Solved Will SP1 COA work if I "downgrade" to non-SP1 version of Windows?

Will SP1 COA work if I "downgrade" to non-SP1 version of Windows?

I recently bought a Dell laptop. It has not yet arrived, but it will have Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 pre-installed on it.

I would like to get rid of the bloatware as I already have all the applications I need, plus an extra license for Norton 360 which I am not currently using, but paying for.

For my desktop which had been running XP, I had bought a retail Upgrade version of Windows 7, so I have that DVD. I bought it in October 2009, so it is not SP1.

Is it possible to do an install over the pre-installed Windows 7 SP1 using the Upgrade disk and activate it using the COA from the laptop, or would an SP1 key not work on a non-SP1 installation?

If not, I guess I will have to go out and buy another Windows disk with SP1 or try to remove all the bloatware. Seems a shame to buy it again though, because I'd end up with the same thing anyway once I ran Windows Update.

Any other options?

Thanks,

lyndon

Here you go:
Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download
Win7 Home Premium x86 SP1 English Official ISO download - use this 32 bit if under 4gb RAM.

Download and burn to DVD or write to flash stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool

Then boot the DVD to clean reinstall following these steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7 Factory OEM.

Activate using the Product Key on Dell COA sticker located on bottom of laptop or under battery. You own this license for the life of the machine and can reinstall as often as you wish and in the way you want.

Save your Win7 Upgrade version key to use on another machine, with this installer.

Well,

It was easier than I thought. When I got the laptop I backed everything up. Then I did a clean install using my Windows 7 retail disk. I downloaded the executable SP1 upgrade onto an external drive. From the laptop I ran the executable and it brought my version up to SP1. I activated it using the string from the COA.

While I got rid of all the bloatware, I did lose the burning software which was included. But I do have software installed on my desktop, so it's a good tradeoff.

lyndon

Good job Lyndon.

If you are interested : a nice free burning utility that is recommended here is IMGBURN

The Official ImgBurn Website

Regards,
Golden