Downgrade Windows 10 Education to Home without clean install
I have a Windows 10 laptop that was preinstalled with Windows 10 Home. Because I use this laptop for college, I have a product key for Windows 10 Education for some extra features (like remote desktop), and activated that key a few months ago.
Because I have almost finished college, the Education key should expire in a while.
Now I want to go back to the preinstalled Home edition, but can't find a way how. And I don't want to do a clean install.
I used the ProduKey tool to see my BIOS OEM Key, because there is no sticker on the laptop. Next, I tried to reactivate Windows with that key. No luck unfortunately. It returned an error (0xc004f050).
I also found this tutorial to use a workaround with the register editor (regedit) and a re-install that keeps the files. But I am not sure if this is going to work with an educational license and an OEM key. This question was asked in the comments, but not answered.
So, is there a way to downgrade safely, without doing a clean install?
What if this is not possible? Will Windows automatically downgrade back to Home if the Education license expires? Does it uninstall the features that were installed during the upgrade to Education?
windows-10 product-key downgrade
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
|
show 1 more comment
I have a Windows 10 laptop that was preinstalled with Windows 10 Home. Because I use this laptop for college, I have a product key for Windows 10 Education for some extra features (like remote desktop), and activated that key a few months ago.
Because I have almost finished college, the Education key should expire in a while.
Now I want to go back to the preinstalled Home edition, but can't find a way how. And I don't want to do a clean install.
I used the ProduKey tool to see my BIOS OEM Key, because there is no sticker on the laptop. Next, I tried to reactivate Windows with that key. No luck unfortunately. It returned an error (0xc004f050).
I also found this tutorial to use a workaround with the register editor (regedit) and a re-install that keeps the files. But I am not sure if this is going to work with an educational license and an OEM key. This question was asked in the comments, but not answered.
So, is there a way to downgrade safely, without doing a clean install?
What if this is not possible? Will Windows automatically downgrade back to Home if the Education license expires? Does it uninstall the features that were installed during the upgrade to Education?
windows-10 product-key downgrade
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
As far as I know downgrade back to your old W10 Home is not possible after 30 days....thewindowsclub.com/go-back-to-an-earlier-build-of-windows-10
– Moab
Jan 19 at 14:30
And what if the license expires? Will it automatically downgrade? Of be stuck on Education in trial mode?
– Matthijs
Jan 19 at 21:55
I don't know what happens when it expires, no it will not automatically downgrade, it cannot. You will have to install Home manually.
– Moab
Jan 19 at 23:25
Hmm. I guess I should try the YouTube video soon then... That's the only way to keep the files.
– Matthijs
Jan 20 at 9:14
Are you even sure the key expires? Keys retrieved from Dreamspark Premium (MSDN AA) never expire and the license explicitly states you can keep using them for non-commercial uses.
– Daniel B
Jan 20 at 9:23
|
show 1 more comment
I have a Windows 10 laptop that was preinstalled with Windows 10 Home. Because I use this laptop for college, I have a product key for Windows 10 Education for some extra features (like remote desktop), and activated that key a few months ago.
Because I have almost finished college, the Education key should expire in a while.
Now I want to go back to the preinstalled Home edition, but can't find a way how. And I don't want to do a clean install.
I used the ProduKey tool to see my BIOS OEM Key, because there is no sticker on the laptop. Next, I tried to reactivate Windows with that key. No luck unfortunately. It returned an error (0xc004f050).
I also found this tutorial to use a workaround with the register editor (regedit) and a re-install that keeps the files. But I am not sure if this is going to work with an educational license and an OEM key. This question was asked in the comments, but not answered.
So, is there a way to downgrade safely, without doing a clean install?
What if this is not possible? Will Windows automatically downgrade back to Home if the Education license expires? Does it uninstall the features that were installed during the upgrade to Education?
windows-10 product-key downgrade
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
I have a Windows 10 laptop that was preinstalled with Windows 10 Home. Because I use this laptop for college, I have a product key for Windows 10 Education for some extra features (like remote desktop), and activated that key a few months ago.
Because I have almost finished college, the Education key should expire in a while.
Now I want to go back to the preinstalled Home edition, but can't find a way how. And I don't want to do a clean install.
I used the ProduKey tool to see my BIOS OEM Key, because there is no sticker on the laptop. Next, I tried to reactivate Windows with that key. No luck unfortunately. It returned an error (0xc004f050).
I also found this tutorial to use a workaround with the register editor (regedit) and a re-install that keeps the files. But I am not sure if this is going to work with an educational license and an OEM key. This question was asked in the comments, but not answered.
So, is there a way to downgrade safely, without doing a clean install?
What if this is not possible? Will Windows automatically downgrade back to Home if the Education license expires? Does it uninstall the features that were installed during the upgrade to Education?
windows-10 product-key downgrade
windows-10 product-key downgrade
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
edited Jan 20 at 9:14
Matthijs
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
asked Jan 19 at 9:50
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
1116
As far as I know downgrade back to your old W10 Home is not possible after 30 days....thewindowsclub.com/go-back-to-an-earlier-build-of-windows-10
– Moab
Jan 19 at 14:30
And what if the license expires? Will it automatically downgrade? Of be stuck on Education in trial mode?
– Matthijs
Jan 19 at 21:55
I don't know what happens when it expires, no it will not automatically downgrade, it cannot. You will have to install Home manually.
– Moab
Jan 19 at 23:25
Hmm. I guess I should try the YouTube video soon then... That's the only way to keep the files.
– Matthijs
Jan 20 at 9:14
Are you even sure the key expires? Keys retrieved from Dreamspark Premium (MSDN AA) never expire and the license explicitly states you can keep using them for non-commercial uses.
– Daniel B
Jan 20 at 9:23
|
show 1 more comment
As far as I know downgrade back to your old W10 Home is not possible after 30 days....thewindowsclub.com/go-back-to-an-earlier-build-of-windows-10
– Moab
Jan 19 at 14:30
And what if the license expires? Will it automatically downgrade? Of be stuck on Education in trial mode?
– Matthijs
Jan 19 at 21:55
I don't know what happens when it expires, no it will not automatically downgrade, it cannot. You will have to install Home manually.
– Moab
Jan 19 at 23:25
Hmm. I guess I should try the YouTube video soon then... That's the only way to keep the files.
– Matthijs
Jan 20 at 9:14
Are you even sure the key expires? Keys retrieved from Dreamspark Premium (MSDN AA) never expire and the license explicitly states you can keep using them for non-commercial uses.
– Daniel B
Jan 20 at 9:23
As far as I know downgrade back to your old W10 Home is not possible after 30 days....thewindowsclub.com/go-back-to-an-earlier-build-of-windows-10
– Moab
Jan 19 at 14:30
As far as I know downgrade back to your old W10 Home is not possible after 30 days....thewindowsclub.com/go-back-to-an-earlier-build-of-windows-10
– Moab
Jan 19 at 14:30
And what if the license expires? Will it automatically downgrade? Of be stuck on Education in trial mode?
– Matthijs
Jan 19 at 21:55
And what if the license expires? Will it automatically downgrade? Of be stuck on Education in trial mode?
– Matthijs
Jan 19 at 21:55
I don't know what happens when it expires, no it will not automatically downgrade, it cannot. You will have to install Home manually.
– Moab
Jan 19 at 23:25
I don't know what happens when it expires, no it will not automatically downgrade, it cannot. You will have to install Home manually.
– Moab
Jan 19 at 23:25
Hmm. I guess I should try the YouTube video soon then... That's the only way to keep the files.
– Matthijs
Jan 20 at 9:14
Hmm. I guess I should try the YouTube video soon then... That's the only way to keep the files.
– Matthijs
Jan 20 at 9:14
Are you even sure the key expires? Keys retrieved from Dreamspark Premium (MSDN AA) never expire and the license explicitly states you can keep using them for non-commercial uses.
– Daniel B
Jan 20 at 9:23
Are you even sure the key expires? Keys retrieved from Dreamspark Premium (MSDN AA) never expire and the license explicitly states you can keep using them for non-commercial uses.
– Daniel B
Jan 20 at 9:23
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
I can confirm that this tutorial works for Windows Education as well.
You simply modify the Windows Registry and then create an ISO file using the Media Creaton Tool.
Next, reinstall Windows 10 with the option to keep your files. After a while, Windows 10 is installed.
Keep in mind to make a back up of your files. Just in case something goes wrong.
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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I can confirm that this tutorial works for Windows Education as well.
You simply modify the Windows Registry and then create an ISO file using the Media Creaton Tool.
Next, reinstall Windows 10 with the option to keep your files. After a while, Windows 10 is installed.
Keep in mind to make a back up of your files. Just in case something goes wrong.
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
add a comment |
I can confirm that this tutorial works for Windows Education as well.
You simply modify the Windows Registry and then create an ISO file using the Media Creaton Tool.
Next, reinstall Windows 10 with the option to keep your files. After a while, Windows 10 is installed.
Keep in mind to make a back up of your files. Just in case something goes wrong.
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
add a comment |
I can confirm that this tutorial works for Windows Education as well.
You simply modify the Windows Registry and then create an ISO file using the Media Creaton Tool.
Next, reinstall Windows 10 with the option to keep your files. After a while, Windows 10 is installed.
Keep in mind to make a back up of your files. Just in case something goes wrong.
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
I can confirm that this tutorial works for Windows Education as well.
You simply modify the Windows Registry and then create an ISO file using the Media Creaton Tool.
Next, reinstall Windows 10 with the option to keep your files. After a while, Windows 10 is installed.
Keep in mind to make a back up of your files. Just in case something goes wrong.
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
answered Jan 29 at 12:42
MatthijsMatthijs
1116
1116
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As far as I know downgrade back to your old W10 Home is not possible after 30 days....thewindowsclub.com/go-back-to-an-earlier-build-of-windows-10
– Moab
Jan 19 at 14:30
And what if the license expires? Will it automatically downgrade? Of be stuck on Education in trial mode?
– Matthijs
Jan 19 at 21:55
I don't know what happens when it expires, no it will not automatically downgrade, it cannot. You will have to install Home manually.
– Moab
Jan 19 at 23:25
Hmm. I guess I should try the YouTube video soon then... That's the only way to keep the files.
– Matthijs
Jan 20 at 9:14
Are you even sure the key expires? Keys retrieved from Dreamspark Premium (MSDN AA) never expire and the license explicitly states you can keep using them for non-commercial uses.
– Daniel B
Jan 20 at 9:23