Buy a laptop with home and upgrade to pro?


riffwraith

Active member
Local time
3:27 PM
Posts
70
OS
W10
Hi all

I need to buy a W11 laptop for my mom. If I buy her one with W11 home, can I up that to Pro (OEM) at some point?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    W10
question would be that does she need the pro features? Not likely yet you can install pro but believe you need a pro key.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 64-bit
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware Aurora Ryzem Edition R10 Gaming
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-Core Processor
    Motherboard
    Alienware Model 0TYR0X (AM4) Version
    Memory
    64 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ROG XG43UQ 43 inch monitor
    Screen Resolution
    (3840x2160@120Hz)
    Hard Drives
    NVMe SK hynix 1TB (SSD)
    AMD-RAID WDC WD10EZEX-75W SCSI Disk
    Antivirus
    ESET Internet Security
The answer is yes.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
    Motherboard
    MSI MPG Gaming Edge Wifi (X570)
    Memory
    32GB Adata XPG DDR4
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS GTX 1070 8GB ROG
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Main Boot Drive : 512GB Adata XPG RGB Gen3x4 NVMe M.2 SSD
    PSU
    EVGA 600 Watts Gold
    Case
    Deepcool Genome II
    Cooling
    Deepcool Fryzen
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    "Moderna"
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i7-4790K
    Motherboard
    ASRock Xtreme6 Z97
    Memory
    16GB Corsair Vengeance Pro
    Graphics card(s)
    MSI R9 290
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Ultrawide 34"
    Screen Resolution
    3440x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung M.2
    PSU
    Thermaltake 475 Watts 80 Bronze
    Case
    Thermaltake Commander I Snow Edition
    Cooling
    Deep Cool Archer Air Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech G402
    Keyboard
    Armageddon MKA-5R RGB-Hornet
    Internet Speed
    1Gbps
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Moderna :)
you certainly can upgrade it, but the question really is whether it's worth the money to do the upgrade. Pro doesn't bring that much more to the table for the majority of people.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
I bought a new Notebook Oct. 2021 with Win10 Pro, included the free Win11 Pro Upgrade, many are still being advertised that way. If it comes with Home it will upgrade to home, same for Pro. It's the embedded key on OEM computers [beginning with Win8] that determines what is activated but I've done some Win10 upgrading to Pro by entering a Win7 or Win8/8.1 Pro key. Haven't been blessed with having to do it on a Custom or self-built machine yet.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 2TB WDC HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
you certainly can upgrade it, but the question really is whether it's worth the money to do the upgrade. Pro doesn't bring that much more to the table for the majority of people.
I would tend to trust the OP on that matter; they already to know that they would prefer Pro. Also, it's really a matter of what your specific needs are. Other than for setting up a test VM, I have not used Home on any system in a least a decade. If I get a machine with Home on it, it gets upgraded to Pro within a matter of the first few minutes in my possession :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7-11700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime Z590-A
    Memory
    128GB Crucial Ballistix 3200MHz DRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    No GPU - CPU graphics only (for now)
    Sound Card
    Realtek (on motherboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Envy 32
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1440
    Hard Drives
    1 x 1TB NVMe Gen 4 x 4 SSD
    1 x 2TB NVMe Gen 3 x 4 SSD
    2 x 512GB 2.5" SSDs
    2 x 8TB HD
    PSU
    Corsair HX850i
    Case
    Corsair iCue 5000X RGB
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 chromax.black cooler + 10 case fans
    Keyboard
    CODE backlit mechanical keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1 Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Additional options installed:
    WiFi 6E PCIe adapter
    ASUS ThunderboltEX 4 PCIe adapter
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro 23H2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkBook 13x Gen 2
    CPU
    Intel i7-1255U
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC3306-CG codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.3-inch IPS Display
    Screen Resolution
    WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
    Hard Drives
    2 TB 4 x 4 NVMe SSD
    PSU
    USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 Power / Charging
    Mouse
    Buttonless Glass Precision Touchpad
    Keyboard
    Backlit, spill resistant keyboard
    Internet Speed
    1Gb Up / 1Gb Down
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    WiFi 6e / Bluetooth 5.1 / Facial Recognition / Fingerprint Sensor / ToF (Time of Flight) Human Presence Sensor
I would tend to trust the OP on that matter; they already to know that they would prefer Pro. Also, it's really a matter of what your specific needs are. Other than for setting up a test VM, I have not used Home on any system in a least a decade. If I get a machine with Home on it, it gets upgraded to Pro within a matter of the first few minutes in my possession :-)
Oh, for sure, they have to make the final call. But I think many people just hear the word Pro and assume it must be the far better version and want to get on that to make sure they aren't missing anything. But if they aren't joining domain, and they aren't running Hyper-V, aren't going to mess with group policy, or they don't need to RDP into the box, they may not need it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
I need to buy a W11 laptop for my mom. If I buy her one with W11 home, can I up that to Pro (OEM) at some point?
Yes. You just need to purchase Pro. The upgrade from Home to Pro just installs the Pro features, keeping all your installed apps and files.


But is it worth the expense? I have several Win11 laptops, both Home and Pro. There's little to choose between them for most things, not unless you really need Hyper-V or Bitlocker encryption.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire 3 A315-23
    CPU
    AMD Athlon Silver 3050U
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768 native resolution, up to 2560x1440 with Radeon Virtual Super Resolution
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung EVO 870 SSD
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge, Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    fully 'Windows 11 ready' laptop. Windows 10 C: partition migrated from my old unsupported 'main machine' then upgraded to 11. A test migration ran Insider builds for 2 months. When 11 was released on 5th October it was re-imaged back to 10 and was offered the upgrade in Windows Update on 20th October. Windows Update offered the 22H2 Feature Update on 20th September 2022. It got the 23H2 Feature Update on 4th November 2023 through Windows Update.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Lattitude E4310
    CPU
    Intel® Core™ i5-520M
    Motherboard
    0T6M8G
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics card(s)
    (integrated graphics) Intel HD Graphics
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500GB Crucial MX500 SSD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    unsupported machine: Legacy bios, MBR, TPM 1.2, upgraded from W10 to W11 using W10/W11 hybrid install media workaround. In-place upgrade to 22H2 using ISO and a workaround. Feature Update to 23H2 by manually installing the Enablement Package.

    My SYSTEM THREE is a Dell Latitude 5410, i7-10610U, 32GB RAM, 512GB ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro (and all my Hyper-V VMs).

    My SYSTEM FOUR is a 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo Yoga 11e 20DA, Celeron N2930, 4GB RAM, 256GB ssd. Unsupported device: currently running Win10 Pro, plus Win11 Pro RTM and Insider Beta as native boot vhdx.

    My SYSTEM FIVE is a Dell Latitude 3190 2-in-1, Pentium Silver N5030, 4GB RAM, 512GB NVMe ssd, supported device running Windows 11 Pro, plus the Insider Beta, Dev, and Canary builds as a native boot .vhdx.
Yes. You just need to purchase Pro. The upgrade from Home to Pro just installs the Pro features, keeping all your installed apps and files.


But is it worth the expense? I have several Win11 laptops, both Home and Pro. There's little to choose between them for most things, not unless you really need Hyper-V or Bitlocker encryption.
Or Remote Desktop Server - but that can be enabled on Home using RDP Wrapper. Hyper-V can also be enabled on Home as well.

Or group policy editor - that is pretty much exclusive to Pro and methods of enabling group police on Home don't work very well.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
Hi all

I need to buy a W11 laptop for my mom. If I buy her one with W11 home, can I up that to Pro (OEM) at some point?
Not wishing to be patronising but your average mum does not really need to use Pro features.

Why do you suggest upgrading to Pro which is possible but maybe an unnecessary expense?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
Just to add, even tho many places will sell you a standalone OEM key, its not valid/legal/legit. OEM is meant to go with a computer, RETAIL is the stand alone key
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Ryzen 5 3600
    Motherboard
    ASUS Prime X570-P
    Memory
    32gb DDR4 - 3200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 2060 Super KO 6GB PCIE 3.0
    Sound Card
    Realtek S1200A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1. LG 34UM68-P 34-Inch 21:9 UltraWide IPS 2. ONN 24-Inch LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1. 2560 x 1080 2. 1920 x 1080 (side by side 4480 x 1080)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 860 EVO 1TB SATA III SSD (OS)
    WD BLUE 2TB SATA III (DATA)
    WD BLUE 2TB SATA III (DATA)
    WD BLUE 1TB SATA III (DATA)
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower PF1 750W
    Case
    Coolermaster HAF XB EVO
    Cooling
    Corsair 240mm AIO + 4x 120mm case fans
    Keyboard
    Standard Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech M535
    Internet Speed
    Gigabit (Cable)
    Browser
    Firefox, Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
You can change an OEM license to retail simply by changing the product key to the retail generic product key for the edition of Windows 10/11 installed. You change a Retail License to OEM by changing the product key to the OEM generic product key for the edition of Windows 10/11.

Also:
$6

capture3b.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!
I know you are all trying to help, but I don't like when everyone is start objecting over the OPs question. I have a post of my own, how to play UHD videos in an old 3rd gen i7 with nVidia GTX 1050 Ti and everyone was like "forget it, everyone uses streaming now". Please! I prefer when a poster gives a solution to the original question without criticizing.

Back in topic, yes his mom probably won't tell the difference whether she is using Windows XP or Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, as long as she covers her needs without lags, but we all prefer to have the best, regardless if we use all the features. It is like asking why buy an expensive car when you can use a cheap second hand? It is a matter of preference. Yes, you can upgrade from Home to Pro at any time, you just provide a valid Windows 7 Professional or Windows 8/8/1/10 Pro key. In fact if you already have a valid Pro key, you can even buy the computer without OS, if possible, or with Linux which will be cheaper and then format the disk and install Windows 11 Pro using that key. I would go that route to save a few bucks more. You can download the official Windows 11 ISO at Microsoft's site and use the Pro key to activate:


No need to use any tool, just scroll down to the third option, download the ISO directly. You can then burn to a DVD or use Rufus to create a bootable USB flash drive. If you don't know how to burn the DVD or create the USB, download the Media Creation Tool that can download the ISO and do it for you.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
Back in topic, yes his mom probably won't tell the difference whether she is using Windows XP or Windows 11 Pro for Workstations, as long as she covers her needs without lags, but we all prefer to have the best, regardless if we use all the features. It is like asking why buy an expensive car when you can use a cheap second hand? It is a matter of preference.
Hopefully you didn't read my response as criticism, I said that you could upgrade, but did say the real question is whether it's worth it. It was legitimately a question that I think some don't necessarily think about.

As you stated above, we all prefer to have the best. At the same time, we all have to live within a certain budget. And if the features that Pro brings are completely unused by somebody, that upgrade money could perhaps be spent better elsewhere. Maybe a nicer monitor, a new keyboard, more memory, slightly larger capacity storage drive, etc. I think some people feel that Pro is better optimized, or runs faster, or provides more frames per second in a game....things that most users would benefit from. I think the most beneficial feature for a home user is the ability to RDP into the machine. This can help somebody with remote support if other tools aren't available. The rest of the Pro features like joining a domain....aren't going to be needed unless you have an IT person living in the house and running the network.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink SEI8
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8279u
    Motherboard
    AZW SEI
    Memory
    32GB DDR4 2666Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Iris Plus 655
    Sound Card
    Intel SST
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus ProArt PA278QV
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    512GB NVMe
    PSU
    NA
    Case
    NA
    Cooling
    NA
    Keyboard
    NA
    Mouse
    NA
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Mini PC used for testing Windows 11.
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5900x
    Motherboard
    Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming
    Memory
    64GB DDR4-3600
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA GeForce 3080 FT3 Ultra
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQ. ASUS ProArt Display PA278QV 27” WQHD
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2TB WD SN850 PCI-E Gen 4 NVMe
    2TB Sandisk Ultra 2.5" SATA SSD
    PSU
    Seasonic Focus 850
    Case
    Fractal Meshify S2 in White
    Cooling
    Dark Rock Pro CPU cooler, 3 x 140mm case fans
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Keyboard
    Corsiar K65 RGB Lux
    Internet Speed
    500/50
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Defender.
My situation? I have a network in my house with several computers but I don't have to Map any one of them, instead I use a NAS drive and any computer whether Wired or Wireless/Wi-Fi can be used to Map that drive to access stored data. None of the Pro features are required as I have both Pro and Home versions of Windows. I got started using the Pro versions back over 20 years ago when I worked in a computer shop, stay with it to be able to answer questions that may arise.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 2TB WDC HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Thanks all!

I have decided to buy a W11 Pro laptop for my mom.

Cheers.
Good decision. I was going to suggest that, but was waiting to get to the end of the thread. Most likely buying pro at the outset is cheaper than adding pro later.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy TE01-1xxx
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 CPU @ 2.90GHz 2.90 GHz
    Motherboard
    16.0GB Dual-Channel Unknown @ 1463MHz (21-21-21-47)
    Memory
    16384 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Monitor 1 - Acer 27" Monitor 2 - Acer 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G-1006 (SSD)
    Seagate ST1000DM003-1SB102
    Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device (SSD)
    PSU
    HP
    Case
    HP
    Cooling
    Standard
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    500 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's all Folks!
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 (10th gen) 10700
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" & Samsung 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x
    Hard Drives
    SSD (512 GB)
    HDD (1 TB)
    Seagate
    PSU
    Intel i7 10th Generation
    Case
    HP
    Cooling
    HP/Intel?
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox 90.2
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Headphone/Microphone Combo
    SuperSpeed USB Type-A (4 on front)
    HP 3-in-One Card Readr
    SuperSpeed USB Type-C
    DVD Writer
Good decision. I was going to suggest that, but was waiting to get to the end of the thread. Most likely buying pro at the outset is cheaper than adding pro later.
Ditto. I haven't made an outright purchase of Win10 or Win11, mostly was able to do Upgrades from Win7 and Win8/8.1 or using Product Keys from the discontinued Microsoft Partners program. My last desktop and Notebook came with Win10 and the free license for Win11.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 2TB WDC HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Something you didn't mention is that laptops with Windows 11 Pro usually have faster hardware than those with Windows 11 Home to justify the price difference. So buying a Pro laptop doesn't only gives you all the Pro features but also better performance. Again if you already have a Pro key you can buy a Home laptop or one without OS installed to save some money and use the Pro key to upgrade or install Windows 11 Pro.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 64-bit (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    VDSL 50 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro v23H2 (build 22631.3235)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    Gainward NE5105T018G1-1070F (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050Ti 4GB GDDR5)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Patriot Burst Elite 480GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Stock Intel CPU Fan, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Mouse
    Sunnyline OptiEye PS/2
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
To the original question yes you can upgrade easily. Just need a key. There are various ways to do that. But another reason to go with Pro and probably a good argument is remote access. Perhaps OP needs to remote into his mothers computer for any IT support. I know there are 3rd party options like Team Viewer, but perhaps they preferred the WIndows native solution? But looks like OP purchased a laptop with Pro so I guess that answers that. Cheers.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Samsung Galaxy Book Flex2
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-1165G7
    Motherboard
    Samsung
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 4K TV and Built-in Laptop Screen
    Screen Resolution
    4K
    Hard Drives
    N/A
    PSU
    Samsung
    Case
    Samsung Laptop
    Cooling
    OEM
    Keyboard
    Laptop
    Mouse
    Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    800 mbps +
    Browser
    Brave, Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    i7-13700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS Z790-A
    Memory
    32GB DDR5
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA RTX 3070 Ti
    Sound Card
    Denon AVR-X3500H
    Monitor(s) Displays
    TCL 65R635, Viewsonic Elite UW 34" 1440P
    Screen Resolution
    4K, 1440P
    Hard Drives
    Solidigm P44 Pro 2TB, SKHynix P41 1TB, SKHynix P31 2TB, WDSN750 2TB, Intel 320 600GBx2, Sandisk Professional G-Drive 12TB
    PSU
    Corsair 750W
    Case
    Phantek Evolv X
    Cooling
    Phantek 120mm/140mm
    Mouse
    Razer Deathadder V3 wireless, Razer Deathadder V2 wired
    Keyboard
    Logitech G815, G915TKL(wireless)
    Internet Speed
    800Mbps +
    Browser
    Brave, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Monoprice Stage Right 5-inch Powered Studio Multimedia Monitor Speakers, B&W 603 S2 Anniversary Edition Tower Speakers, PSA Sub, Panasonic UB9000 Bluray Player, Xbox One X, Ipad 11 Pro, 2018 Mac Mini i5

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom