Downgrade un-genuine version of Win7 Ultimate to valid Win7HomePremium

[tristancook]

Hiya,
I'm really new to this forum so I would love some help.
Recently ,I bought a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate off eBay. Thinking it was real, I installed it onto my laptop which had Windows 7 Home premium.
A message now comes up saying
'This version of windows is not valid, please insert valid key'
I put on my old Windows 7 Home Premium key but a message comes up saying
'The product key you entered will not work with this edition of Windows 7. You must either run Windows 7 setup or enter a Windows 7 Ultimate product key.'
I want to revert it back to Windows 7 Home Premium (which I have a valid product key for)without losing any data.
Thanks in advance,
tristancook

PLEASE HELP ME!!!


UPDATE 25/4/11
If I edit the registry keys and then repair install is it safe or not? Do I need to make a system restore? Or is there any way that microsoft can help me.
Thanks

 

[Mike Connor]

See here;

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

Buying stuff like that from "unknown" vendors is always a risk.

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[Ageeb]

What did Ultimate provide for you that Home Premium didn't? (curious...)

You won't be able to downgrade, but instead try to do a system restore from a factory created partition, or discs you've hopefully created. Use the laptop manufacturers website and your laptop manual for details on the restore.

 

[gregrocker]

Unfortunately, while we can easily UPgrade within Win7 versions using Anytime Upgrade, MS wants us to clean reinstall if we downgrade.

However there is a popular workaround by which many beta testers switched from Ultimate to their purchased version of Win7. It works by tricking the installer into thinking it is doing an always-allowed same version Repair Install when it is reallly changing the version while reinstalling the OS, as a Repair Install does while keeping all programs files and settings in place.

To do this, back up your files and a Win7 backup image if you want a path back if needed. Then set a System Restore Point - Create, run regedit as Admin to change the two keys shown below to exactly HOMEPREMIUM for the EditionID, and Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM for the ProductName:



Now run the Win7 Home Premium DVD or extracted ISO files from the desktop as shown in the Repair Install tutorial. If you need to unlock all versions in your Ultimate installer, extract the ISO using ImgBurn, run the Ei.cfg Removal Utility to unlock all version, then burn to DVD or extract or mount the ISO to run Repair Install. Be sure to select Home Premium version. Activate with the key on COA sticker.

 

[Mike Connor]

What did Ultimate provide for you that Home Premium didn't? (curious...)

You won't be able to downgrade, but instead try to do a system restore from a factory created partition, or discs you've hopefully created. Use the laptop manufacturers website and your laptop manual for details on the restore.

Windows 7 Pricing Buy Install Choose Edition Features Upgrades Offers

Regards....Mike Connor

 

[agathanggeloua]

Unfortunately, while we can easily UPgrade within Win7 versions using Anytime Upgrade, MS wants us to clean reinstall if we downgrade.

However there is a popular workaround by which many beta testers switched from Ultimate to their purchased version of Win7. It works by tricking the installer into thinking it is doing an always-allowed same version Repair Install when it is reallly changing the version while reinstalling the OS, as a Repair Install does while keeping all programs files and settings in place.

To do this, back up your files and a Win7 backup image if you want a path back if needed. Then set a System Restore Point - Create, run regedit as Admin to change the two keys shown below to exactly HOMEPREMIUM for the EditionID, and Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM for the ProductName:

View attachment 145914

Now run the Win7 Home Premium DVD or extracted ISO files from the desktop as shown in the Repair Install tutorial. If you need to unlock all versions in your Ultimate installer, extract the ISO using ImgBurn, run the Ei.cfg Removal Utility to unlock all version, then burn to DVD or extract or mount the ISO to run Repair Install. Be sure to select Home Premium version. Activate with the key on COA sticker.

I've had the same issue with my computer, the preinstalled Win7 Home premium 64bit upgraded to Ultimate but I don't have a key so I want to revert it. I tried this workaround but it still came up with the "You can't downgrade from Ultimate" when I tried to do a repair install from the disc?

 

[AddRAM]

Why did you upgrade/install Ultimate without a key ?

For kicks, boredom ?

Did you create the dvd to re install Home Premium yet ?

Why is Home Premium listed as your Operating System in your specs if you have Ultimate installed ?

 

[agathanggeloua]

Same as the OP, dodgy buy off eBay :/

I have been using the home premium CD that came with my PC, it takes me to the upgrade/reinstall page, but when I click upgrade it gives me the "Ultimate can't be upgraded to Home Prem" compatibility report.

Well home premium is what I own so I put that, it's currently running an inactivated Ultimate x64 SP1 if that helps?

 

[AddRAM]

You have to boot from the HP dvd and do a clean install to wipe out Ultimate, you don`t choose upgrade, you choose custom, then drive options, then format your install partition.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Step #6

 

[agathanggeloua]

Why cant I do that workaround? I'd really rather not have to do a clean install..

 

[AddRAM]

Who knows, backup your data and do it right

 

[agathanggeloua]

My problem is that the workaround doesn't seem to be working, I've tried editing the registry like in the workaround above but when I try the repair install it doesn't work.

 

[AddRAM]

So why do you keep trying to do it ?

Windows takes 15 minutes to install, you could have been done by now.

 

[agathanggeloua]

I'm trying to avoid having to a clean reinstall, I would have to manually install all my programs and applications again, many of which would have to be downloaded.

 

[AddRAM]

Yes you would, this is part of life.

 

[agathanggeloua]

Could it be something to do with it being a 64 bit system? Are the registry values for that different eg "HomePremiumx64" or something?