Windows 10: Updating Volume licensed Windows 8 to Win 10

I have a volume licensed copy of Windows 8 Enterprise installed on my laptop for which and I no longer have access to updates. Is it possible to downgrade to a legal copy of Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate and then upgrade to Windows 10 Home or Pro? If not, would I be able to install a retail Windows 10 Home or Pro on this machine as an in-place update?
I wish to find a legal way to move to Windows 10 without losing my installed applications or data.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

:)

 

Why don't i have a free windows 10 upgrade?

Andre,

I've seen several official Microsoft statements that confirm that Enterprise editions do not qualify for the free Windows 10 upgrade, but I have not seen any official statement that volume license editions of
Professional editions do not qualify.

Do you have a link to a Microsoft statement that clarifies whether volume licensed installations of Win 7 Pro or Win 8/8.1 Pro qualify for the free upgrade?

The following is on Microsoft's Windows 10 page (Explore Windows 10 New Updates & Features | See What Windows 10 is Like):

Windows 10 Upgrade Offer is valid for qualified Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 devices, including devices you already own. Some hardware/software requirements apply and feature availability may vary by device and market. The availability of Windows 10 upgrade
for Windows Phone 8.1 devices may vary by OEM, mobile operator or carrier. Devices must be connected to the internet and have Windows Update enabled. Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 Update required.
Some editions are excluded: Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 8/8.1 Enterprise, and Windows RT/RT 8.1. Active Software Assurance customers in volume licensing have the benefit to upgrade to Windows 10 enterprise offerings outside of this offer.


The last sentence appears to say that certain customers can upgrade in a different manner, but says nothing about excluding any customers from the upgrade. To me, the plain meaning of that last sentence is that a customer with a Win 7, 8, or 8.1 Enterprise
edition who also has "Active Software Assurance" can upgrade to Win 10 Enterprise, but not through the Windows Update mechanism.

 

Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade. What about Windows 8 !!!.

i cant find the upgrade on the store

it is already updated even the optional updates

my version of win 8 is

Windows 8 Pro, if installed by an organization or a program that uses Volume Licensing

i thinkand it **** sucks it is not getting free upgrade to 8.1

 

Downgrading Windows 8 from Enterprise to Pro - Super User

I can not vouch for the below link, I have not ordered from them, it is only the result of a Google search:
Windows 8.1 Professional 32 / 64bit 1 License Key Download Windows 8.1 Pro - Operating Systems

 

Thank you for sharing sources to purchase new license. I still need to know if a new Windows 8.1 Professional will allow an in-place downgrade from Windows 8 Enterprise to 8.1 Pro which would then be eligible for upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

 

Did you read the first link in my reply?

 

My bad. I only looked at the link below the message. Thank you for the link.
Now that I have read that, I have a question. Step 7 says "Close and insert Windows 8 Pro CD and install." Would it work equally with Windows 8.1 Pro?
Additionally, would it be eligible for and prompt for the free Windows 10 upgrade?

 

Yes, and no. Yes it should work equally with Windows 8.1 Pro. No, it won't b eligible for the free Windows 10 upgrade until you enter a Windows 8/8.1 Pro product key to activate the Windows 8.1.

Although, I think you might be able to upgrade to Windows 10 before activation and then enter a Windows 7/8/8.1 Pro product key in Windows 10 to activate it.

 

Of course I will purchase Windows 8.1 Pro with a product key and will activate it right after installation. I want to ensure each step works before moving to the next step in upgrade.
Do I have to upgrade to Windows 8.1 Pro right away after making the registry edits or can I continue using it while I wait to get my Windows 8.1 install ready? I will be installing it from a USB stick.

 

As soon as it is installed and activated, you can upgrade to Windows 10. We recommend not waiting for it to show up in Windows Update. Instead, we recommend downloading an ISO file and you can just mount the ISO file and run setup.exe from the virtual DVD drive letter created from mounting it. Windows update has proven to be the least reliable way of upgrading to Windows 10.

 

This may sound like a silly question but once the registry hack is done, wouldn't Microsoft update automatically install 8.1 or do I need to purchase a new 8.1 key?

 

Windows update will not install Windows 8.1, you have to install Windows 8.1 manually. You say this is a laptop. Did it come with an OS installed on it from the factory? What OS did it come with and if it was Windows 7, is there a COA sticker anywhere on it with a product key printed on the sticker?

 

This is a MacBook Pro. Windows 8 Enterprise was installed on a BootCamp partition when I received it. I'm trying to move it to Windows 10 without losing the applications installed on it. I can buy the Windows 8.1 Pro from the earlier link and then upgrade it to 10.

 

Yep. That's pretty much what you are going to have to do, then. Purchase the Windows 8.1 Pro for it, download the Windows 8.1 Pro ISO, do the registry hack, do an "in place upgrade" by mounting the ISO file and running setup.exe in it, the activate it by changing the product key to the Windows 8.1 product key you purchased.

Well, actually, when you run the Windows 8.1 Pro setup.exe it will probably ask for a product key - then you would enter the purchased product key.

 

Just be aware - although the registry hack does work, the in-place downgrade will leave rogue Enterprise files behind - which could have unexpected results. It's better to do a clean install.