|
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
Ed Bott reports that you can use a Win 7 pro or ultimate key to upgrade your Windows 10 home to pro. I still recommend upgrading from Home to Pro beca
[See the full post at: Got a Windows 7 Ultimate key lying around?]
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
OEM licenses are locked to the original OEM machine.
The upgrade will work and activate Win10 Pro on that machine.
But if you intend to put Win10 Pro on another machine (legally), you will need a WIn7 Pro/Ultimate RETAIL license.
Technical answer: Yes
Legal answer: Are you still “using” the Windows 7 product key as the justification for the Win8? If the underlying legal license is still in use, it shouldn’t be used to process an upgrade.
ALL THE TIME with Microsoft the answer is yes you can do it, but we’ll need to get a dozen lawyers in the room and argue whether it’s legal to do so or not.
Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher
For whatever it’s worth, this has been true ever since the first days of Windows 10. I kind of blundered onto it, just a “what would happen if…” and it worked, so I’ve been doing it every time I got a new system or had to reinstall Windows 10. So don’t toss out those old codes, kiddies, you never know when they’ll come in handy! 
I think one needs to consider the use of the PC in terms of deciding between Home and Pro. I have one PC that has two jobs, stream content and run my cable card tuner/DVR program. No printing or other apps at all. For this PC Win 10 Home is just fine and saves me a few dollars. Both my wife’s and my workstations run Win 10 Pro.
Out of curiosity, which hardware and software are you using for the CableCARD and the DVR function on that Windows 10 system?
I have a Hauppage 2650 dual channel cable card tuner. I was running it on a Win 7 machine with MSFT Media Center but with Win 7 going out of service I updated to Win10. Hauppage have a program they developed that works under Win 10. the interface is clunky and not as easy to use as the Microsoft program but it is functional and allows one to record programming. I think it costs about $12 if you already have the tuner. Since my cable card was already activated some years ago, installation of the new software was easy.
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Notifications
