Windows 7 - Windows 7 Upgrade from Home to Pro

Hi there,

first time poster with a silly Windows 7 question. My apologies in advance.

I've just gotten a new computer with Windows 7 Home edition initially installed. I haven't activated it yet, seeing as I've not purchased the key as yet. There's a store that is selling a Windows 7 Pro Upgrade cheaply, and I am planning on purchasing that. My questions are:

1) Is it possible to upgrade from Home to Pro?
2) What sort of repercussions will occur? (As in losing of files etc) I only ask so that I don't start installing everything and then losing everything again.
3) If I do have to do a clean install, will it affect the hard drives other than the one that had the OS on?

Thanks a lot!

Welcome

Yes you can upgrade.

You should do a clean install. You will have to back up all of your documents and reinstall any programs. A key will be required for some.

The only hard drive that should be affected is the one that will be the target of the install. That being said the unexpected does happen at times. You would be wise to disconnect any external hard drives.

You may see information about anytime upgrades. This is not a clean install and not the best, although your personal documents etc wii be saved.

You do realize that if you do not activate your current OS, you cannot upgrade. You must buy the full retail.

If you have a new computer, and it came with Windows 7, how do you not own the key?

-If you got that new computer with Home Premium installed , you can activated it then "Upgrade" from a "Retail Pro Version" which is the best solution (this will clean install), And whenever you change your computer, you'll be able to reinstall in another one, Windows 7 Pro.

You'll loose all the Bloatwares if so!

So, what you can do is a set of restore DVDs and you'll have only to reinstall from the DVDs all the stuff that were in with the New Computer.


-As richc46 said, you can either do a "Windows Anytime Upgrade" directly from your computer and this will install smoothly, but the OS will be attach to the computer your owning. No way to install it on another one without buying another Key!! You'll not loose anything during the process!

sounds like you dont have a key for windows home premium, so how can you upgrade to pro without first having home premium.

if you got a new computer with windows home premium preinstalled then it should already be activated and you should have a sticker on the back or on the dvd with a product key. if so, then yes you can upgrade to windows pro.

Take a look at this:
Windows Anytime Upgrade - Windows 7 - Microsoft Windows

No install files needed. Only the Upgrade key is needed.