Upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 can be painless—if you confirm hardware requirements, choose the right installation method, and understand which edition changes keep your license and data.

• Upgrade paths explained: what keeps apps + settings + files vs files-only vs clean install
• When you can switch editions (Home → Pro, Pro → Enterprise) and when you need a new license
• Business Windows vs Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC: can you move from Pro to IoT and keep data?
• Where to download official ISO images and how to verify what you installed
• Legitimate admin commands (DISM / SLMGR) for edition checks and activation status

In our earlier article "Windows 11 Editions Compared", we compared features, licensing channels, and support timelines. Now let’s answer the questions that come right after you pick an edition: How do you actually move from Windows 10 to Windows 11 safely? What happens to your license? Can you keep all apps and user data? And the big one for industrial devices: can you migrate from Windows 11 Pro to Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC without pain?

This guide is written for real-world business and industrial environments: office PCs, kiosks, digital signage, edge gateways, and industrial PCs that run 24/7. We’ll focus on practical upgrade paths, risk reduction, and a clear decision matrix.

1) Before You Upgrade: What to Check on Windows 10

1.1 Confirm your device is eligible for Windows 11

Windows 11 has hardware requirements that can block upgrades on older systems. Before you invest time, verify:

• CPU compatibility (common blockers are older Intel/AMD generations)
• TPM 2.0 enabled (often “PTT” for Intel or “fTPM” for AMD in BIOS/UEFI)
• Secure Boot enabled (UEFI mode)
• RAM and storage headroom (in real life, you need more than the minimum — especially for business workloads)

Tip for business fleets: standardize a “Windows 11 ready” BIOS profile and apply it consistently, otherwise identical devices may behave differently.

1.2 Backups are not optional

Even an “in-place upgrade” can fail due to driver conflicts, storage health, or third-party security software. Always do at least one of:

• A full system image (recommended for business/industrial systems)
• A file-level backup of user profiles + critical app data
• Export of browser profiles and saved credentials (enterprise policies permitting)

1.3 Decide what you want to preserve

There are three practical preservation levels:

1. Keep apps + settings + files (best UX, highest complexity)
2. Keep personal files only (fewer conflicts, but apps must be reinstalled)
3. Clean install (best stability baseline, strongest for industrial “fixed-purpose” endpoints)

2) Windows 10 → Windows 11: Three Upgrade Methods (Pros, Cons, and When to Use)

2.1 In-place upgrade via Windows Update (lowest friction)

This is the default path when your device is eligible. It typically preserves apps, settings, and files.

• Use when: office PCs, managed fleets, users need everything preserved
• Avoid when: systems have years of legacy drivers, unstable storage, or “mystery” vendor utilities

2.2 Upgrade using Installation Assistant/ISO (more control)

For IT admins, using a Windows 11 ISO gives more predictable outcomes and is easier to standardize. If you’re migrating a fleet, you can unify the build and keep internal documentation consistent.

2.3 Clean install (best baseline for kiosks and industrial devices)

Clean install is often the best choice for:

• Kiosks and signage players (fixed-purpose devices)
• Industrial PCs with strict stability requirements
• Systems transitioning to LTSC-style servicing expectations

It’s also the only approach that fully removes accumulated configuration drift, leftover drivers, and old security agents.

3) Where to Download Windows 11 ISO (Official and “Link Directory” Options)

3.1 Microsoft’s Official Sources

Recommended: use Microsoft’s official Windows 11 download page for ISOs and installers.

• Microsoft (global): Download Windows 11 (official)
• Microsoft (Poland): Pobierz Windows 11 (ISO)
• Microsoft (Ukraine): Завантаження Windows 11 (ISO)
• Microsoft Software Download hub: Software Download

3.2 Reliable Alternative Sources

Beyond the official Microsoft download links for Windows 11 ISO images, several reputable third-party repositories can help you find older builds or quickly access Microsoft-hosted files via curated link lists. These images should remain original and unmodified—always verify their hashes before use.

Why Consider Alternative Repositories? Based on our extensive experience in OS installation and technical support, we’ve identified two key scenarios where official channels might fall short:

1. Access to Legacy Builds: Microsoft’s servers typically promote only the latest releases. If you require a specific older build for software compatibility, Archive.org can be useful for locating historic media that is no longer easily available through official pages.
2. Direct Links to Genuine Media: Some directories (for example Massgrave.dev) collect links to installation media and help you find the correct download faster. Treat such directories as link lists, and still prefer Microsoft direct whenever possible.

Pro Tip: When using third-party sources, we always recommend verifying the image's checksums (SHA-1/256) to ensure its authenticity and security.

• Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine
• Massgrave: Genuine Installation Media

Coming Soon: Stay tuned for our upcoming article, where we will dive into the pros and cons of modified or "minimalist" (Lite) Windows builds. We will explore potential stability issues, security risks, and technical pitfalls you might encounter when choosing performance over standard system functionality.

4) Understanding License Preservation: What Usually Carries Over?

In many environments, people confuse “keeping data” with “keeping license.” They’re separate:

• Data retention: whether user profiles, apps, and settings remain after installation
• License retention: whether activation stays valid for the edition installed

4.1 Windows 10 → Windows 11 (same edition family)

If you upgrade the same device from Windows 10 to Windows 11 within the same edition family (e.g., Pro → Pro), activation often remains valid on that hardware—especially when the license is digital or OEM. However, in managed fleets with volume licensing or re-imaging, your activation method may differ.

4.2 When you “upgrade edition” (Home → Pro, Pro → Enterprise)

Edition upgrades can be done in-place if Windows supports it, but you still need a valid license for the target edition. Use DISM to see supported targets:

Dism /Online /Get-TargetEditions

If your target edition is not listed, Windows may require a different path (often a reinstall or a different base ISO).

5) Upgrade & Migration Matrix: What Keeps Apps, Data, and License?

6) The Big Question: Can You Move from Pro to IoT “Without Problems” and Keep Data?

In practice, moving from Windows Pro to Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC should be treated as a platform migration, not a simple edition switch. Even when user files can be preserved via backup/restore, keeping apps and settings “as-is” is rarely realistic.

6.1 Why Pro → IoT LTSC is different

• Licensing is different: IoT Enterprise LTSC is a distinct channel/edition intended for fixed-purpose devices.
• Servicing expectations are different: LTSC focuses on stability with fewer feature changes.
• Deployment model is different: industrial integrators commonly use golden images.

6.2 The recommended “safe” Pro → IoT migration plan

1. Inventory the device: drivers, peripheral dependencies, special software, certificates
2. Backup: user data + application configuration exports
3. Prepare an IoT LTSC image: drivers + policies + kiosk/lockdown settings
4. Clean install IoT LTSC
5. Restore data and re-deploy apps in a controlled order
6. Validate: peripherals, printing, network, power-loss behavior, boot time, remote access

For kiosks, HMIs, and 24/7 industrial endpoints, this “clean baseline” approach is often the reason IoT LTSC is selected in the first place.

7) How to Check Your Current Edition and Supported Upgrade Targets

7.1 Check your current Windows edition

winver

Or use PowerShell / DISM commands for detailed admin workflows.

7.2 List supported target editions (the “truth table” of edition changes)

Dism /Online /Get-TargetEditions

If your desired target edition is not in the list, don’t force it. Plan a reinstall or choose a supported path.

8) Legitimate Edition Changes & Activation Commands (Admin Toolkit)

The commands below are for legitimate admin operations: installing a valid key, activating through your organization, verifying status, or cleaning keys before device transfer. They do not replace proper licensing.

8.1 How to Easily Upgrade Windows 11 Home to Pro

To upgrade your system from Home to Pro, you do not need a retail license key immediately. You can use a Microsoft Generic Product Key, which will trigger the edition upgrade automatically.

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Navigate to Settings > System > Activation.
2. Click on Change product key.
3. Enter the following generic key:VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T
4. Click Next and then Start.
5. The system will prepare the necessary files and automatically restart your computer.
6. After the restart, go back to Settings > System > Activation and verify that Windows 11 Pro (Inactive) is now displayed.
7. Finally, click Change product key again, enter the purchased Windows 11 Pro license key, and activate the system.

Note: If you encounter an error with the generic key, try disconnecting your internet connection before clicking "Start" and reconnecting it after the upgrade process begins.

8.2 Useful Activation Commands for Command Prompt

• Install a product key

slmgr /ipk XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

• Activate

slmgr /ato

The same as:

cscript %windir%\system32\slmgr.vbs -ato

• Remove the product key from the registry (handover hygiene)

slmgr /cpky

• Repair / reset licensing components (troubleshooting)

slmgr /rilc

• Reset the evaluation period/licensing status and activation state of the computer

slmgr /rearm

• Display the current license information with activation status and partial product key

slmgr /dli

• Show the expiry date of the current license or indicate whether activation is permanent

  

slmgr /xpr

9) Common Upgrade Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

9.1 “It upgraded, but performance got worse”

• Old chipset/storage drivers carried over
• Too little RAM for modern browser workloads
• Background security agents duplicating functionality

Solution: consider a controlled ISO upgrade with driver validation—or a clean install for older systems.

9.2 “We can’t activate after reinstall”

• Edition mismatch (installing Pro but owning Home license, or vice versa)
• Volume licensing/KMS/MAK policies not applied yet
• Device was previously imaged with different channel assumptions

Solution: confirm edition, confirm license channel, then activate via your legitimate method.

9.3 “We want IoT LTSC because we don’t want feature updates”

That can be a valid industrial strategy. Just don’t treat it as a simple “upgrade button.” Treat it as a planned deployment, with an image, test plan, and licensing aligned from day one.

10) Practical Recommendations by Use Case

Office PCs (knowledge workers)

• Windows 10 → Windows 11 in-place upgrade if hardware is eligible
• Stay on Pro or Enterprise depending on management needs
• Prioritize minimal downtime and user continuity

Kiosks / Signage / Fixed-Purpose Terminals

• Prefer clean installs and golden images
• Consider Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC for stability and predictable servicing
• Use lockdown/kiosk policies and remote monitoring

Industrial PCs & Transport Devices

• Plan for power events (UPS, write filters where applicable, storage health monitoring)
• Use a repeatable deployment pipeline (image + driver pack + checklist)
• When moving to IoT LTSC, schedule it like a migration project

Conclusion

Upgrading Windows 10 to Windows 11 is often straightforward—if your hardware is eligible and you pick the right method (Windows Update, ISO upgrade, or clean install). The complex part begins when you want to change the edition or move to Windows IoT Enterprise LTSC. For most organizations, Home/Pro/Enterprise edition changes can be done in-place when supported, but Pro → IoT LTSC is typically a clean-install migration with separate licensing planning.

If you treat edition strategy as part of your device lifecycle (image, updates, licensing, and recovery), your fleet becomes predictable— which is exactly what industrial and transport deployments need.