Windows 10: Install Windows 10 Pro using Windows 8 Pro key? (NOT 8.1)

I have a Windows 8 Pro key that came on a plastic card with the Windows 8 DVD. I am pretty sure this is an upgrade version, but I don't know for sure because I don't have the original packaging. All I have is the DVD and the plastic card that has the activation code.

I am wondering if there is a short cut to using this key to install Windows 10 Pro?

Do I really have to install Windows 8, install it again (because it's probably an upgrade key), upgrade to 8.1, and then upgrade to 10?

Is there some way I can just install Windows 10 directly?

This will be installed on a new computer on a blank SSD.

:)

 

Can I activate windows 10 with Windows 7 or 8 key?

If you have Windows 10 Pro installed and you have either a Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8 Pro license, yes, you can use it to activate Windows 10 Pro.

Learn more about how to install and activate Windows 10 Pro using either a Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8 Pro key:

How to install and activate Windows 10 using your Windows 7 or Windows 8 product key

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

 

windows 10 related

Thanks for reply.

Now please guide : The laptop has purchased with pre installed windows 8. I changed the key to Windows 8 pro which get the machine upgraded to windows 10 pro. The machine is now old and giving problems. how can I go back to original OEM windows licence of
8 home which will be upgraded to windows 10 home, to free my windows 8 pro key from the laptop.

This I want to use on new laptop which has OEM windows 10 home, to upgrade to windows 10 professional by first clean installation of windows 8 pro which will be upgraded to windows 10 pro.

whether above is possible, if yes please convey.

thanks

 

Just install Windows 10, select "I don't have a product key", "skip", or "do this later" when asked for a Windows 10 product key. After it is installed go to settings, updates and security, activation screen, and change product key to the Windows 8 Pro product key to activate it.

 

So that will work even though my Win 8 Pro key is an upgrade key, not a full license key?

 

You may upgrade to Win 8 Pro, then upgrade to Win 10 Pro with Win 10 free upgrade.

 

I don't know what you mean. This will be for a new computer that won't have anything on it. Just a new SSD.

 

Upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro - Windows Help


The only difference is that you will initially install Windows 10 Pro, but once you get it installed, the activation with the Windows 8 Pro upgrade pack key is the same as described in the article:

 

I used a Windows 8 Pro retail key and when asked for a key during W10 install I put in the W8 key and it auto activated.
I used a 1511 version ISO for the install which had both Pro and Home versions and it installed the Pro version.

This was a change when 1511 was released.

Jim *Cool

 

OK, I'll see what happens. I should have the parts by late this week.

The idea of activating 10 Pro with an 8 Pro upgrade key seems too good to be true.

It is an actual Windows 8 Pro Upgrade key designed to upgrade from Windows 7 (and maybe from Vista?). It isn't just to upgrade from 8 to 8 Pro.

 

The option to activate Windows 10 with a Windows 8 product key will only be free until July 29th.

 

Yeah that was motivation for ordering this system / parts now to avoid the cost of a full Windows 10 license.

Personally I think it is crazy that they are going to charge US$119 for a Windows 10 license from July 30. Why not just make it $50?

I have done about 20 upgrades from 7 or 8.1 for friends and family since the Win 10 launch last year. Will be sad to see that business go.

 

That's been the price of all recent Windows versions, in terms of being full retail.

 

I think that you are right these days!

When Windows 8 Pro came out I got two update keys which I used for clean installs. However when I tried to do a new clean install, the update key I used would not work. The error message said I had to do an update. To get the W8 Pro key to work I first had to install a retail copy of Windows 7. The tricky bit was that Windows 7 did not contain any drivers for the Ethernet and USB ports on my new motherboard, and I don't have a DVD drive. Once I had Windows 7 and then W8.1 Pro activated I was able to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, and once that was activated I could then do clean installs of W10 Pro 32 and 64 bit versions.