Windows 7: How to Install Windows 7 Ultimate on a laptop with Windows Home Basic

Please help, My friend Wants to Buy Windows 7 Ultimate but first wants to try the 30-day trial version. He's using an HP laptop with Windows Home Basic 64-bit OS. He is wondering how to do this so in turn I am asking you guys out here right now. Does it need a clean install? He already downloaded a retail dvd for the Windows 7 Ultimate OS ISO. Also one of his concerns is that there is an image backup of his OS with the system factory settings, we're both wondering if it would still be accessible (it's on a different hdd partition) once he successfully installs the Ultimate OS.


He's doing this at first, and then he's planning to try out Windows 7 Professional next and then decide which to Buy to replace his original OS.


We'd really appreciate any feedback about this.

Im afraid there is no trial of Ultimate, just Enterprise

What do you mean enterprise? So this ISO that he downloaded is not a Windows 7 Ultimate installer ISO?

You can upgrade to Ultimate but you need to purchase an Upgrade DVD.
Get Windows 7 Ultimate ISO legally here (30 Days Trial).
Learn how to burn it on to a DVD/USB here
Learn how to do a Clean Install here

There are several pieces of software to image your hard drive. Acronis is the one I find most reliable (is NOT free). There is a free version of Macrium Reflect (I prefer the older version 4.x). There are probably others you can find using Google.

To make sure the image is accessible, it is best to create the image on an external hard drive. Good luck.

You can install any version of Windows 7 and run it without a serial number for 30 days. If he likes it, he can just put in his legit key, activate, and be done with it.

That being said, there's very little reason to pay for Ultimate. Chances are, Home Premium will do just what he needs, and cost much less.

Does he really need to try each OS to see which is right for him?

Instead all that headache being spent installing and testing, I would recommend comparing the editions online. Make your choice from there.

Compare Windows 7 Editions

A question he must ask him self is, does he NEED to upgrade? Or does he just WANT to?

If you clean install another version of Windows you will lose anything on the hard drive you haven't either backed up, partitioned off or created a set of recovery discs for.

As for buying Ultimate, ask him to consider a Windows Anytime Upgrade to Home Premium, he'll save money that he could use to improve his computer in other ways, such as upgrading his RAM.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...sked-questions

He just needs to buy an upgrade product key, insert it for the upgrade then activate on completion. Even better, his factory image is untouched if he would prefer to keep it and he won't have to mess about partitioning the hard drive.

You can ask your friend to read the link from TGSoldier "Compare Windows 7 Editions" and decide what are the features he is looking for and decide the version of Windows 7 to upgrade to.

If he upgrades to Ultimate, he will have all the features of Windows 7 but this may be an expensive option.

Ultimate has all the features of Professional. So once he tries Ultimate, there is nothing extra in Professional.

The best option would be to upgrade using the Anytime Upgrade. Your friend can buy this from Jarir Book Stores. This will be a cheaper option rather than buying a retail version and easier to apply. There is no need to reinstall the OS and all the data and applications shall be intact and operational after the upgrade. The upgrade will take only about 10 minutes.

Using the Anytime Upgrade kit, he can convert the OS from Home Basic x64 to either Professional, Home Premium or Ultimate.

Anytime upgrade will not affect the partitions containing the OS factory restore data. But I suggest he make restore DVDs from the restore partition for backup purpose.

He can save the serial number from the anytime upgrade kit and for any reason he restores the factory defaults to Windows Home Basic x64, he may use the same serial number to upgrade again.

Shrink the existing OS partition: Partition or Volume - Shrink

Install an affordable version of Windows 7 unless you want to waste money of features not needed. Clean Install Windows 7

If you decide to keep the new OS and activate it within 30 days we can help you remove the old OS and recover the space once your files and programs are moved over. Partition Recover Space Used by an Older OS