Solved How to upgrade from Windos 8.1 SL to Pro?

How to upgrade from Windows 8.1 SL to Pro?

Hi everyone

I just got a new laptop, running Windows 8.1 SL. I wanted to connect it to the office Active Directory domain, just to find that it can't. Now I know I can go to Control Panel, to the "Add features to Windows 8.1", and purchase an 8.1 Pro key. But my company has a Windows 8.1 volume license key, and there are still a few available that I can use.

However, I already have everything set up pretty much the way I want it; I don't want to format and re-install Windows. I tried to do the Windows "Add features to Windows 8.1" ("Windows Anytime Upgrade" as it was called in Windows 7) using our Volume License key, but it doesn't want to accept the key.

So I was wondering if there is any way to do this upgrade without losing any data? For example, is there something I can do with slmgr? Or can I maybe just insert the 8.1 Pro disc and do an upgrade?

If anyone has ever tried something like this, I would really like to get your input.

Thank you!

All right, I decided to throw caution to the wind. I inserted the 8.1 Pro disc and let it autorun Setup. It's upgrading to Pro right now. No hassles, no fuss. I will update if I experience any problems; maybe this could be of use to someone else.

The aftermath: Done, working perfectly. I activated using my volume license key, and verything is great. All my programs, settings and documents are still there.

So I hope this could be of some help to someone!