Windows 10: Method of buying Home to Pro Upgrade that gets a Re-usable Key?

Hi there

Another possibility

If you have an old W7 / W8 / W8.1 installation (or media) or old TechNet keys for these - you CAN still upgrade to W10 FREE -- not sure when Ms will close this particular upgrade path but 2 days ago (Jan 30)it was still working (I created a new W10 x64 pro VM using W7 Ultimate as the upgrade path. No problem with W10 activation - and it's FULL RETAIL).

I'm not even sure if the W7 system has to be activated first either --I simply entered the Key when installing the W10 OS - didn't even need to have W7 installed first.

Cheers
jimbo

 

Originally when the free upgrade offer first started, the qualifying OS had to be installed and activated. You had to upgrade and activate Windows 10 before you could clean install and activate 10 on that same PC. Windows 10 install media only accepted Windows 10 keys. Latter on the install media was altered to accept Windows 8 and 7 keys on a clean install, no having to upgrade first. It's still coded that way, and reads Windows 8 and 10 OEM keys. I wish it wouldn't read the Windows 8 keys but it does. It will be interesting to see what keys are accepted on the next consumer release build. And if the unofficial free upgrade stops at that time.

 

Thank you again guys. As ever it's easy when you know how. I find I just can't hold that sort of detailed information in my head unless I use it fairly regularly - it fades very quickly.

I'm simply looking to change the OEM Win 10 Home on a new notebook for Pro Jimbo. The whole upgrade path deal seems to have lots of kinks.

I'm off now to get on with it....