I installed Windows 7 Pro and by lameness checked Ultimate. Now windows pops up as counterfeit.
I really don't want to remove all my files and programs to reinstall Pro so they don't get wiped. IF I purchase Ultimate and install over what Microsoft says is the counterfeit windows 7 Ultimate version, will Windows still recognize the proper 7 Ultimate install and/or will everything get wiped anyway.
Thank you.
Welcome Pauljay to the windows forums.
If you have installed the ultimate version and you then go to MS and pay for the ultimate version, all you should have to do is to enter the code into your registration and it should then validate and you should be ok. Otherwise, I believe that you better copy all the data and anything else you want to save to an external device and then do a boot of the dvd and delete the existing partitions and then reformat and install the correct version.
Calling microsoft might help as they will be glad to sell you the ultimate version but I think that the PRO version is probably more than most people would need.
FWIW:
Rich
You can do this:
Product Key Number - Change
Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.
Try inserting your Windows DVD and choose the upgrade route to see if you can install Windows Professional over your existing "counterfeit" installation.
A long shot this, but press the Win Key + Pause combination to open your System folder and see if changing the product key will do it. Obviously, you'll be using the same product key, but it's worth a try.
Thanks for that Rich. I was going to edit my comment, and then I got called away.
You're quite right of course. I suppose the cheapest option is to format as you say, and then install Win Pro. If he then decides he wants Ultimate, a Windows Anytime Upgrade key would be his cheapest option.
Mine cost me £85 ($130).
If you already own a copy of Win7 then there is no reason to waste money to buy another since you can reinstall as often as you like using Product Key on the COA sticker.
To change from Ultimate to Pro you must clean reinstall or change the registry keys exactly as shown below to trick the installer into doing a Repair Install from the desktop:
Last edited by gregrocker; 06 Jun 2011 at 13:29.
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