How to Windows 10 Pro down to Windows 10 Home

This page at MS should help. Of course you could always clean install Windows 10 Home. The media creation tool for that can be found here at the MS Windows 10 page.

Downgrading from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Home involves a few steps, but please be aware that this process might require a clean installation of Windows, meaning you'll need to back up your data and reinstall your applications afterward. Here's a general guide to help you through the process:

Note: Before proceeding, make sure you have a backup of all your important files and data. This process will result in a fresh installation of Windows.

1. Obtain Windows 10 Home Installation Media:

   • You will need a bootable USB drive or DVD with the Windows 10 Home installation files. You can create this using the Windows Media Creation Tool, which is available on Microsoft's official website.

2. Backup Data:

   • Copy all your important files, documents, photos, and any other data you want to keep to an external drive or cloud storage service.

3. Create Windows 10 Home Installation Media:

   • Download and run the Windows Media Creation Tool.
   • Select the option to create installation media for another PC.
   • Choose your preferred language, edition (Windows 10 Home), and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
   • Select the "USB flash drive" option to create a bootable USB drive.

4. Boot from USB:

   • Insert the bootable USB drive into your computer.
   • Restart your computer and access the boot menu by pressing the appropriate key (often F12, F2, or ESC) during startup.
   • Choose the USB drive as the boot device to start the Windows installation.

5. Install Windows 10 Home:

   • Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows 10 Home.
   • When prompted, select the edition of Windows you want to install (Windows 10 Home) and proceed with the installation process.

6. Activation:

   • During the installation, you'll be asked to enter the product key. Enter the product key for Windows 10 Home. If your laptop came with Windows 10 Home pre-installed, the product key might be embedded in the BIOS and automatically detected.

7. Clean Installation:

   • Choose the option to perform a clean installation. This will remove all data from your computer and install a fresh copy of Windows.

8. Follow Setup Instructions:

   • Complete the Windows setup process by following the on-screen instructions. You'll need to configure settings such as language, region, time zone, and user account.

9. Install Drivers and Applications:

   • After Windows is installed, you'll need to reinstall device drivers, applications, and software that you were using before the downgrade.

10. Restore Data:

    • Copy your backed-up data from the external drive back to your computer.

11. Windows Updates:

    • Make sure to run Windows Updates to ensure your system is up to date with the latest security patches and drivers.

Remember that this process will wipe your existing Windows 10 Pro installation, so it's essential to back up your data and be prepared to reinstall your applications and settings after the downgrade is complete. If you're not comfortable performing these steps yourself, it might be a good idea to seek assistance from a tech-savvy friend or a professional technician.

To downgrade from Windows 10 Pro to Windows 10 Home, follow these steps:

1. Backup your important data.
2. Create a Windows 10 Home installation media (USB/DVD).
3. Boot from the installation media, choose "Custom" install.
4. Delete all existing partitions, then select the unallocated space.
5. Install Windows 10 Home, entering your Home license key.
6. Complete setup and install necessary drivers and software.

Note: This process will erase all data on the drive, ensure backups are done. If needed, consult Dell support for specific instructions on your Inspiron 17R model.

@JOcean​ 

Hello JOcean.

Thanks for your reply.  I think I will work with krishan91 to try to resolve this issue.

Thanks,

Tony

@krishan91​ 

Hello krishan91.

Thanks for your help.

I would like to try what you suggest.

When I boot from the USB drive,  the boot starts, after a little while the Windows logo displays quickly and it goes to a orange looking screen with vertical white lines across the screen and just does nothing.

 I waited for over an hour once and nothing ever happened.

The boot from the USB worked originally when I installed Windows 10 PRO.

How do I boot from the USB?

Thanks,

Tony