Installing Windows Pro on notebook with Windows Home

[Octopuss]

I haven't dealt with this for several years so I am not aware of the current state of things, but are Windows keys still embedded in notebooks' BIOSes so that you cannot activate any other edition unless you have ways of unlocking and reflashing (or whatever the process was last time I looked into this)?

My wife needs new notebook, but all those with specs and display resolution I like come with Windows 11 Home. After my experiences with this and Windows update on Windows 10 there's no way I'm letting Home edition into this house, but nothing I could find that I'd be willing to buy comes with either Pro or no OS at all. Agh!

 

[Jacky_BEL]

The way I did go from windows 10 home to pro was via the in-place-upgrade method.
(Settings - System - Info - change product code or upgrade Windows version) (don't know if it still exists in win11, or is found at the same place)

Basicly, go buy the pro licence (and key) , and search the internet for the generic key for the version you want to upgrade to.

disconnect from the internet
do the upgrade with the generic pro key
reboot (still disconnected from the internet)
provide the valid licence key you bought

reconnect to the internet, your key will automatically get validated and the PC activated with a digital licence.

 

[gurusmi]

I haven't dealt with this for several years so I am not aware of the current state of things, but are Windows keys still embedded in notebooks' BIOSes

Yes.

so that you cannot activate any other edition unless you have ways of unlocking and reflashing (or whatever the process was last time I looked into this)?

I own a lenovo notebook delivered with Win10 Home. I freshly installed Win10 Pro and also Win11 Pro on it without any issue. I downloaded the install media and started the process. After a crtain time of workking the installer asked me about a new Serial. In did provide it and the installation process ran through. After all i had a fresh new installation with my wanted os.

 

[Super Firm Tofu]

Download the Windows ISO from MS
Create a USB stick (Rufus, Media Creation Tool, etc.)
Create a .txt file named PID.txt with the following information:

[PID]
Value=XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Replacing the XXXX's with your valid Windows key.

Place that file within the Sources Directory of the USB install.

Windows will override the version stored within the UEFI with the Key version you include in that file.