Windows 7: Help retrieving Windows Anytime Upgrade Key from OE disc

So way, way, way back when... when Microsoft was offering presale Windows 7 disks to university students I purchased mine online.

I recently had to reinstall the OS due to a failing hard drive but I just now noticed, on the original disk (OE from MS, complete with hologram, etc) it says, "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade".
Also I just noticed in the System information window under Windows Edition it says, "Get more features with a new edition of Windows 7". From there it takes me to another window to enter the key. This is a different key than the original installer key.



My question is, how do I get this key? When they say "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade", do they just mean Microsoft just gives you a handy link to purchase a key???

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

If you have not use your upgrade, you will find your key in the email from the university students purchased.

Did you use the discs, disc etc. you purchased way back when to do the recent install ? What do you want to upgrade to Pro ? Ultimate ? Do you really need the few added features ?

Windows anytime upgrade is just software included in HP and Pro. I doubt if the disc you bought has a key for it included.

Correct me if I`m wrong.

It`s a different key because you are upgrading to a new version of windows. It tells you right there how to get your new key when you click on get more features. After you click, it takes you to the page to buy Pro or Ult. Go ahead click, you don`t have to buy it, just look.

It`s $140 to upgrade to Ultimate, $90 for Pro

In my opinion Home Premium runs faster than both.

It means that you can buy an ANytime Upgrade key to unlock the few extra expensive features in the upper versions, which almost no consumer needs.

I would not use that pre-SP1 disk as it lacks hours of updates and important OS improvements in the latest official installer for your licensed version found in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

The tutorial also gives helpful tips for getting and keeping a perfect install, even for retail which is what Student version is.

My question is, how do I get this key? When they say "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade", do they just mean Microsoft just gives you a handy link to purchase a key??

And Yep that`s what it means.

Thanks for the replies. This version is Windows 7 Pro x64, so there may not be a logical upgrade path beyond this.
The reason I'm even inquiring is because my HDD crashed and Seagate sent me a replacement. I ran the Windows 7 disk for a clean install but the key didnt work... so I skipped the activation step and pushed the install through anyway. Once installed I realized why the key didnt work. Its an "upgrade" so apparently it needs to be installed over Vista or XP. Cant find my xp disk and dont have a Vista disk.
My thought was I could use the "anytime upgrade" to upgrade the disk to something I dont have to have Vista for...

Try one of these methods,

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

You don`t have to have the other OS installed, as long as you have it. Others will know more about the upgrade process. I thought you said you bought a retail windows install from Microsoft not the upgrade disc. The retail key can be used on any pc, as long as it`s only used and activated on 1 pc at any given time.

Did I phrase that correctly ?

I did say that in my first post but that was before I realized the disc said "Upgrade" on it. It's been so long ago that I originally installed it. When first purchased using the MS Student discount all it did was give you access to download the ISO; activation key came via email (which I wrote on the disc). They also gave me an option to purchase the disc, for a few dollars more which I did even though it was redundant at that point.
Anyway, at the time I just installed over XP and it was pretty seamless. This time I used the OEM Hologram CD mentioned earlier, which I've never used before till now.

to your first comment, I didnt think an installed OS was necessary either. Prior to Windows 7 I had an XP upgrade disc which would promp me to insert a pervious version cd which I always had lying around.
I never got such a prompt during this Windows 7 install.

You would never want to do an upgrade with an OS already in place anyway, that would just make a mess, take up more space, blah blah blah