Windows 10: Transferring a Windows 10 Home Retail license upgraded to Pro through the Microsoft Store

I have a Windows 10 Home Retail product key purchased through NewEgg which I upgraded to Windows 10 Pro through the Microsoft Store which I want to transfer to a new machine including the Pro upgrade. I read several posts here which suggest there is no problem doing this and there shouldn't be. I installed Windows 10 Home first on the new machine, and I activated it using my Home edition product key the one that had been upgraded to Pro. That worked just fine, but when I logged in to the Microsoft Store following the instructions from Microsoft, there was no option to upgrade to

:)

 

Windows 10 upgrade license

The interesting question is that: the upgrade takes place before 29 of July. If I upgrade the PC (change the MB), and I transfer the Win 8.1 license to this new PC (cause 8.1 is retail FPP), will I be able to upgrade to Windows 10 for free? Or a upgrade license must be bought?

 

Potential upgrade to AMD Ryzen

There are two types of Windows licenses...

• Retail
• OEM

Retail licenses of Windows can be legally transferred between hardware because it's a retail license. Upgrade licenses if it was an upgrade from a retail license maintains the same license freedoms that the original license held, Windows 10 upgrade licenses are the only exception to that rule. OEM licenses however cannot be transferred from hardware to hardware. Upgrades from OEM licenses of course have the same restrictions that the original OEM license had.

However, right now Microsoft is still accepting old licenses of Windows as an upgrade to Windows 10. All you have to do is type in your old key and it will accept it. Why Microsoft is still allowing this I have no idea but my thoughts are is that Windows 10 adoption numbers are so damn low that they need all the help they can get. *Laugh :laugh:

 

Upgrade from Home to Pro by transferring a retail license


Thanks for all the replies! I'm operating under these assumptions: HOW do I transfer windows (retail license) after upgrading to Windows - Windows 10 Forums by which the licence in question would be transferable.

I don't have the install disk because I bought the .iso. I do have the original MSFT emails with the product keys. But I think NavyLCDR is right, I'll try first to upgrade using the Windows 8 product key. Then I'll contact MSFT. If that fails, I'll try with NavyLCDR's second suggestion. If everything else fails, I think I'm gonna use sinful activation methods. I don't feel like paying again for a full licence.

S