Question Best way to upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 11 Pro and have install stick for future installs ?

[Balic Blackthorn]

Hello. Forgive my ignorance, but I have some questions regarding how best to go about this.

Gods willing, I want to upgrade from 10 home to 11 pro without having to do a clean install. However, I also want to have installation media so if I need to do a clean install at a later date, I don't have to install Windows 10 again, THEN upgrade again.

I'm not sure if I should buy a copy of 11 pro and install that over my 10 install (assuming that will even work without wiping my data) or if I should do it via the windows update process and then upgrade to pro after. If I do the latter, how does that work for licensing for the future? I THINK there is a tool somewhere on MS site where you can create a windows 11 install USB, but what do you plug in for the license key if you are doing a clean install after having upgraded from 10 via windows update? Your old windows 10 key?

Thanks, and sorry for what I am sure are stupid questions by this forum's standards.

 

[USAFRet]

Our data should ALWAYS be protected.
Especially during a major change, like an OS upgrade.

An inplace upgrade usually works. Key word, usually.
Be prepared for if it fails.

Going from 10 Home to 11 Pro...do not try to do this in one move.
Upgrade the 10 Home to 11 Home, then upgrade 11 Home to 11 Pro.

Question - Why Pro?

You can create your own Win 11 USB to install with in the future.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

So how does the licensing work if you need to do a clean install? Does your original windows 10 license work if you, say, went to install 11 home off of a usb?

 

[USAFRet]

So how does the licensing work if you need to do a clean install? Does your original windows 10 license work if you, say, went to install 11 home off of a usb?

If your subsequent Win 11 was fully activated, you do NOT need to reinstall 10 first again.

The Win 11 stands on its own.

 

[NedSmelly]

I want to upgrade from 10 home to 11 pro without having to do a clean install.

1. Back everything up on your computer.
2. Create a USB installer with the media creation tool: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11/
3. Then run update with it from Win10. No need to format everything. There’s an option to keep user files and applications.
4. This will update you to Win11 Home with your existing licence.
5. To update to Win11 Pro you will need to pay for a new licence, then enter the code in Settings > System > Activation

 

[35below0]

First make a backup.

Then upgrade using the Windows Update option. It will handle everything for you, and make a Win 10 backup.
As long as you keep it, Windows will offer you the option to "Go Back" and return to Win 10.


This isn't going to count as a "clean" install, and if you've had Win 10 for a long time, some of the many apps and settings may make life in Win 11 more difficult. But maybe not.
Even so, it is the easiest way to upgrade.


For a clean install, download the Win 11 iso from microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11
Select the multi-edition ISO, and choose English US as your language (or whichever you want).

Next download Rufus. Read and follow the instructions on how to make a USB installer with Rufus. You will need a USB stick with some 8Gb of space, and the ISO you downloaded.

You should disconnect or deactivate all drives except the drive you want to install Windows on. This is to make sure setup puts all the important stuff on the same drive. It... doesn't always do that so to force it, other drives should be disconnected or deactivated if your BIOS supports that.

Restart the PC with the installer USB plugged in, go into BIOS and boot from the USB. Follow setup instructions, select your drive, let setup format and prepare it, and complete the installation.

At some point you will be asked for your license but you can safely skip this step for now.

When your PC reboots, remove the USB drive. Setup will now complete the installation.

At your earliest opportunity you should probably disable internet search hits from your Start Menu search results, and disable a bunch of annoying widgets. This is optional but it's worth knowing it can be done.

To activate your Win 11, use the same license key you had for Win 10. They are the same for 10 and 11.

 

[Balic Blackthorn]

1. Back everything up on your computer.
2. Create a USB installer with the media creation tool: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11/
3. Then run update with it from Win10. No need to format everything. There’s an option to keep user files and applications.
4. This will update you to Win11 Home with your existing licence.
5. To update to Win11 Pro you will need to pay for a new licence, then enter the code in Settings > System > Activation

I assume I am going to have to run the MBR to GPT converter tool before I do this, so I can then go into the bios and switch on all the stuff that 11 requires (Secure boot and whatever else).

 

[35below0]

I assume I am going to have to run the MBR to GPT converter tool before I do this, so I can then go into the bios and switch on all the stuff that 11 requires (Secure boot and whatever else).

Win 11 doesn't require Secure Boot to be enabled, it just needs the motherboard to be secure boot capable.

You need Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 and that's about it.