Solved How do I upgrade Win 7 Home to Pro (or higher)?

[Chakonari]

Hello

After spending most of my time after work yesterday and the better part of this morning trying to find an answer ... problem also lies in the keywords - most things are on upgrading to Windows 10.

I need to:
Upgrade my Windows 7 Home Premium OEM to Pro to create a domain and user accounts. I also still need to purchase a licence for that.

Why?:
I need to look into domain administration (user accounts, policies, etc.) so that I can do it when I need to and not have to search before I do, i.e. do at least basic things without additional help.

I have:
My PC running Win 7 Home OEM and a laptop running Win 7 Ultimate.

Windows anytime upgrade key are gone and from what I read, I should just be able to change the licence via "My Computer -> Properties...". The related threads also made it sound like changing the licence key under computer properties is the same like entering one into the anytime upgrade window.

However like a lot of threads, they end vaguely or "it worked" but without saying what exactly was done.

I know I could do a fresh install (wipe or dual boot), but like many I dread the re-installation and reconfiguration of everything else. Also I'd have to do major house cleaning due to space.

So I really only need help with the upgrade question - is it currently at all possible to upgrade 7 home to Pro and can you suggest a method?

 

[Layback Bear]

See if this answers you upgrade question.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15045/windows-anytime-upgrade-not-available

 

[Chakonari]

Sadly it does not. Though it dose reiterate what I posted above and is also one of the pages I viewed last night.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have no more suggestions.

 

[Chakonari]

I have no more suggestions.

Perhaps I misunderstood you and that page. Are you saying anytime upgrade was the only way to upgrade Home to Pro?

 

[Layback Bear]

Microsoft page state this.

Windows Anytime Upgrade is no longer available for online purchase in your country or region. To move up to an edition of Windows with more features, visit your local retail store or visit Windows.com.

This indicates to me that you need to buy Windows 7 Professional.

 

[Chakonari]

Microsoft page state this.

Windows Anytime Upgrade is no longer available for online purchase in your country or region. To move up to an edition of Windows with more features, visit your local retail store or visit Windows.com.

This indicates to me that you need to buy Windows 7 Professional.

You mean like I said in my initial post?:

Hello
...
I need to:
... I also still need to purchase a licence for that.

 

[Megahertz07]

You have to buy a Win 7 Pro license. Search the WEB and you will find some for sale (expensive). Last October I saw Win 7 pro OEM packages for sale at Microcenter - Brooklyn.
Beware, there are a lot of Piracy license only for sale on the web.

 

[Alejandro85]

Windows 7 Professional (or even Ultimate) isn't going to help you. Those versions have the added ability to join a domain, but NOT to create one. The only editions that can create domains (to which 7 can join afterwards) are the server editions.
There you can enable the role of "domain controller" to create the domain and start playing with it.

There is a 180 days trial here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=19994

 

[torchwood]

So exactly what are you trying to do
If you create a network, in your case a homegroup, doesn't matter if one's an Ultimate and the others Home, you just share what you want?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43961-homegroup-create.html?ltr=H

Roy

 

[Chakonari]

Windows 7 Professional (or even Ultimate) isn't going to help you. ...

There you can enable the role of "domain controller" to create the domain and start playing with it.
There is a 180 days trial here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=19994

Alejandro, I cannot thank you enough. Exactly what I need. I had the feeling I was missing something and would have found out after upgrading - you have really helped me a lot. THANK YOU!