Stupid question but I want to be absolutely sure. I'm building a computer for my fiance, and he's going to get Win 7 Prof. Now, I already have the full installation discs for Win 7 Prof, but my product key is only good for 1 computer. Could I use my discs to install Prof, then get the Anytime Upgrade to unlock Prof to have that validate it for him?
If you install yours and do not validate, he will have 30 days to use before he must validate.
There isn't any need to involve Anytime Upgrade unless you need to unlock a lesser version.
You can use any retail Pro installer to do the install on the new hardware, then you'll have 30 days to activate.
Note that he'll need to buy full retail Win7 unless you have a spare retail XP/Vista to use to qualify for the cheaper upgrade version. If you do then the same Pro installer can be used and the qualifying OS doesn't even need to be installed. Just do the quick registry edit workaround given here after install and before attempting to activate: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
I understand that, but will that Anytime Upgrade count as a valid product key for Prof?
Or do I have to get another regular Upgrade? (I do have a separate XP hard drive.)
You will need to install a low edition first, & than use Anytime upgrade to go up to Pro edition.
Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to
The point is that Anytime Upgrade is half the price of the OEM (on Newegg).
Thanks everyone. Theog, thanks for the insight on it having to be a lesser version. I ended up ordering the OEM, since it was still cheaper than the regular Upgrade.
Gregrocker is correct! The point is that an anytime upgrade is an upgrade... you cannot upgrade unless you have a lower version currently installed. I missed the Anytime upgrade the first go around.
If your purpose for wanting the anytime upgrade is to save money look here... but you would need a retail upgrade disc to accomplish this... Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version
With this disc:
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade
NOTICE THIS... anytime upgrades are specifically from one version of Win7 to a higher version like this: Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Anytime Upgrade: Windows 7 Home Premium to Professional Would only work if you had Win7 Home Premium currently installed.
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