Windows 10 Pro refresh install reverts to 10 Home using USB stick

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Gordy7

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#273057 2-Aug-2020 09:58

I recently decided to do a refresh install of Windows 10 Pro on my 2 year old HP laptop.

After a fresh install from a USB stick I found I only had 10 Home on my laptop.

Pulled out an 18 month old image and installed that… sure enough 10 Pro.… also Microsoft online account showed 10 Pro.

Tried the USB stick install again… laptop now back to 10 Home…. and MS online Account now showed 10 Home.

In the end I installed the 10 Pro image again and did a Recovery, Reset, Fresh Install from within Windows.

So it appears that Microsoft online accounts does not keep or retain the most up-to-date Windows installation record for one of your computers.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

coffeebaron

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#2533060 2-Aug-2020 13:27

Probably getting Windows version from BIOS. Did the laptop originally come as Home version?

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Gordy7

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#2533062 2-Aug-2020 13:35

coffeebaron: Probably getting Windows version from BIOS. Did the laptop originally come as Home version?

Yes, laptop came with 10 Home originally.

I somehow upgraded to Pro online but couldn't find any Keys to get me from Home to Pro again, so had to use the Pro image from wayback.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.

yitz

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#2533262 2-Aug-2020 18:23

Can you still force installation of a specific edition through the sources\ei.cfg file?

surfisup1000

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#2533266 2-Aug-2020 18:37

Gordy7:

coffeebaron: Probably getting Windows version from BIOS. Did the laptop originally come as Home version?

Yes, laptop came with 10 Home originally.

I somehow upgraded to Pro online but couldn't find any Keys to get me from Home to Pro again, so had to use the Pro image from wayback.

Yes, if the key is built into bios the installation uses that. You can override the installation key by creating a pid file.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-pro-instead-of-home-after-home-to-pro/5037ddc4-67f6-4a0a-bca9-73a2c3451e1b

Do you have the documentation/receipts for the upgrade to pro?

You might need to phone microsoft to figure this out. As long as you have the paper trail you should be OK. You should have a pro key though.

yitz

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#2533336 2-Aug-2020 20:27

You don't necessarily need a product key if you intend to activate by digital license.

More details on EI.CFG and PID.TXT here:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/windows-setup-edition-configuration-and-product-id-files--eicfg-and-pidtxt

I think Professional / Retail / VL=0 would be relevant combo for the OP.

Gordy7

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#2534090 3-Aug-2020 21:45

surfisup1000:

snip...

Yes, if the key is built into bios the installation uses that. You can override the installation key by creating a pid file.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-10-pro-instead-of-home-after-home-to-pro/5037ddc4-67f6-4a0a-bca9-73a2c3451e1b

Do you have the documentation/receipts for the upgrade to pro?

You might need to phone microsoft to figure this out. As long as you have the paper trail you should be OK. You should have a pro key though.

This guide was the easiest....

Created a PID.txt file with a generic product key:

[PID]
Value=VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

and placed this PID file in the sources folder in the USB Windows 10 installation stick.

After Windows installation my version was 10 Pro.

Activation showed: Windows is activated with a digital licence linked to your Microsoft account.

Many thanks for everyone that helped.

Gordy

My first ever AM radio network connection was with a 1MHz AM crystal(OA91) radio receiver.