Windows Anytime Upgrade on New Computer

BCXtreme · 17 Jan 2010

Hey,

I recently purchased this great new computer (for once, it's the one now in my system specs), but it came with Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit). I owned an upgrade copy of Professional, so I input the product key into Anytime Upgrade, and I was running Professional in a few minutes. But now, Windows is trying to activate, and it won't accept the product key! I have typed it several times now, and I do not think there are any typos. So I tried to upgrade again, this time from the disc, and the upgrade failed, probably because it would essentially be "upgrading" to the same version it already has.

So in short, I am now running a copy of Windows 7 Professional, installed from Anytime Upgrade, using the product key from a standard upgrade disc, which is going to expire in 24 days because it suddenly won't take the key. Is there any way I can extricate myself from this mess, or do I just need to contact Microsoft and work out the product key situation with them?

Thanks,
- Phil

beauparc · 17 Jan 2010

I reckon your best bet is to phone them and explain. I think they will OK it there and then.

theog · 17 Jan 2010

Take a look at this:

Activate Windows 7 by Phone

gregrocker · 17 Jan 2010

MS wants us to use Anytime Upgrade to upgrade within Win7, so in order to use a regular product key we need to do a clean install. There is, however, a workaround which has become quite popular helping the millions who had the RC change it to another Win7 version they purchased.

By adapting this workaround, you can in-place upgrade the Premium version using the Professional DVD so that it will allow use of the Professional key: Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to any retail version Icrontic Tech

In your case, you will change the registry version key to the exact wording given for Windows 7 Professional as it appears in the workaround's screenshot. This will trick the installer into thinking it is upgrading in-place the same version, which is a repair install in Win7.

Hopefully this will work for you as it has worked for many others.