Home to Pro - Cheapest Way that is stable.

New to the forum,

First post.

I have two new PC's. Prepping them for family members that live far away.

Both come with 11 Home (Likely OEM).

Need to PRO them both. Need the absolute cheapest way.

(Happy to jump through a few hoops, as long as when it's done - it's done for good).

This tutorial may be useful:

If you want to ensure "it's done for good" then $99 via Microsoft store is probably the sure way. There isn't much difference between Home & Pro, mainly Bitlocker and remote desktop but it is up to you whether the price is worth it.

I've

KingDing said:

Both come with 11 Home (Likely OEM)

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If they are brand-name computer then Yes, they are OEM [Original Equipment Build/Builder] but they could be either Home or Pro depending upon what was installed when bought. I've bought OEM computers both ways, first 2 Win11 are Pro, last is Home. Custom computers are a different thing, the OS is bought as a separate item, System Builder is similar.

This is from a forum sponsor site Microsoft Windows 11 Pro Deal — Lifetime License

KingDing said:

Need to PRO them both. Need the absolute cheapest way.

Click to expand...

Why do you need to "pro" them?

$5.00 product key. It is advertised as a retail product key which should allow you to upgrade directly by just changing the product key. But, if it turns out to be OEM, you can use an OEM Pro key to do the upgrade; you must:
1. Disconnect the computer from the internet - turn off WiFi, disconnect any ethernet cables.
2. Upgrade to Pro by changing the product key to the Windows 10/11 Pro product key: VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
3. Once the upgrade completes, reconnect the computer to the internet. You will have Windows 11 Pro, but it will not be activated.
4. Change the product key to the Windows 10/11 Pro product key you purchased. This will activate Windows 10/11 Pro and give you a permanent digital license for Windows 10/11 Pro.
5. To avoid any problems that may happen with the Windows 10 Pro OEM product key you purchased, change the installed product key back to VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T

Even if the purchased product key is retail and lets you upgrade directly, still do step 5. above.

Windows 10/11 activations are with digital licenses and changing the product key to the generic retail product key does two things; it transfers the digital license to the retail channel which makes it transferrable via a Microsoft Account and it disassociates the purchased product key from the digital license which eliminates any future problems with the purchased product key from affecting your digital license.

ElectronicFirst.com method ($5).

This sounds like the type of solution that makes most sense.

I just need to check something.

Both machines will be sent away to my family members (far away), I'm just setting them up.

In the future - if my family members need to re-install (format and clean install) 11 Pro, could there be issues with the key?

I'm happy to purchase the key from them -
as long as it is a hassle-free PERMANENT solution? I.E a one time deal that works?

Is there any reason NOT to use this method (ElectronicFirst)? Why?

KingDing said:

ElectronicFirst.com method ($5).

This sounds like the type of solution that makes most sense.

I just need to check something.

Both machines will be sent away to my family members (far away), I'm just setting them up.

In the future - if my family members need to re-install (format and clean install) 11 Pro, could there be issues with the key?

I'm happy to purchase the key from them -
as long as it is a hassle-free PERMANENT solution? I.E a one time deal that works?

Is there any reason NOT to use this method (ElectronicFirst)? Why?

Click to expand...

The link below lists some of the caveats related to inexpensive keys. I have purchased a few keys for Windows 11 and all but one of them have worked. The first statement in the link provides something you may want to consider.

6 Risks of Using Cheap Windows Activation Keys

Those super cheap keys in online stores are mighty tempting, but they're not without their downsides.

www.makeuseof.com

Sir_George said:

The link below lists some of the caveats related to inexpensive keys.

Click to expand...

Always use paypal! If the key does not work, you will get a refund, either from paypal or from the eshop.
There is no reason to avoid OEM, unless you buy new hardware every week, Pro cost $2, so no loss there.

KingDing said:

ElectronicFirst.com method ($5).

This sounds like the type of solution that makes most sense.

I just need to check something.

Both machines will be sent away to my family members (far away), I'm just setting them up.

In the future - if my family members need to re-install (format and clean install) 11 Pro, could there be issues with the key?

I'm happy to purchase the key from them -
as long as it is a hassle-free PERMANENT solution? I.E a one time deal that works?

Is there any reason NOT to use this method (ElectronicFirst)? Why?

Click to expand...

If you upgrade using Navy instructions on post #7, it activates, and then change the key back to a generic key, you should be good.
On future installations, as the computer has the "Digital license", just skip entering a key and it will activate.

You didn't answer: Why do you need a Pro version? What features do you need on Pro that you don't have on Home?

KingDing said:

The machines will be sent away to my family members (far away), I'm just setting them up.

In the future - if my family members need to re-install (format and clean install) 11 Pro, could there be issues with the key?

Click to expand...

The beauty of Windows 10/11 digital licensing is that the purchased product key only needs to work once to "buy" the digital license. Once you have the digital license, change the product key to the generic retail key and the original product key used to obtain the digital license becomes 100% irrelevant.

Okay,

I think that there is a clear path forward.

Both machines have 11 Home OEM. Confirmed.

Just to keep it simple, what pro key MUST I purchase from ElectronicFirst for success?

OEM or RETAIL?

Or does the method detailed, make it completely irrelevant?

I don’t see an OEM key for Windows 11 Pro, only a retail key?

KingDing said:

Okay,

I think that there is a clear path forward.

Both machines have 11 Home OEM. Confirmed.

Just to keep it simple, what pro key MUST I purchase from ElectronicFirst for success?

OEM or RETAIL?

Or does the method detailed, make it completely irrelevant?

Click to expand...

It really does not matter. It also does not matter if it is Windows 10 or 11 as both use the exact same product keys. I would go with this:

It is confusing because the link states OEM, but the description states Retail. If you search for an app called Showkey Plus created by one of our members here, you can enter the product key into the app and it will tell you exactly what it is before you actually try to use it.

Several places do pro keys for a fiver or less. Navy just mentioned one of them.