Upgrading from Windows 10 Home to Pro but using new key and no reinstall?

buglawton

After a torturous all-weekend process finally did the free W7 to W10 update. Want Bitlocker (in preference to Veracrypt which I find clunky and I think it interferes with Sleep mode) and I know there's an easy upgrade to unlock Windows 10 Pro for about £100 (!). On the other hand could get a much cheaper Pro license from say https://softwaregeeks.co.uk/product/windows-7-professional-product-key-label-coa/ but would it mean a complete reinstall? Or can a just do the upgrade with a new COA key?

Hmm just realised that Softwaregeeks does not sell W10 licenses, would have to do a new W7 install and W10 conversion grr.

IvorBiggun

Don't know about the key issue but tryhttp://www.mmoga.co.uk/Software/Windows/Microsoft-Windows-10-Professional-OEM.html
for the license.

NiftyDigits

Depends on how you ran the update and also the machine involved. Is it possible to roll back? Is it a major brand?
Alternatively, see my PM and also, look here
Don't neglect to back up any existing activation. Not that it's an issue. It can always be re-run.

buglawton

IvorBiggun wrote: »

Don't know about the key issue but tryhttp://www.mmoga.co.uk/Software/Windows/Microsoft-Windows-10-Professional-OEM.html
for the license.

Scamadviser threw a few red flags up on that one, then again I'm not so sure about Softwaregeeks either, if you Google reviews on them, there's just one review site that posts endless positives all within the last few days. Hmm.

buglawton

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Depends on how you ran the update and also the machine involved. Is it possible to roll back? Is it a major brand?
Alternatively, see my PM and also, look here
Don't neglect to back up any existing activation. Not that it's an issue. It can always be re-run.

Thanks I did in fact find that Zdnet article after starting this thread so the basic idea of applying a different Pro license might work.

Now, I wonder what would happen if you encrypt your system disk with Bitlocker (my only reason for going to Pro) then after that, an online verification by MS cancels your Pro upgrade and you have to relicense for Home? Machine is a Lenovo T400. BTW the Activation panel shows "activated by digital entitlement ".

NiftyDigits

buglawton wrote: »

Thanks I did in fact find that Zdnet article after starting this thread so the basic idea of applying a different Pro license might work.

Now, I wonder what would happen if you encrypt your system disk with Bitlocker (my only reason for going to Pro) then after that, an online verification by MS cancels your Pro upgrade and you have to relicense for Home? Machine is a Lenovo T400. BTW the Activation panel shows "activated by digital entitlement ".

If you want to be sure, one can roll back to Windows 7, upgrade via Anytime Upgrade then..back to Windows 10.

buglawton

NiftyDigits wrote: »

If you want to be sure, one can roll back to Windows 7, upgrade via Anytime Upgrade then..back to Windows 10.

Having seen how torturous and slow the upgrade to W10 process can be, that's the nightmare I'm trying to avoid.

NiftyDigits

buglawton wrote: »

Having seen how torturous and slow the upgrade to W10 process can be, that's the nightmare I'm trying to avoid.

No need to wait, as you can upgrade/clean install using Windows 10 media.

RumRat

buglawton wrote: »

Having seen how torturous and slow the upgrade to W10 process can be, that's the nightmare I'm trying to avoid.

Not really something I or anyone else I know has experienced.

buglawton

RumRat wrote: »

Not really something I or anyone else I know has experienced.

On my original W7 an upgrade to W10 was impossible, 0x800... errors after a long nothing happening wait. MS help articles a forums know the errors but all solutions led up blind alleys. So I did a full reinstall of W7 using the W7 reinstall DVD that I'd insisted on buying as part of the refurb package on the laptop.

With the new W7 installed and license validated (had insisted on getting a printed version of it, also as part of the refurb package), again it looked like a 'nothing happening' W10 upgrade loop. Then I discovered that it seemed to doing something and taking hours to move from stage to stage. At least no errors the s time. Used Chrome Desktop to take a peek from my phone at various moments throughout a weekend, sometimes restarting the machine or the W10 update. Finally it worked. Not something I'm to keen on repeating just for fun.

Windows 7 Home is not fit for the purpose of storing any personal documents on due to lack of disk encryption. I'm now considering moving all Docs to a newly partitioned drive D and having that encrypted using Veracrypt and auto mounted on boot up, subject to password being entered.

debitcardmayhem

Ok so once the encrypted drive is mounted is it safe ....thought not, W10 once installed is not going to be any different.