New PC: Upgrade Pre-Installed Windows 7

I am currently using an old laptop on which I installed a 32-bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate.

Tomorrow I am getting a new laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit pre-installed.

As I have the Microsoft DVD for Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit can I use that to upgrade the new laptop's operating system?

If so, is it simply a matter of inserting the disc, running it and entering the product key that came with the DVDs? (I have a feeling it isn't going to be quite that simple).

I don't want to end up erasing all the bundled software. Not yet anyway!

The Windows 7 Ultimate DVDs were provided by Microsoft in 2009 at a promotional event and came with just the one product key which was used when I installed the 32-bit version. Will this cause a problem?

Would I be better to leave well alone and just use the Home Premium version?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

NO, you will need to uninstall old Notebook first. Than use Anytime upgrade.

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

You have only ONE ultimate license, you can use it on only one computer at a time, it can be 32 bit or 64 bit. Since you've used it up on the old laptop, you cant use it on the new laptop.

Upgrading from home premium to ultimate is quite simple yes. You just neeed to anytime upgrade with the key for the higher edition.

If this is a home computer, you're fine with home premium. Pro and Ultimate offer certain additional features like ability to join a domain, XP mode, MUI packs, ability to boot from VHD etc. But I havent really met any average user who needs these features. Some features like XP mode have other alternatives like virtualpc or vmware.

Thank you for the replies. I think I will just leave Home Premium on the new laptop for the time being.

Compare Windows - Microsoft Windows

If you don't need the extra features in a higher version then you are wasting your money.

What money? Both Windows 7 Ultimate discs were freebies at a promotional event back in 2009.

Nice freebies

theog said:

Nice freebies

Yeah, they are.

The event was at Wembley Stadium and it was nice to be there without thousands of other people. We even got the opportunity to wander out to the expensive seats and have a look at the hallowed turf. Unfortunately Microsoft hadn't thought to provide a football. Hopefully they'll buck up their ideas before the Windows 8 launch.

I now have Windows 7 Ultimate running on both laptops and running Speccy confirms that the same key has been used for both.

They appear to be functioning correctly so all's well.