Which Version, Win 10 Home or Pro has previously been installed on laptop?

[Russell W. Coover]

Tomorrow, I am picking up a 17 inch HP Notebook, 17-e020us, that has previously had an activated version of Windows 10. It was wiped because it had a bad virus. Originally, the laptop had Windows 8 on it and the owner updated it to Windows 10, but does not know whether it was Home or Pro. I will be reinstalling Windows 10, but I do not know which version to install. One of the versions should activate and the other will not. Yes, i could start with home and see if it activates and if it does not, install Pro, but I do not want to do that. I'd rather start with the OS I need to install.

I have checked with the HP Support website, but I find no help there. The only thing I can find is that the machine had Windows 8 64 bit originally installed ... no clue there. /anybody have any idea on how I can find out which OS, Home or Pro before I install?

 

[TrustMe]

Download Kyhi’s Bootable Rescue Disk. It’s a live version of Windows 10.

https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/27180-windows-10-recovery-tools-bootable-rescue-disk.html

Download Rufus and create the bootable rescue disk on a usb flash drive or burn the iso to a dvd.

https://rufus.ie/

Boot from the flash drive or dvd. Once you are on the desktop, run the program ShowKeyPlus. It will read the key stored in the bios and show you which version of Windows came with the laptop.

This page will show you how ShowKeyPlus works.

https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/2577-showkeyplus.html

 

[davehc]

If, before purchase, you look on the bottom of the Laptop, there should be a label there. In your case, it will show Win 8 and, more specifically Home or pro. Assuming the previous owner did not purchase an upgrade, the Windows 10 edition will correspond (ie. Home to Home of Pro to pro.)