How best to upgrade from Win 7 home premium to Win 7 Professional?

[trex500]

I have a windows 7 home premium computer and am not sure the best way to upgrade to windows 7 professional now that Windows Anytime Upgrade (via control panel) no longer allows you to do this. I have also heard that the retail upgrade versions of win 7 pro upgrades through (relies on) Windows Anytime Upgrade not through the disk itself. Does this mean I need to buy the full retail version of Win 7 pro to do the upgrade? Note that I do not want to do a clean install. I want to do an "in-place" upgrade so I don't have to backup all files, reformat my drive, reinstall all software, etc? Will the full retail version of win 7 professional allow me to do an in-place upgrade from win 7 home premium to win 7 pro? Thanks!

 

[AddRAM]

No, just buy oem, you will never find a retail version of windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

You will have to do a clean install or custom clean install.

Brink will know for sure.

 

[alphanumeric]

When did Microsoft disable anytime upgrade? I must have missed that memo? It may not be an option to buy a key from Microsoft but won't it still work if you enter a key manually? If yes, and you can buy a Pro key from a reliable source. You should still be able to unlock the Pro features by just entering the key without having to reinstall.

 

[trex500]

When did Microsoft disable anytime upgrade? I must have missed that memo? It may not be an option to buy a key from Microsoft but won't it still work if you enter a key manually? If yes, and you can buy a Pro key from a reliable source. You should still be able to unlock the Pro features by just entering the key without having to reinstall.

Just in the last couple months. The first option (go online to get upgrade) is disabled (at least on my computer) and I confirmed that with Microsoft. And you cannot buy a key from Microsoft either. The second option (enter a key you have already) is still available but I haven't checked whether it works since I don't have a good key yet. Obviously Microsoft is trying to force everyone onto Windows 10. I decided to go ahead and buy a Windows 7 Pro upgrade from Amazon but I have not received it yet. I'm not sure how (if!) it will do the upgrade but the seller assures me it will work. My fingers are crossed. We'll see.

 

[trex500]

No, just buy oem, you will never find a retail version of windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

You will have to do a clean install or custom clean install.

Brink will know for sure.

I have found a retail version of Windows 7 Professional upgrade and that is supposed to allow the upgrade without a clean install. I'll post back if there are any issues.

 

[alphanumeric]

When did Microsoft disable anytime upgrade? I must have missed that memo? It may not be an option to buy a key from Microsoft but won't it still work if you enter a key manually? If yes, and you can buy a Pro key from a reliable source. You should still be able to unlock the Pro features by just entering the key without having to reinstall.

Just in the last couple months. The first option (go online to get upgrade) is disabled (at least on my computer) and I confirmed that with Microsoft. And you cannot buy a key from Microsoft either. The second option (enter a key you have already) is still available but I haven't checked whether it works since I don't have a good key yet. Obviously Microsoft is trying to force everyone onto Windows 10. I decided to go ahead and buy a Windows 7 Pro upgrade from Amazon but I have not received it yet. I'm not sure how (if!) it will do the upgrade but the seller assures me it will work. My fingers are crossed. We'll see.

Ok, that's what I figured. Just the buy a key online part is no longer functional. You ca still use it, you just need a key to enter manually.

 

[AddRAM]

Wow you found a Pro Upgrade, where ? Post the link, let us all know

 

[alphanumeric]

Just in the last couple months. The first option (go online to get upgrade) is disabled (at least on my computer) and I confirmed that with Microsoft. And you cannot buy a key from Microsoft either. The second option (enter a key you have already) is still available but I haven't checked whether it works since I don't have a good key yet. Obviously Microsoft is trying to force everyone onto Windows 10. I decided to go ahead and buy a Windows 7 Pro upgrade from Amazon but I have not received it yet. I'm not sure how (if!) it will do the upgrade but the seller assures me it will work. My fingers are crossed. We'll see.

Ok, that's what I figured. Just the buy a key online part is no longer functional. You ca still use it, you just need a key to enter manually.

And good luck finding a legitimate AU key.

Totally agree, you have to very careful where you buy any Windows 7 key these days. If it even hints to be to good to be true, it isn't.

 

[Layback Bear]

Just going by my friend Noel post, I don't think you can buy a legal Windows 7 key all by it's self.

Can buy Windows key without media.

Quote:
Noel D Paton
Noel D Paton replied on

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"Peter0.0" wrote in message news:6f018df2-4d42-4aee-8d74-838cda9f3063...
Seems good... Thanks!


There are NO legal sales of Keys for Windows other than with accompanying software - if you buy from this shop it will almost certainly turn out to be a counterfeit copy. Most such sales will work for a limited period, until the number of activations exceeds the limit, at which time MS will Block the Key from further activations and all current installs will become flagged as non-genuine.
If you've already made a purchase and installed the product I recommend that you visit the Windows 7 Genuine forum and read the Announcements and stickies there - and post an MGADiag report to have the key checked.
Microsoft forums - Windows 7 Genuine Advantage Validation Issues (Windows 7)

--

Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth
Noel Paton
Nil Carborundum Illegitemi -
No, I don't work for Microsoft!
Noel's Windows Helpsite - Homepage
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[AddRAM]

No, just buy oem, you will never find a retail version of windows 7

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems - Newegg.com

You will have to do a clean install or custom clean install.

Brink will know for sure.

I have found a retail version of Windows 7 Professional upgrade and that is supposed to allow the upgrade without a clean install. I'll post back if there are any issues.

Still waiting on the link.

I agree with Jack, I would never buy a lone key online, no way.