How to upgrade 1511 from Home to Pro?

Question

I'm not having any luck figuring out how to upgrade from Home to Pro with an existing key.  My system has been running Home and is currently running version 1511.  I've decided to go ahead and use an existing key to upgrade to Pro.  I did a clean install, expecting to be asked to specify a version and provide a key during install, but was never asked for either.  The installer simply formatted the hard drive and installed Home and activated it, with no input from me after the install started other than agree to the terms and tell it my language.

OK, no problem I thought, I'll just go to the Activation setting and give it the new key from there.  However, if I tell it I want to change the key it comes back and says the key I'm giving it can only activate Pro and I'm running Home.  If I go the Store route and tell it I already have a Pro key, it gives me the same message - it tells me my key is for Pro but I'm running Home.  Nowhere along the way does it offer to take my key and give me the upgrade, rather it implies that I must somehow magically upgrade it myself before changing the key.  And that would be fine if I could figure out how to do that.

Anyone know how to force an install of Pro when the installer automatically installs Home with no option given to change it?

Volunteer Moderator/MVP Edit 4/21 -

One must insert the Generic Version Key to first change to Pro.  After Version 1803 if you don't yet have a Digital License for Pro it will not change to Pro version by inserting the default Version key.  So access Action Center at right end of task bar to turn on Airplane Mode to go offline, copy and paste the Generic Pro Key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T in Settings > Update & Security > Activation > Change Product Key which will change Home to Pro, then go back online and it will activate with your Pro Product Key or Digital License.

Answer 1

So you select the route that takes you to the Store. Then using the screen that shows Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro you select I have a Windows 10 Pro product key. This opens a green window to input the new key and at that point it says your key is for Pro and you have Home.

If that's the case a call to customer services may be needed. Unless you want to wait to see if anyone else has another idea. I assume the key for Pro is not used anywhere else & is it a Windows 10 Pro key or a Windows 7 or 8.1 Pro key.

Answer 2

Control Panel> Add Windows Features>I have a Product Key.

Answer 3

So you select the route that takes you to the Store. Then using the screen that shows Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro you select I have a Windows 10 Pro product key. This opens a green window to input the new key and at that point it says your key is for Pro and you have Home.

If that's the case a call to customer services may be needed. Unless you want to wait to see if anyone else has another idea. I assume the key for Pro is not used anywhere else & is it a Windows 10 Pro key or a Windows 7 or 8.1 Pro key.

Yep, all correct.  It's a Win7 Ultimate key, not in use anywhere else for well over a year now.  And the really odd part is that when I input the key and it checks it out it even reports back that the key can only be used to activate the Pro version - yet it still never offers to give me the upgrade to Pro.  Apparently it recognizes it, knows what it is and considers it valid, but still just stops at that point.

Answer 4

Control Panel> Add Windows Features>I have a Product Key.

There is no such option in Control Panel anymore.  That option is now located in Settings>Activation, and that's what giving me the odd message.

Answer 5

Hi Darren

I don't think this will work as you described.

When you upgrade using the free version of Windows 10 this installs the same version of Windows that is on the computer that is being upgraded, Home to Home and Pro to Pro.

After it is installed, then you have Windows 10. Trying to upgrade from Home to Pro, using a Windows 7 Key, will not work to change to the Pro version. You need to have a Key for Windows 10 Pro.

Regards