Windows 10 Upgrade to Pro - Purchasing Issues

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5044 posts

Uber Geek

#2732925 23-Jun-2021 09:47

nztim:

Paul1977:

I just think it's frustrating that a small startup business like this can't easily purchase this upgrade directly from the laptop using their Work/School account. It seems a case of Microsoft making things unnecessarily difficult.

There are heaps of IT vendors out ther (Including Us) who are CSP/Microsoft resellers aimed directly at the Small Business Market

Sure, but I think this is something that should be able to be done without having to engage with a CSP/Microsoft reseller. In this case it's a very small startup that I was just helping out.

It is how it is, but you won't change my mind that I think it's stupid that someone using a personal account can upgrade with just a couple of clicks and a credit card, but with work/school accounts you need to purchase a license from a reseller to do the same thing.

I'd just never come across it as I always go for PCs/laptops preinstalled with Windows Pro in this sort of situation, and if not for the current stock shortages I still wouldn't have known.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#2732926 23-Jun-2021 09:48

Paul1977:

Anyway, we're just getting it through a distributor now - and it's crazy that we have to do it this way.

What distributor did you get it from ? I also need to buy it
Cheers

Paul1977

5044 posts

Uber Geek

#2732930 23-Jun-2021 09:56

nztim:

There is no more home to pro upgrade you if your PC doesnt come with Win10 Pro its full retail purchase

Unless you do an upgrade with a personal Microsoft Account via the Microsoft Store. We specifically wanted to avoid doing this as it seemed messy using a different account, plus @Networkn reported problems using any method other than purchasing a license from a reseller.

nztim

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#2732935 23-Jun-2021 10:03

Paul1977:

nztim:

There are heaps of IT vendors out ther (Including Us) who are CSP/Microsoft resellers aimed directly at the Small Business Market

Sure, but I think this is something that should be able to be done without having to engage with a CSP/Microsoft reseller. In this case it's a very small startup that I was just helping out.

It is how it is, but you won't change my mind that I think it's stupid that someone using a personal account can upgrade with just a couple of clicks and a credit card, but with work/school accounts you need to purchase a license from a reseller to do the same thing.

I'd just never come across it as I always go for PCs/laptops preinstalled with Windows Pro in this sort of situation, and if not for the current stock shortages I still wouldn't have known.

By going direct to M$ you are cutting out lots of Small to Medium IT business that take care of this stuff for their valued clients - in AUS you cant even buy Office 365 unless you go through a licensed reseller

We have lots of 1-2 seat clients in exactly your situation and provide all the wrap around services to make their digital experience seamless

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Paul1977

5044 posts

Uber Geek

#2732938 23-Jun-2021 10:08

1101:

Paul1977:

Anyway, we're just getting it through a distributor now - and it's crazy that we have to do it this way.

What distributor did you get it from ? I also need to buy it
Cheers

@1101 I don't have a Dove account and wanted it quickly so we actually used an online store (who we know ships product direct from Dove) in the end. Since we needed it quickly it wasn't worth me contacting friends with Dove accounts for only small savings.

PB Tech shows stock in every branch, so if you're near any of those you could do a click and collect.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/OSYMST3707/Microsoft-Windows-Professional-10-32-bit64-bit-Eng

Paul1977

5044 posts

Uber Geek

#2732943 23-Jun-2021 10:22

nztim:

By going direct to M$ you are cutting out lots of Small to Medium IT business that take care of this stuff for their valued clients - in AUS you cant even buy Office 365 unless you go through a licensed reseller

We have lots of 1-2 seat clients in exactly your situation and provide all the wrap around services to make their digital experience seamless

Yeah, we've bypassed an IT business who (for the basic requirements of this particular "client") would have done little but clip the ticket.

noroad

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Ultimate Geek

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#2732949 23-Jun-2021 10:30

Paul1977:

Just recently purchased a new Surface Pro.

Because of stock shortages everywhere had to get one with Windows 10 Home, with the intent to upgrade it to Pro so we can connect it to Azure AD.

The user only has a "Work or School" account, but it won't let us login to the Microsoft Store with a "Work or School" account to purchase the required upgrade.

For tax purposes we'd like the upgrade purchase and invoice to be on the users MS (Work or School) account.

How do I get around this?

Did the same thing recently with a Surface Pro. Being a work device that will be carried around we require bitlocker encryption on the machine. My solution that works fine is to buy an OEM win10 pro/USB license and just do a re-install of the machine using the new OEM key.

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1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#2732951 23-Jun-2021 10:33

Another option is 10Pro OEM . about $100 cheaper than full retail .
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/OSYMSO3008/Microsoft-Windows-Professional-10-64bit-OEM-Eng-In

Would be OK if the laptop/PC is new .

Seems a shame , as via the MS Store it MIGHT be US$99 .
Cant confirm as MS make it hard to find the price , unless go through process of buying it off the store .

Paul1977

5044 posts

Uber Geek

#2732953 23-Jun-2021 10:40

1101:

Another option is 10Pro OEM . about $100 cheaper than full retail .
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/OSYMSO3008/Microsoft-Windows-Professional-10-64bit-OEM-Eng-In

Would be OK if the laptop/PC is new .

Seems a shame , as via the MS Store it MIGHT be US$99 .
Cant confirm as MS make it hard to find the price , unless go through process of buying it off the store .

That would likely work. Possibly a grey area as to whether it should be used though. It is a new laptop, but you aren't "building" it - it was already built and sold to you with Windows already on it.

Someone with more knowledge on the licensing ins and outs would have a better idea.

nztim

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#2733084 23-Jun-2021 12:42

noroad:

Did the same thing recently with a Surface Pro. Being a work device that will be carried around we require bitlocker encryption on the machine. My solution that works fine is to buy an OEM win10 pro/USB license and just do a re-install of the machine using the new OEM key.

That is illegal unless sold with a new PC, it is OEM

PBTECH is breaking the rules by not selling that in conjunction with a new PC

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

networkn

Networkn
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#2733087 23-Jun-2021 12:44

nztim:

noroad:

Did the same thing recently with a Surface Pro. Being a work device that will be carried around we require bitlocker encryption on the machine. My solution that works fine is to buy an OEM win10 pro/USB license and just do a re-install of the machine using the new OEM key.

That is illegal unless sold with a new PC, it is OEM

PBTECH is breaking the rules by not selling that in conjunction with a new PC

I think you'll find it's not *illegal* but rather against the terms of the EULA.

noroad

951 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2733097 23-Jun-2021 13:03

nztim:

PBTECH is breaking the rules by not selling that in conjunction with a new PC

Who mentioned pb?

Paul1977

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Uber Geek

#2733163 23-Jun-2021 14:07

Just an update:

The retailer (not PB Tech) actually suggested and sold us OEM since they said it would be fine as the laptop was new. I didn't mention it here earlier because I still thought it was a little "iffy". I should have trusted my gut.

I can confirm that OEM DID NOT work on Surface Pro 7. Not sure how @noroad had success. Even installing from the supplied media with no Internet connection it would immediately show as Windows Home activated. Attempting to change the key would come back as it being invalid.

Anyway, retailer refunded since they told us the wrong thing and we just grabbed the full retail version instead. Stuck in the key, rebooted, all done.

@1101 I'd stick with full retail version if i was you, it sucks that it costs a little more, but at least you know it will definitely work and is all above board. Plus it doesn't require a full reinstall.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#2733452 24-Jun-2021 08:50

Paul1977:

I can confirm that OEM DID NOT work on Surface Pro 7. Not sure how @noroad had success. Even installing from the supplied media with no Internet connection it would immediately show as Windows Home activated. Attempting to change the key would come back as it being invalid.

I wonder if thats due to notebooks etc having the Win key embedded in the bios ?

noroad

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Ultimate Geek

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#2733456 24-Jun-2021 08:58

Paul1977:

I can confirm that OEM DID NOT work on Surface Pro 7. Not sure how @noroad had success. Even installing from the supplied media with no Internet connection it would immediately show as Windows Home activated. Attempting to change the key would come back as it being invalid.

Works just fine for me, from the bios boot to USB, delete all partitions and install as per normal no problem at all.

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