Sony Vaio laptop won't upgrade to Win 8 Pro

[DareDragoon]

I've got a Vaio laptop model SVF14A15CXB that came with windows 8 standard. Whenever I try to install windows 8 pro with CD and the Key the install completes correctly but when it's installed it shows that Windows 8 standard is installed, not Pro. I've done a complete clean install deleting all partitions. I've activated it with the Win 8 pro Key and it accepts it but it still shows up as Win 8 standard after the installation.

 

[dodger46]

I've got a Vaio laptop model SVF14A15CXB that came with windows 8 standard. Whenever I try to install windows 8 pro with CD and the Key the install completes correctly but when it's installed it shows that Windows 8 standard is installed, not Pro. I've done a complete clean install deleting all partitions. I've activated it with the Win 8 pro Key and it accepts it but it still shows up as Win 8 standard after the installation.

Sounds like the Laptop's original installation had the Product key embedded in BIOS, and when you install Pro this key is being used in preference to the Pro Key. Perhaps restore Standard via the Recovery Partition and instead of Clean Install perform an Upgrade...
OR
type 'Upgrade' at your Start Screen, and from Settings Choose 'Get More Features' etc. and 'I already have a Product Key', see what that brings...

 

[DareDragoon]

I've got a Vaio laptop model SVF14A15CXB that came with windows 8 standard. Whenever I try to install windows 8 pro with CD and the Key the install completes correctly but when it's installed it shows that Windows 8 standard is installed, not Pro. I've done a complete clean install deleting all partitions. I've activated it with the Win 8 pro Key and it accepts it but it still shows up as Win 8 standard after the installation.

Sounds like the Laptop's original installation had the Product key embedded in BIOS, and when you install Pro this key is being used in preference to the Pro Key. Perhaps restore Standard via the Recovery Partition and instead of Clean Install perform an Upgrade...
OR
type 'Upgrade' at your Start Screen, and from Settings Choose 'Get More Features' etc. and 'I already have a Product Key', see what that brings...

That didn't work unfortunately. It wouldn't accept the Windows 8 pro Key.

 

[dodger46]

I've got a Vaio laptop model SVF14A15CXB that came with windows 8 standard. Whenever I try to install windows 8 pro with CD and the Key the install completes correctly but when it's installed it shows that Windows 8 standard is installed, not Pro. I've done a complete clean install deleting all partitions. I've activated it with the Win 8 pro Key and it accepts it but it still shows up as Win 8 standard after the installation.

Sounds like the Laptop's original installation had the Product key embedded in BIOS, and when you install Pro this key is being used in preference to the Pro Key. Perhaps restore Standard via the Recovery Partition and instead of Clean Install perform an Upgrade...
OR
type 'Upgrade' at your Start Screen, and from Settings Choose 'Get More Features' etc. and 'I already have a Product Key', see what that brings...

That didn't work unfortunately. It wouldn't accept the Windows 8 pro Key.

Are you still able to Restore to Factory? (Alt + F10)

 

[DareDragoon]

I'm not able to perform a Factory Restore. I held down Alt + F10 and it booted up the OS normally.

 

[dodger46]

I'm not able to perform a Factory Restore. I held down Alt + F10 and it booted up the OS normally.

Right enough, you deleted all partitions!
OK, is there a Product key visible on the base of your laptop? If not, download and run Belarc Advisor, see which key it has for Windows. If it differs from your Pro Key, it will be the one for Standard Edition.
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Now you need to create an Installation Disk for Standard. I have 2 links for Downloads, one for Upgrade and one for Retail, try your Standard Edition Key in both in the hope it will allow you to download that edition.
OEM/Retail
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=271128
Upgrade
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=262204
If successful, re-install Standard and this time Upgrade instead of Clean Install.
If all fails, you have little choice but to apply to Sony for Recovery disks...

 

[dodger46]

See legacyBIOS post in this thread I believe it will help you.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1798405/install-windows-separate-ssd.html

You'll probably have to copy your W8 install disk to edit the Source Folder as advised and either re-burn to disk or create USB drive.
I use Inrarecorder
http://infrarecorder.org/?page_id=5
On main Screen choose Actions then Copy Disk to Disk image.
Specify where you want to put your ISO, and when copied open by double click to reveal the Source Folder. Amend as advised and then burn to blank disk by Rt click on ISO and choose Burn to disk...