Windows 7: Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade with non-upgrade Ultimate license?

I'm about to buy a new laptop from Costco with Win 7 Home Premium. On my old (now smashed) laptop I have a Win 7 Ultimate install. Can I just use the Ultimate serial key to do the Anytime Upgrade on the new machine? I keep reading that I need to buy an "upgrade key."



Thanks

Hi,
You will need an upgrade key to initiate the ultimate download, but if you can manage to obtain an ultimate installation cd your serial should work, also if you use this winisoutils - Windows ISO Disc Image Utilities

you can change a windows install cd (if you have one) into a universal edition one, very handy.

to answer your question an upgrade key is not the same as a serial, the upgrade key is just to download the installation while the serial activates it, and a serial from one edition will not work with a different edition.

hope this helps

I believe as long as you have a win 7 ultimate installer and the key I would say it would work and replace home premium with ultimate, would require a fresh install though

Is this a retail Ultimate key, or one which came preinstalled on the old laptop which cannot be moved?

If it's a retail key you can insert it into Anytime Upgrade to unlock the few additional expensive Ultimate features which the vast majority of users don't need. Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to - Windows 7 Forums

I would first make your new laptop Recovery Disks and save externally a Windows 7 backup image of Home Premium so you can revert if you find another place you'd like to use Ultimate and not waste the $100+ Home Premium license which came with the new laptop. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Then make a Windows 7 backup image of the new Ultimate installation to use in place of reinstalls.

Be sure to also make the System Repair Disk to use in case Windows 7 becomes unbootable. You can also use the Ultimate install disk if you have it, for repairs or clean reinstall.