Can I buy window's 7 home activate home with a Win7pro install? Help!

alexwhead said:

Hi! thanks for helping.
Here's my situation..

I had windows XP pro and got a windows pro 7 upgrade CD from my IT guy. I used it (and can't remember if it had a key with it or not..) and had a legal, activated copy of windows 7 pro for about 6 months.

I had to drop a new mobo and reformat and when installing windows 7 I realize I only have my windows XP pro cd-key. So, I have 2 questions...

A) Is there any way to retrieve my old windows 7 account key using the xp key I upgraded from?

B) If I buy a windows 7 Home key from the online store will I be able to activate Windows 7-Home with a current Window's 7 Professional Install *without reformatting*? Or would I have to format my computer with a fresh 'home' install?


Very confused please help! Thankyou so much for reading.

Alex

P.s. - I read somewhere that a 3-pack of Home keys can only be used to 'upgrade' an old copy of xp etc.. is this true? Or can I buy a 3-pack and use the keys on all my computers for fresh installs?

You cannto use a Windows 7 Home key for a Windows 7 professional install. If you wanted to find out the key, you should've downloaded Magical Jellybean Keyfinder and written down the key from there BEFORE you reformatted. that key is long gone now and unless you have the COA on the cd box, then you will have to buy a new key. Also, you can use your upgrade cd to perform a clean install as explained in this tutorial: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

alexwhead said:

My motherboard fried while I was doing work on it because I was not careful, so I unfortunately did not have the opportunity to get the key.

Is it possible to go online, buy a family pack of 3-keys (because I have multiple comps.) And use the windows 7 upgrade disk to fresh install home on my computers??

Yes, as long as you have licenses to previous versions of Windows. Even though you don't have to install the previous version, you have to have a license for the previous versio for it to be legal according to the EULA.