Windows 10: Windows 10 in place upgrade reads BIOS key not installed key.

Dell XPS 8900. Originally came with Windows 7 Home OEM (key in BIOS). Windows 7 installed from scratch using Windows 7 Pro legit key. Working fine for a couple of years.

Attempted in place Windows 10 1909 upgrade using Media Creation Tool "upgrade this PC to Windows 10" and also via ISO and USB drive created from Media Creation Tool.

The problem is that the in place upgrade reads the OEM key from BIOS and wants to install "Home" instead of the currently installed "Pro".

When you get to the point in the upgrade it does not allow you to keep personal files and settings. the message is "can't keep Windows settings, personal files, and apps because you're installing an edition of Windows that's different than the one you're currently using. Proceeding from this point installs Home and wipes out files and installed software.

Microsoft screwed the pooch on this one.

The installer should be reading the installed key first and then the BIOS embedded key only if the installed key does not exist.

They are apparently reading the BIOS key first and using that as the version to install without paying any attention to the installed version.

I'm just putting this out there to help anyone else who might run into the issue. I've researched this extensively and there does not appear to be a fix. I've tried the old ei.cfg fix along with pretty much everything else I could find. No solution appears to be available for this bug which will allow a proper in place windows 7 to 10 upgrade to proceed.

The only solution appears to be to reinstall from scratch using the windows 7 pro key.

Good Job Microsoft! /sarcasm

submitted by /u/youreensample
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:)

 

Installing Windows 10 using Windows 7 key

Nope, you need to install Windows 10 first and make sure the Windows 7 key is transferred to your Windows account after you've installed Windows 10 (not quite sure how that works). I missed the last step and I could not activate Windows 10 after a re-install... Microsoft seem to have done everything they can to make it a PITA. Also, it's technically too late to do this now anyhow, as the upgrade offer has expired. But KMSPico works quite well...

As for getting rid of Windows, delete the Windows folder.

 

windows 10 key

Now that I have finally upgraded from Windows 8 to Windows 10 will my Windows 8 key work with a fresh install of Windows 10?

 

windows 10 key

You need to upgrade the first time around. Once you upgrade, you can use that key for a clean installation. I've done 2 clean installations with my Windows 7 key since I upgraded to 10 the first time around.