Can I use Win 7 Ultimate Key to upgrade new Win 8.1 PC to Win 10 Pro

I'm new to the forum, and looking for some guidance. I've read a lot of the categories re updating to Windows 10 and am still somewhat confused at how I should proceed given my setup.

I have a new Dell 3000 (Inspiron 3847) which was shipped with Windows 8.1 (x64 installed). I've purchased and installed a Kingston 240GB SSD and cloned the WIndows 8.1 and everything works fine when I boot from this with the original disk disconnected which leaves me with the ability to go back to the original disk if I run into problems.

I have a full retail Windows 7 Ultimate that was on a laptop that died some time back. I would like to upgrade the Dell 3000 to Windows 10 Pro using this Key ( to futureproof upgrades down the line) if it is possible, or am I forced to go with the standard Windows 10 upgrade ?

If it's possible could you advise the best way to do this PRO update.

While it's possible for you to wipe the drive and install Win7 Ultimate on your Dell, given that it shipped with 8.1, that means the key is embedded in the UEFI -- and that is (most likely) the key that the Win10 Upgrade will see. Also, the Win10 Upgrade does not allow you to choose the version (Home vs. Pro), as it provides the version that matches what you already have on the PC. And finally, presuming the other laptop came with Win7 Ultimate preinstalled, that makes it an OEM version -- which is tied to the original hardware and can not be used on a different PC.

So, the only way that I see that you can do a Win10 Pro upgrade is to first, upgrade your Win8.1 to Win10 Home, and then, purchase a license to upgrade Win10 Home to Win10 Pro.

Others may have different suggestions...

While it's possible for you to wipe the drive and install Win7 Ultimate on your Dell, given that it shipped with 8.1, that means the key is embedded in the UEFI -- and that is (most likely) the key that the Win10 Upgrade will see.

That's not correct at all. And I can prove it. I have a machine that came with Windows 8.1 Home. I upgraded to Pro using an MSDN key, and when I upgraded it to 10, it upgraded to Pro.

The upgrade only looks at the key of the installed version, not whatever is in the firmware.

Many thanks for the replies (Mark, Mystere) my Windows 7 ultimate is a retail purchased software box fully licenced that I used to update the original laptop (not OEM) so I assumed I had the option to move it to this dell 3000 as the basis to get to Windows 10 Pro. My confusion having read the forum was how to do this (ideally using the SSD) and the sequence of steps required. I'm not that technical (I'm not sure with the reference to MSDN means in my situation) so any advice appreciated.

Many thanks for the replies (Mark, Mystere) my Windows 7 ultimate is a retail purchased software box fully licenced that I used to update the original laptop (not OEM) so I assumed I had the option to move it to this dell 3000 as the basis to get to Windows 10 Pro. My confusion having read the forum was how to do this (ideally using the SSD) and the sequence of steps required. I'm not that technical (I'm not sure with the reference to MSDN means in my situation) so any advice appreciated.

You have two choices. The only difference between the two options is which version of Windows 10 you will end up with. Period.

Upgrade the current Windows 8.1 (which I assume is Home version) to Windows 10 Home for free. For the life of the major components of that computer you will be able to reinstall Windows 10 Home without using a product key on that computer, including clean installs.

Or

Wipe the SSD and install your Windows 7 Ultimate on it and upgrade that to Windows 10 Pro for free. For the life of the major components of that computer you will be able to reinstall Windows 10 Pro without using a product key on that computer, including clean installs..

Using the Windows 8.1 OEM or the Windows 7 Ultimate retail results are exactly the same - except for the version of Windows 10 that you get. The free upgrade is only for installed and activated Windows 7/8/8.1 on that computer. Upgrading a retail version of Windows to Windows 10 for free does not give you the ability to transfer that Windows 10 for free to another computer after July 28, 2016 - but you can still freely re-install it on the same computer after July 28, 2016.

Some people will argue about this - but that is the way Microsoft is doing it. If anyone doesn't think that is fair, make your case with Microsoft and they just might send you a unique Windows 10 product key that you can move from computer to computer after July 28, 2016.

That's not correct at all. And I can prove it. I have a machine that came with Windows 8.1 Home. I upgraded to Pro using an MSDN key, and when I upgraded it to 10, it upgraded to Pro.

The upgrade only looks at the key of the installed version, not whatever is in the firmware.

I have two laptops here that shipped with 8.0 Core and have 8.0 OEM Embedded keys. Windows 8.1 Pro was installed with my MSDN keys and they both upgraded to 10 Pro. Key currently in use was what was detected.

From the sister site.