Hi,
I have a question. I purchased Win7 Pro, upgraded anolder Xp system. The install went fine, however the computer is now inoperable. I have purchased a new computer with Win7 Home installed. The old system was 32 bit and the new one is 64 bit.
My question is: can I upgrade my new computer to Win7 pro? Or have I just spent my money on the Win7 Pro and cannot use it?
Thanks in advance for any help/
Wally
1) If the win7 pro you purchased is a retail version, you can use it to CLEAN INSTALL win7 pro on the computer with win7 home premium. You cannot do an upgrade install because upgrading from one version of win7 to another requires an Anytime Upgrade disk.
If you have already activated pro on the defunct computer, there is a small chance activation may give you a problem. In that case, you'll need to call MS.
Also remember, that the license must only be used on a single machine at a given time. If your defunct computer suddenly rises from the ashes, you'll have to uninstall pro from either of the 2 computers.
2) If your purchased disk is an OEM disk (system builder), you cannot legally use it on your new computer. OEM licenses are tied to the computer they are originally installed on.
3) If the disk is an Upgrade disk, you can still CLEAN INSTALL on the Home Premium computer.
Last edited by Bill2; 19 May 2010 at 15:10.
A better fit for you is to use Windows anytime upgrade to unlock win7 pro on your 64 bit new pc and sell your 32 bit win7 pro to a friend. Do a start / search for windows anytime upgrade, click the link and It will take you online to the store where you use your credit card and by a new pro key for $90 I think. Punch in your new key and you now have Windows 7 pro 64 bit.
Thank you for the answers. The Windows 7 Pro is a retail version. The old computer is not going to be reused - too many hardware problems.
The new machine does not have any software except the software that comes with a new computer so perhaps I can do a clean install using the Windows Pro 64 bit version.
Wally
Unless you need the Pro features on the new computer, I would not want to lose the value of it's factory Win7 license by overwriting it with another retail version.
You have two valuable Win7 licenses there which i would not want to give up unnecessarily.
Another option is to save a Win7 Backup Image of your Home Premium, install Pro on new machine to see how it works, then you have the option of either returning to Premium or keeping your Pro on there until you need it elsewhere.
As with your Pro retail version, you are entitled to use either 32 or 64 bit for the Home Premium license. We can show you how to unlock Home Premium in your Pro installers if you want to clean reinstall it with the factory OEM Product Key from the license sticker.
"As with your Pro retail version, you are entitled to use either 32 or 64 bit for the Home Premium license. We can show you how to unlock Home Premium in your Pro installers if you want to clean reinstall it with the factory OEM Product Key from the license sticker."
I'm not sure I completely understand this. sorry, I seem to be dense tonight.
Wally
Since most new computers don't come with a clean-copy DVD of Win7, you can modify a copy of your Win7 Pro DVD to make an All-Versions installer to use to clean reinstall Home Premium without the factory bloatware. I thought you should know this since the option given by manufacturers to make Recovery disks also includes all of the factory bloatware - a clean reinstall is much better.
This way you can clean reinstall either 32 or 64 bit Home Premium if you ever need to, activating it with the Product key off of the COA sticker on the side or bottom of machine.
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