can i install win 7 ultimate over win 7 home premium oem ?

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  1. Posts : 48
    win 7 ultimate x64
       #1

    can i install win 7 ultimate over win 7 home premium oem ?


    as above

    i have just upgraded my motherboard, and intend to use the oem licence with that on another build, as per licence

    however, i have a perfectly good install on my ssd of win 7 hp, and as the new motherboard is almost identical (both gigabyte 775 with p35 chipset) and seems happy with the drivers, i was looking forward to avoiding a fresh install

    is it possible to "activate" win 7 ultimate (64 bit) and upgrade in place?

    and will doing so compromise my prior licence (which was a legit upgrade from vista, the vista disks of which have vanished into the depths of time) ?

    i have successfully done clean installs from the upgrade disk of hp that have been blessed by windows recognising the legitimacy of the oem linked motherboard

    thanks for any advice, even if it is to confirm i need to go clean and start from scratch
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 256
    Windows 8 Pro x64
       #2

    You should be able to do it all. Your licenses will not be 'compromised'. A fresh install will likely not be needed, unless the motherboard is drastically different. I may have misunderstood your post, though.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 48
    win 7 ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    i'm running it at present but it asks for activation

    using my ultimate key has it tell me that it is incompatible with the version i am running

    i thought ultimate key let me choose any flavour i wanted, but no option seems available
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    What are you trying to do, exactly, upgrade your HP to Ultimate ?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 48
    win 7 ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    no, ultmate is a full licence

    i simply want to change the product key as a simple move rather than reinstall

    i don't need to "upgrade" as ultimate is a full retail edition, but the present install is an win 7 hp oem upgrade from times past
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #6

    You say you have HP on the ssd but yet you`re trying to activate Ultimate, I`m confused.

    Why aren`t you using the original HP key to activate ?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #7

    scruffy1 said:
    no, ultmate is a full licence

    i simply want to change the product key as a simple move rather than reinstall

    i don't need to "upgrade" as ultimate is a full retail edition, but the present install is an win 7 hp oem upgrade from times past
    I have done this several times with Windows Anytime Upgrade, tutorial here: Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to

    You do not need to reinstall or in-place upgrade. All windows editions have all components of all editions, with Anytime Upgrade you can upgrade Home Premium to Ultimate simply by launching anytime Upgrade and entering the product key. it does not have to be an upgrade key, a retail key is also OK.

    An example of what I have done is to buy a laptop with German Home Premium, Anytime Upgrade with to Ultimate to be able to use language packs and transformed the new Ultimate then to English.

    You should be aware that as this process is an upgrade, it does not free the key from the original Windows installation, in this case your Home Premium.

    Kari
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 48
    win 7 ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Kari said:
    You should be aware that as this process is an upgrade, it does not free the key from the original Windows installation, in this case your Home Premium.

    Kari
    this is where that method is fail

    i own a full and legit copy of oem win 7 home premium, and i hope to use it on the original mobo it is tied with (the ga ep35-ds3) however, i have moved all the other components on to my "new" board (the ga-ep35-ds3p) and i own a full retail licence that i intend to use with that installation

    "upgrading" in that scenario only achieves essentially burning a valid (oem) licence, as i have every right to have 2 installs with the available o.s. licences

    thus i am after a way to bypass a new install, but if windoze is too stupid to allow it without doing so, i will have to do a fresh install of the retail ultimate

    that's very clumsy, but i am far too used to windoze shenanigans to be robbed of a valid licence because they make it the easy way out
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #9

    This is of course only semantics, but if as you say you intended to use your Home Premium OEM on a system where all other components than motherboard are changed, according to the EULA it no longer qualifies for that OEM licence.

    OEM licences are cheaper for this one reason: they are meant to be used on one hardware setup only and are not transferable. Basically, you intended to use it on a new system where just the motherboard is old.

    I would do a fresh clean install with that Ultimate.

    Kari
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 48
    win 7 ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #10

    my interpretation of oem is that it is tied to a component of the original install, and that arbitrarily windows defines the essential component as the motherboard

    i am a keen builder and i regularly change cpu / ram / gpu / sound card and power supplies dependent on available upgrades; the "new" build on the old board would be re-using my prior lower end components

    it would appear in your example that the eula is a poorly disguised snow job to oblige people to buy a new o.s. licence to continue to use their old hardware, to maximise profit

    surprise ! (not), but i have no hesitation in utilising the licence that was tied to the motherboard to continue to use the motherboard it was tied to - that wasn't my choice, it's how the licence reads, unless they have belatedly altered the original oem that was provided with my build and i am quite certain a retrospective unilateral change of contract by the vendor would be invalid

    i appreciate your suggestion and think a new install is the way i will be obliged to go; i think your interpretation of the oem licence is incorrect though

    that's somewhat like telling me if i pimp my car it's not the same car, and i need to buy a new licence to drive it
      My Computer


 
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