Fresh install of Win7Pro using OEM disk but Anytime Upgrade Key

I'm not sure if this will work, and I read a bunch of threads, but can't determine what my result may be, so I thought I'd ask.

My Dell XPS8300 2.5 year old Seagate 1TB HD is going south. I ordered a WD 1TB black to replace it. So I'll be doing a fresh install tomorrow. The PC originally came with Windows 7 Home Premium as OEM and has the CA sticker on the cabinet. I do not have the Home Premium media (didn't come with a disk).

Right after I bought the PC, I did a Windows anytime upgrade to Windows 7 Professional. So I have that license key. I also have an Windows 7 Professional Install Disk, that ships with a new computer (from another source).

I would like to install the OS using that Win 7 Pro disk, and then use my Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade key to activate my OS. Will this work?

If not, any good ideas on doing this, or must I find an OEM home premium disk, install that first with the original OEM key, and they reactivate my Pro install with the Anytime Upgrade key?

Thanks.

Unfortunately you can't use Anytime Upgrade key to activate a Clean Install of Professional. You'll have to install Home Premium and then insert the key in Anytime Upgrade to unlock Pro's few extra expensive features which most consumers don't need.

In the future save a Backup image of the finished Upgrade so you can use it to reimage in 20 minutes rather than waste hours reinstalling. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Everything needed to do a perfect reinstall including the installer for your licensed version is here: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Bummer, but not a real big deal I guess. So another question, which I think I know the answer too from reading...

I have downloaded the Win7 SP1 Home Premium ISO. I've created the bootable DVD. Even though my OEM CA key is for non SP1, that key should still work when I use this Home Premium SP1 image right?

And you're point about saving a new image is a good one. I need to learn more about doing that. Are you using a native Windows feature to do that, something in the Backup and Recovery applet, or a 3rd party product?

Thank you again.

Yes SP1.

Please click on the included links to read illustrated tutorials.

This is your chance to do a perfect install better than all others if you will stick with the steps in tutorial which compile everything that works best for Win7.

Will do, than you!

WOW! I just went through some of the tutorials. How cool is that. You guys really know how to write up a "how to!" Great stuff, and I certainly will create this image in case I ever need to do this again...

Many of our tutorials including Clean Reinstall have over a million web views.

So once question I'm not sure about...Since I'm going to have to install Home Premium first, and then upgrade to Pro with my anytime upgrade key, during setup, will I still be able to get into Audit mode in Home Premium, or is that only a Pro and higher option/feature?

Thanks.

Compare Windows 7 Editions

Thanks. I just did a trial run on the old disk (while I wait for the new one), and upon quitting the sysprep utility, when it runs it's cleanup, it resulted in an error. "A fatal error occurred while trying to sysprep the machine." I will google it, but any quick answers/suggestions?

Thanks