Vista HP -> Win 7 HP (no key) -> Win 7 Pro (valid key)

Kari · 23 Jan 2011

This is quite interesting question, thanks to OP for bringing it up.

Each and every one of us who have been playing with computers a bit longer have been in these grey areas like for instance buying a Vista upgrade version, clean installing it first once without a product key and straight after that second time, this time entering the key for upgrade Vista which Vista accepted because it saw that first keyless install as an OS that entitled us to use upgrade version.

But Anytime Upgrade? In my opinion, it should not only test that you have a correct previous OS but also that it is valid; the pricing of Anytime Upgrade is so fair it's clear Microsoft assumes at least that the license for the previous, inferior edition of Seven is paid.

Would be nice to hear from someone who has tried Anytime when old Seven was not yet activated.

Kari

Bronko · 23 Jan 2011

It is a full Win7 Pro key, not an upgrade PID.

Bill2 · 23 Jan 2011

Bronko said:

Also, is it kosher to trade legit and never used PID's? Is there anyway to check if a PID is legit and unused?

Can you elaborate what exactly you intend to do?
PID checking is not exactly kosher because of the dubious uses it is put to such as developing cracks.

Bronko · 23 Jan 2011

When I mentioned trading, I was asking if it would be legal for me to trade my legal never been used Win 7 Pro PID, for someone else's fully legal never been used Win 7 Home Premium PID.

I am not trying to do anything wrong, in the older days of physical media this wouldn't even be an issue. In any case Win 7 Pro has a higher retail value and I am speaking hypothetically. In said hypothetical trade, I, and presumably the trading partner, would want to verify the PID to be received is legit. That is all. :)

Sorry for such a wordy response, I think I will just tell my Dad we need to do a clean install. Plus he goes to x64 that way.

profdlp · 23 Jan 2011

Bronko said:

...I think I will just tell my Dad we need to do a clean install. Plus he goes to x64 that way.

As a latecomer to this thread, I think that's the best choice. When you weigh the various hoops you have to jump through to do it any other way, along with the potential problems you may encounter, that's probably not only the best choice but the easiest one, too. :)

Bronko · 23 Jan 2011

Agreed, but I would still like to know if it is possible nonetheless, for good old curiosities sake.

Bill2 · 23 Jan 2011

Theres no authorized tool from MS for the end user to pre-check a key's validity. There are some hacker tools around but I strongly advise you not to use those because among other things, it involves passing on your key to the database used by those developers- and after that anything may happen to your key. The only way to validate the key is online activation post-install and validation.

Bronko · 23 Jan 2011

Thanks for confirming that, not interested in giving the key out. I just thought maybe MSFT had a webpage where you could check a PID, guess not. Thanks all.

theog · 23 Jan 2011

Kari said:

Greg, what do you think of that Anytime upgrade when the Home Premium would not be activated? Isn't Anytime meant to be used only if you already have an existing license of Seven, that being the reason to it's quite fair price?

Kari

Hi Karl
Yes, you can use anytime upgrade from a unactivated Windows 7.
Tutorials made using unactivated Windows 7 Strarter to Windows 7 Ultimate activated.
When using a Upgrade key, you will need a qualifying previous version of Windows, XP, Vista or Windows 7.
License Terms

No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade key is neeed.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to

Ray.

Bronko · 23 Jan 2011

theog said:

Kari said:

Greg, what do you think of that Anytime upgrade when the Home Premium would not be activated? Isn't Anytime meant to be used only if you already have an existing license of Seven, that being the reason to it's quite fair price?

Kari

Hi Karl
Yes, you can use anytime upgrade from a unactivated Windows 7.
Tutorials made using unactivated Windows 7 Strarter to Windows 7 Ultimate activated.
When using a Upgrade key, you will need a qualifying previous version of Windows, XP, Vista or Windows 7.
License Terms

No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade key is neeed.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to

Ray.

Looks like it will work then, if you are correct in that you can use an unactivated Win7 HP to perform an anytime upgrade to Win7 Pro using a legit PID.

So my next question is media. I have the Win7 Pro disc, but need to burn a Win7 Home Premium 32 bit ISO. I know where to get that, but is there anything I need to do to it for it to work without entering a PID? Or when it asks, do I just skip entering it for now and it will continue? I have read you can do an install without a PID, but is there a certain ISO needed for this to work? Hope I made sense here...