Can you switch between pro and home windows 10

[mamamia88]

Long story short spare ssd is going in parents pc right now. I didn't check whether it was home or pro. Do i need to do a reinstall if i chose wrong one?

[Princess Luna]

Not really, it should work fine.

[mamamia88]

i know it will work i'm just wondering if i'll have to completely reinstall windows if i chose home instead of pro at install? Or just spend the $5 on ebay to spare myself the trouble?

[Gikero]

Modern OEM PCs booting via UEFI have the license information stored on the motherboard. When you boot off the USB or DVD via UEFI, this key is detected and the appropriate version of Windows 10 is installed.

If using CSM or straight legacy BIOS, this is not the case and the proper version needs to be selected. An easy way to tell on OEM PCs is via the Windows sticker, usually on the side or back of the PC. It will have the Windows logo, and if it doesn't say "Pro" you're using the Home Edition.

[Princess Luna]

4 minutes ago, mamamia88 said:

i know it will work i'm just wondering if i'll have to completely reinstall windows if i chose home instead of pro at install? Or just spend the $5 on ebay to spare myself the trouble?

You don't really need a license, Windows works for free with just the limitation of not being able to change your desktop wallpaper and having a small watermark on the right bottom, not something I think your parents would mind really.

[mamamia88]

3 minutes ago, Gikero said:

Modern OEM PCs booting via UEFI have the license information stored on the motherboard. When you boot off the USB or DVD via UEFI, this key is detected and the appropriate version of Windows 10 is installed.

If using CSM or straight legacy BIOS, this is not the case and the proper version needs to be selected. An easy way to tell on OEM PCs is via the Windows sticker, usually on the side or back of the PC. It will have the Windows logo, and if it doesn't say "Pro" you're using the Home Edition.

The sticker is vista ultimate. Lol

[Gikero]

So you're using legacy BIOS for sure. DId this PC have Windows 10 on it before the SSD swap, or was it actually still running Vista?

[Speed Weed]

5 minutes ago, Princess Cadence said:

You don't really need a license, Windows works for free with just the limitation of not being able to change your desktop wallpaper and having a small watermark on the right bottom, not something I think your parents would mind really.

You probably will get the preview version and no Windows Update at all. People are doing this because they want the crack Windows. 

[NumLock21]

Computer preinstall with Windows 8 and above will automatically detect the edition it's running on, but if it does not choose Home first because, it can then easily upgrade to Pro through Windows anytime upgrade, where it just adds the pro features, instead of reinstalling the entire OS. Now if you install pro and found out it's Home, you will have to do a full reinstall.

[NumLock21]

3 minutes ago, mamamia88 said:

The sticker is vista ultimate. Lol

You're parents will need to buy a windows 10 license. And with a system that old, it might not work with Windows 10 64bit.

[mamamia88]

5 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

You're parents will need to buy a windows 10 license. And with a system that old, it might not work with Windows 10 64bit.

They were already running 10. I just had a spare ssd. In fact I'm installing it now. Just forgot to check whether it was pro or home before yanking the drive

 

[mamamia88]

7 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Computer preinstall with Windows 8 and above will automatically detect the edition it's running on, but if it does not choose Home first because, it can then easily upgrade to Pro through Windows anytime upgrade, where it just adds the pro features, instead of reinstalling the entire OS. Now if you install pro and found out it's Home, you will have to do a full reinstall.

Done right now actually booting first time atm

[NumLock21]

Just now, mamamia88 said:

They were already running 10. I just had a spare ssd. In fact I'm installing it now. Just forgot to check whether it was pro or home before yanking the drive

Let the OS finish installing and then check if it's activated or not. If not, then install the other edition.

[Godlygamer23]

23 minutes ago, DaPhuc said:

You probably will get the preview version and no Windows Update at all. People are doing this because they want the crack Windows. 

No, it's not a preview version. You get most, if not all, the updates. I know this because my test bench is using an non-activated version of Windows.

[mamamia88]

Well everything is working perfectly. Core 2 duo e8600 with 4gb ram pretty snappy for my dad's solitaire and browsing. No more 5 minute boots. Everything works great actually.