Surface Pro 7+ Forcing Windows 10 or 11 HOME, Not Allowing Pro

Question

Just received a fresh Surface Pro 7+ from Amazon (Don't ask me why not from Microsoft, I don't know the answer).

I have 2 USB sticks, one with the Win 10 ISO & one with Win 11 ISO. I have imaged many different Dell machines and joined them to our corporate domain w/out issue.

But every time I image the Surface Pro 7+, it forces the OS into Home edition. Exact same USB sticks, that got dozens of other machines onto Win 10 & 11 Pro, but will not for the Surface Pro 7+.

How do I get this machine onto Win 11 Pro to join it to my domain?

(Or if push comes to shove Win 10 Pro?)

Answer 1

Hello Lance Kirkman,

Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Community.

We understand how important for you to upgrade the device to Windows 11 Pro.

As what you mentioned, you wanted to join the device to your corporate domain. If I may ask, is your device a commercial variant?

Please be also informed that if the device comes with a Windows Home edition initially, you might need to purchase a license to upgrade to Windows Pro edition. However, if you previously upgraded from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro, your Surface device will be running Windows 11 Home. Because you already purchased the digital license, you can upgrade from Windows 11 Home to Windows 11 Pro at no additional charge.

Hope this clarifies your concern. Otherwise, don't hesitate to respond to this thread if there’s anything else that needs to be addressed. 

Regards,

StevenK

Answer 2

Don't ask me why, but yes, they purchased a commercial variant instead of a corporate variant.

I'm trying to apply our volume licensing to the software to upgrade it to Windows 11 Pro.

So what I'm running into is the fresh Windows 10 or 11 Home is refusing to accept our volume licensing codes.

We get an error each time.

I have attempted Microsoft Support, but hit a pay wall to get a solution.

Answer 3

Lance,

I don't know if your SP7+ from Amazon came with 10 or 11 Home, but I'd start fresh as follows:

1. Download a recovery image (Home, if that is what you received) and wipe and reimage. It is probably a Win 10 recovery image.

Go to https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/surfacerecoveryimage   (with a different Windows computer if yours is not working properly, use any Windows computer - it does NOT have to be a Surface) and download a recovery image for your Surface. You will need a 16GB or 32GB USB stick (also called a flash drive) formatted FAT32 (use a Windows computer).  You can't use an actual external USB hard drive for this and don't use anything larger than a 32 GB USB stick. Best to purchase and use a new, previously unused USB stick for this. Use FULL format and not quick format and give the volume a name like surfboot. Unzip/extract the recovery zip to the root of the formatted USB stick.

There are full instructions and a video at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4023512/surface-creating-and-using-a-usb-recovery-drive#download but below are quick instructions.

1. Make sure your Surface is turned off and plugged in, and then insert the USB recovery drive into the USB port.
2. Press and hold the volume-down button while you press and release the power button.
3. When the Microsoft or Surface logo appears, release the volume-down button.
4. When prompted, select the language and keyboard layout you want.
5. Select Troubleshoot , and then select Recover from a drive .

*If prompted for a recovery key, select Skip this drive at the bottom of the screen*.

1. Note:
   Be sure to select the Troubleshoot option on this screen. Don’t select the Use a device option. If you select the Use a device option, your Surface will reboot from the USB recovery drive again and the reset process will start over.
2. Choose either Just remove my files or Fully clean the drive.
   The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you’re recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you’re keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
3. Select Recover.
   Surface restarts and displays the Surface logo while the reset process continues. This can take several minutes.
4. See How to Upgrade to Windows 10 Enterprise (Without Reinstalling Windows) (howtogeek.com) and enter the 10 PRO volume license key, depending on what recovery image you used. This should upgrade Home to Pro. From there, you should be able to join the domain, upgrade to Win 11, or switch to Windows Enterprise.

Answer 4

Thanks Barb!
It came with Windows 11 home.

I have installed a fresh copy of 10 and 11 (The ISO forces it to be home) and trying to activate my volume licensing gives me all the same errors.

I will attempt the recovery option and see if that serves me better, thank you!!

Answer 5

You won't be able to apply an Enterprise licensing key directly to Home. You "should" be able to apply a PRO licensing key.