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2 Intern
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513 Posts
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851
February 3rd, 2023 08:00
Windows 10 digital license
XPS 8930
I have Windows 10 Pro from Dell with digital license. If I were to install Windows 10 Home and buy a key to activate will that over right my 10-pro license?
I already have a usb with all versions of Windows 10. I was just curious about this. Reason is I am doing some classes teaching people things and want to use 10 home and pro. I will install on different drives and change out as needed.
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Chino de Oro
9 Legend
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8.1K Posts
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February 3rd, 2023 10:00
If your computer had Win Home license, it will automatically install Home version regardless. It won't offer a list for you to choose. If you had Win Pro version as in digital license, use a generic Pro license and create PID file, then insert into Source folder. The installation will automatically installing Pro version and when the computer connecting to internet, it will find hardware ID match and will activate as Pro license. Instruction to create PID can be found here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/windows-setup-edition-configuration-and-product-id-files--eicfg-and-pidtxt?view=windows-11
redxps630
9 Legend
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14.4K Posts
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February 3rd, 2023 10:00
for PC with Dell preinstalled Win 10 license, when you do clean install it would typically not ask you to choose between Pro vs Home. If Dell installed home before, it would go straight to choose home from install media. If you had Pro from Dell originally, then installation would choose Pro for you. There is way to modify the MS installation media so it does not automatically look for preinstalled Win 10 edition ID for you, which then allows you to pick Home vs Pro etc.
After clean install you can type in genuine key to activate a new OS. If you had Pro before, and you managed to install Home, you probably have to type in new Home key to activate it. I do not think it would delete the Pro registry in MS server though. I think if you put back the hdd with Win 10 pro, it will stay activated.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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17K Posts
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February 3rd, 2023 14:00
I can't imagine a training class requiring one or the other as that is just not practical for 99% of the attendees.
Only exception is if they want to show you a "Pro only" feature. If you only have Home (or some lesser version) you will just have to read the book or watch the video.
If you must continue with your original plan, I suggest you install and run Windows-10 Pro (64 bit) natively. That will have the full feature set. If you must still actually run Windows-10 Home, I suggest you do it inside a Virtual Environment (as a Guest OS).
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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February 3rd, 2023 17:00
You can do this by modifying the registry in Win 10 Pro and doing a Repair installation. You'll be downgraded to Home without losing anything (aside from access to the Pro features).
Image the boot drive while it's still using Pro to be safe. And use something like Belarc Advisor (free) to find the Pro key...