In place upgrade on Toshiba laptop

Hi I've been reading threads for hours on Windows 7 installs but I can't find a specific answer for my scenario.

I am looking at buying a couple of Toshiba laptops that have a pre-installed version of Windows 7 Home Premium. I already own a Microsoft Action Pack which gives me 10 Windows 7 Professional licences. I want to be able to upgrade the OS on the laptops from the Home Edition to the Professional Edition. Because the laptops are already setup with all the toshiba software drivers etc installed I am reluctant to do a clean install. Is it possible to use the product key from my Action Pack to upgrade the laptops without having to wipe them and start again?

I'm not concerned about loosing the home premium licence I just want to upgrade to Professional Edition with minimum fuss.

I hope someone can help clarify this. Thanks.

Hi... I have got 2 Toshiba (netbook and a laptop) the net book came with the useless Windows7 starter.. I have upgradrd to Ultimate without any problems .
You will find a facility on your toshiba will enable you just to enter the license key and it is done ..I forgot what is it called but I will look for it .

I think it called anytime upgrade.

Hmmm, I'm not sure but I think you have to purchase an anytime upgrade key to get that to work. I had a look on another computer and it says you can't enter a Windows product key. I want to be able to enter the Windows 7 Professional product key from my Action Pack.

I didn't buy anytime key I went for the upgrade option and entered the key for my new copy of ultimate and kept all files and drivers ...maybe someone here got another idea .

Great, well that sounds promising. If I right click "computer" then select properties ther eis an option that says "get more features with a new version of Windows" clicking on that gives an option to enter an anytime upgrade key. Is that where you entered your product key?

Take a look at this:

Windows Anytime Upgrade - Windows 7 - Microsoft Windows

Underscore said:

Great, well that sounds promising. If I right click "computer" then select properties ther eis an option that says "get more features with a new version of Windows" clicking on that gives an option to enter an anytime upgrade key. Is that where you entered your product key?

Yes .. thats it

You can also try adapting this popular workaround that many used to in-place upgrade the RC to a lesser version they purchased. Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to any retail version Icrontic Tech

The same principle applies between any versions of Win7, change the registry listings to the exact wording given for the version you wish to Upgrade/Downgrade to, and the installer will think it is a repair install over the same version and allow in-place upgrade.

Otherwise, MS wants us to use Anytimes between Win7 versions.

madmansam said:

I didn't buy anytime key I went for the upgrade option and entered the key for my new copy of ultimate and kept all files and drivers ...maybe someone here got another idea .

Out of interest, was the product key you entered for a retail edition or was it an Action Pack or MSDN key?