSD
• Hard disk replaced with SSD and Windows 10 (Redstone) re-installed from scratch from ISO
• Logged on using the same account used to upgrade
• Windows 10 Home installed by default - assume it dug out the digital key from the motherboard
• Going through the process detailed in the link below, one isn't offered the free upgrade; just the paid one

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/12384/windows-10-upgrading-home-to-pro

If I look at purchase history, I can see I've purchased four Windows 10 Pro upgrades on the account.

As far as I can ascertain, the digital key of the laptop should be recorded somewhere along with the original Windows 10 upgrade to allow on to upgrade for free again in case of a rebuild but that isn't happening.

BTW - I took an image of the laptop before re-installing Windows and have been able to go back to that.

Is it the replacement of the hard disk that causing the problem, i.e. I know that historically Windows activation was tied to the hardware but didn't think hard disks were part of that algorithm.

 

Upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro

This is what I used

"

Follow these steps to upgrade from Windows 10 Home if you have a Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8.1 Pro, or Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product key:

• Select the Start button, then select Settings >
  Update & security > Activation.

• Select Change product key, and then enter this 25-character default product key:
  
  VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Important

This default product key will upgrade your device to Windows 10 Pro, but won't activate it.

• Select Next to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

• After your device is upgraded to Windows 10 Pro, you'll need to activate Windows. Select the Start button, then select
  Settings > Update & security > Activation.

• Select Change product key, and then enter your 25-character Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8 Pro, Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8.1 Pro, or Windows 8.1 Pro Pack product key.

• Select Next to activate Windows 10 Pro.

"