Windows 10 Pro - What Price?

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colinuu

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#233811 3-May-2018 22:02

What is a 'proper' price to pay for a Windows 10 Pro product key? This site <removed> which appears legit has it for $80, whereas the Microsoft Store wants $419.

For context, I was doing a clean install of a 10 Home machine and accidentally installed Pro. Going back from Pro to Home seems to be a bit of a mission and I rather like Pro, but I'm not planning to shell out $400+ right now!

Colin

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#2007529 3-May-2018 22:20

What was the version of the OEM OS on the machine beforehand. As entering this key will install the right version (the installer is combined and validates based on key/validity)

So accidentally putting on Pro is kinda hard?...

colinuu

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#2007530 3-May-2018 22:32

Not hard at all in this case. The NTFS partition on the hard drive got scrambled by a system board fault caused by a lightning strike, so wouldn't boot up into Windows, nor would it auto repair.

Oblivian

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#2007533 3-May-2018 22:38

Yes, but it requires a licence to help chose the right version during install.

Last I checked, when you install from installation media. It asks for an OEM/Valid W7/8 version key there and then and installs the appropriate version depending on the key version (7 ultimate/pro -> W10pro, Home/basic ->W10 basic) Skipping this step to do later keeps nagging for a key. And changes the version based on the same validation

So can't get to a working state of full-blown Pro where you can get to a state of preferring it over rebooting of the same USB and starting again?

colinuu

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#2007541 3-May-2018 22:50

Not knowing the licence key I did skip that step, then accidentally selected Pro from the list. Now Pro is fully loaded and updated to 1803. Now it nags about activation all the time. Installation media now won't take me back.

Back to my question - I would pay the $80, as long as someone can promise me that the site is selling legitimate keys....

Oblivian

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#2007542 3-May-2018 22:51

In short, if it had W10 previously. Or a UEFI BIOS tattoo with the licence version. It has a digital licence that should install and activate during/after setup.

If it was lacking, the OEM sticker on the side will help it along the way.

If neither option was chosen and it now won't activate is it's got the PRO features enabled (they are more or less turned on/off) I believe the only option is start again or spend the big bucks.

The OEM bundle is about $230. The MS pricing is for full blown Retail

colinuu

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#2007548 3-May-2018 23:21

The activation troubleshooter finds a W10 Home digital licence. It says I must install W10 Home to use this licence, but the installation media now doesn't give me that option.

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Oblivian

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#2007551 3-May-2018 23:28

From within running windows? Nope, will need to be a boot from USB and chose to blow away existing partition

tchart

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#2007579 4-May-2018 06:43

Oblivian:

In short, if it had W10 previously. Or a UEFI BIOS tattoo with the licence version. It has a digital licence that should install and activate during/after setup.

If it was lacking, the OEM sticker on the side will help it along the way.

If neither option was chosen and it now won't activate is it's got the PRO features enabled (they are more or less turned on/off) I believe the only option is start again or spend the big bucks.

The OEM bundle is about $230. The MS pricing is for full blown Retail

MS seem to have messed something up in regards to licensing. I have an Asus laptop that has BIOS key for Windows 8 Home. This was upgraded to Windows 10 Pro as per the free upgrade path (remember everyone upgraded got pro). After one of the recent updates my install reverted to Windows 10 Home. I had to buy a Windows 10 Pro key to re-enable pro features.

PS And I wasnt even imagining it as I had previously remote desktop-ed to the machine is question so I know it was activated and running Pro in the past.

1101

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#2007681 4-May-2018 10:02

tchart:

[

MS seem to have messed something up in regards to licensing. I have an Asus laptop that has BIOS key for Windows 8 Home. This was upgraded to Windows 10 Pro as per the free upgrade path (remember everyone upgraded got pro). After one of the recent updates my install reverted to Windows 10 Home. I had to buy a Windows 10 Pro key to re-enable pro features.

nope, the free upgrade to Win10 NEVER gave anyone Pro from Home.
Perhaps you got Pro some other way, either purchased online or a special upgrade from Asus

Back to the original question. You're in a bit of a Pickle. The upgrade from home to Pro is about $100. ??
I'd assume you'd have to have home installed & activated first .

Buying online at a heavily discounted price.... if it seems to good to be true...
Unless you are connecting to a business network, you dont need Pro. It doesnt actually give you much over Home. Chances are you
wont notice any real difference between the 2.
Tell us what features from Pro are you after ?

colinuu

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#2008549 5-May-2018 21:38

1101:

----

Buying online at a heavily discounted price.... if it seems to good to be true...

----

Exactly the suspicion that prompted my original question!

To downgrade to W10 Home, this solution worked for me:
Edit these registry keys, substituting 'Home' for 'Pro' ..
HKEY_Local Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\EditionID
HKEY_Local Machine\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProductName
HKEY_Local Machine\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\EditionID
HKEY_Local Machine\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProductName
Boot to the install media, choose 'I don't have a product key', and proceed with clean install. W10 Home installed and activated automatically.

The main feature in Pro that I want is Remote Desktop. It is disabled in Home, however there are work arounds out there.
All good now, thanks to those who contributed.

deadlyllama

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#2008558 5-May-2018 22:20

If you're after a Windows or Office license that fell off the back of a truck, eBay is full of them. Much cheaper than that Digital Software Planet site. I've heard a rumour that they come from junked PCs but have no idea if that's true or not.

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michaelmurfy

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#2008568 6-May-2018 00:42

I've removed the site from your opening post - it is indeed dodgy and likely pirated / using Windows 7/8/8.1 OEM serials.

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Malboo

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#2008588 6-May-2018 08:38

Try nzgameshop.com win pro 10 as a download $87.99 put it on a usb stick and setup from that reviews seem okay about this site Software City used to be the go but now its only a Canadian website

irongarment

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#2008713 6-May-2018 13:30

Is no-one using Linux anymore? Cost: $0. No activation keys. No sending information back to Microsoft.

Do I need more text to submit this post?

1101

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#2009038 7-May-2018 09:50

colinuu:

The main feature in Pro that I want is Remote Desktop. It is disabled in Home, however there are work arounds out there.
All good now, thanks to those who contributed.

Teamveiwer is a great alternative to RDC. And you dont have to open ports on the router.

:-)

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