Windows 10: Finding the License Key or Entitlement, Upgrade Home to Pro

Topic

New Reply

[Mike]

I have a upgrade “key” or entitlement for upgrading from Windows 10 Home to Pro.   I used it on a laptop.  How can I find out what that entitlement/key number is ?

Note:  Trying to do this the usual methods just reports back the “Home” key or the original one “locked” to the machine bios.

Thanks,

Mike

• This topic was modified 3 years, 5 months ago by Mike.

Reply | Quote

Replies

If you bought it through the Microsoft Store, you should have received that information in an email to your Microsoft account email.

Open a Command Prompt and type

slmgr /dlv

and hit Enter.  That will display your licensing information in a message box, but only the last five of your product key.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

2 users thanked author for this post.

Mike, Mike

Reply | Quote

Awesome.  “bbearren”  You made my day.

Second parts of this question if I may.

Do I need to deactivate this “Home to Pro upgrade” on one computer to use it on another ?

Can this be done “offline” (not connected to the net) ?

Thanks

Reply | Quote

Mike wrote:

Do I need to deactivate this “Home to Pro upgrade” on one computer to use it on another ?

According to the EULA, it is only good for a single installation of a single PC at one time.  I would surmise that it is portable, in that it can be uninstalled from one PC and installed on another, but not on two at the same time.

Bear in mind that Windows 10 licensing is tied to (installed on) the PC itself, not to a product key or a Microsoft account.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

Use the tool found here: https://github.com/Superfly-Inc/ShowKeyPlus/releases

 

It will also tell you the “other” keys there were used to activate your machine.

Reply | Quote

bbearren wrote:

Bear in mind that Windows 10 licensing is tied to (installed on) the PC itself, not to a product key or a Microsoft account.

This infers WHY – IF you’re changing certain major parts like a motherboard – OR – changing computers – the Computer World explanation of What a Retail License IS – CAUTIONS, that while you Can, You MUST UNINSTALL W10 FIRST. THAT BEGS THIS QUESTION: Does anyone know HOW MS approaches — Not Uninstalling First BECAUSE — lightning, dead HDD, etc. rendered the computer UN-usable and W10 Uninstall isn’t possible?

 

W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / Macrium Pd vX / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU = 0

Reply | Quote

CraigS26 wrote:

the Computer World explanation of What a Retail License IS – CAUTIONS, that while you Can, You MUST UNINSTALL W10 FIRST.

First and foremost, OEM Windows (preinstalled on a device you purchase) and upgraded OEM Windows are not transferable to another machine under any circumstance.  The device can be repaired with identical OEM (motherboard, etc.) parts without deactivating the licensing.

In other words, you cannot replace (for example) a Dell ATX motherboard with a Gigabyte ATX motherboard and expect the license to be valid.  I have in the past replaced motherboards for clients without issue by using an identical OEM motherboard.

On the other hand, a RETAIL license/installation can legally, and without issue, be transferred to another device.  “You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device. You may not transfer the software to share licenses between devices.”

This I have also accomplished twice for myself.  The first presented a couple of hoops to jump through.  The second, even more hoops.  However, in neither case did I uninstall first, but RETAIL Windows 10 is indeed transferable.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

Reply | Quote

bbearren wrote:

On the other hand, a RETAIL license/installation can legally, and without issue, be transferred to another device. “You may use the backup copy we allow you to make or the media that the software came on to transfer the software. Every time you transfer the software to a new device, you must remove the software from the prior device.

Thanks for the Reply …. BUT the hi-lighted WAS my Question: WHAT if you Cannot Uninstall it because of an Un-repairable HDD? HOW does MS react to someone saying (ie) lightning fried my computer – I Cannot Uninstall W10? Does their “Police Server” believe W10 is still active on the original computer since it’s seen nothing about an Uninstall to change that belief?

My Pro Upgrade (from Best Buy HP – W10 Home) via Computer World $$ special nets with — slmgr dlv — in Cmd Prompt that I have — Retail Channel — License. So I believe I’m OK with computer / Motherboard change IF I uninstall W10 First. But, What IF I can’t per above.

W10 Pro 22H2 / Hm-Stdnt Ofce '16 C2R / Macrium Pd vX / GP=2 + FtrU=Semi-Annual + Feature Defer = 1 + QU = 0

Reply | Quote

@CraigS26, if you read the links that I provided you would know that in neither case did I first uninstall my RETAIL copy of Windows.

“The first step was to create a full drive image of my SSD in the Dell Inspiron 580. This image is what I will migrate to the new mSATA SSD in my main desktop. Then I shut down the 580 and gutted it except for the PSU.”

Reading further in that link you will find that I enlisted Microsoft Support to get my OS activated.  Microsoft Support is available for retail licenses until EOL of that particular Windows OS.

As for the second link, “In each of the chat sessions I’ll describe, I explained that in this particular instance I had upgraded to Windows 10 over Windows 7 Professional SP1 that had been upgraded through Windows Anytime Upgrade to Ultimate, and was able to give each of the Answer Techs the WAU Upgrade Key (I still have the email receipt from Microsoft).”

Reading further, you will see that not all of Microsoft’s Support techs are equally knowledgeable in the ins and outs of the RETAIL licensing provisions.  In my second case, it was the fourth tech that resolved the issue.

“And I guess the moral of this story is that just because an Answer Tech gives you an answer doesn’t mean that it’s the right answer, so don’t give up. Some of them actually know what they’re doing. I’ve come across two recently who did, and a couple who didn’t seem to have a clue.”

A retail upgrade invalidates the original license over which the upgrade is applied, and the upgrade license is now the valid license to use for Microsoft Support.  Having a retail license (vs OEM) entitles one to Microsoft Support for validation/Windows Update issues.  For OEM license, one’s only option is to go through the OEM support channel.  Out of warranty usually means out of support.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

1 user thanked author for this post.

CraigS26

Reply | Quote