Switching from Ultimate to Professional without reinstalling ?

You can still do the Repair Install workaround to change from Pro to Home Premium.

But since you downloaded the wrong version of Win7, as the others have stated you need to unlock all versions within the same installer. Do this by extracting the files from the ISO to your desktop using 7zip, PowerISO, etc. Then remove the ei.cfg file from Sources folder, recompile the files into a bootable ISO using ImgBurn to burn DVD at 4x speed to use for repairs or future reinstalls.

You can then run the files right from the desktop by rightclicking on Setup to Run as Admin.

Are you running Setup as Admin? Are you sure you're installation is 64 bit?

If you have Premium which is what you want to install over Pro, then you didn't need to remove ei.cfg. But if ei.cfg is missing then the ISO might be messed with in such a way that it won't run the desired Repair Install, or your installation is corrupt in some way.

You can try again, but probably best to clean install after wiping the HD in case you have infection.

I am running as admin and it is 64-bit. I never saw the file you were talking about so maybe the iso that I downloaded has been altered. Where is that file usually located?

I actually downloaded the iso for home premium 64-bit specfically and even though I couldn't see the ei.cfg file I had it removed using a special "tool"....when I go through the installation it doesn't ask me which version and just asks me to accept the terms for home premium. Which is ok because that's what i want to install anyway.

The Repair Install is an Upgrade over itself, so it won't present a "Repair option" - choose "Upgrade" instead of "Custom" installation.

Follow the steps here: Repair Install

The ei.cfg file, if it is there, will be in the "sources" folder. It should be viewable in notepad. If you don't get a window to select which version you want to install, its still there. If you have the version you want you don't need to remove it anyway. Its just convenient if you have more than one version of windows 7 installed on your PCs. You just need the the one disk or thumbdrive instead of two or three and you always have the right one with you. It can also bail you out if your install media is damaged and you have to borrow one that doesn't match your version. Anyway I think I would have another go at it. Just be sure you trust the source for your download or you could end up with some new headaches.

i've tried gregrocker's trick on windows 7 ultimate but it didn't work.

i don't know if i used a RC or a retail version of the dvd, but i've changed the registry key from Ultimate to Home Premium and the other one from Windows 7 Ultimate to Windows 7 Home Premium and i've ran the dvd from the administrator account (i've not booted on the dvd) but when i try to upgrade it tells me that i can't upgrade from Ultimate to Home Premium.

That wll not work. They must read exactly HOMEPREMIUM for the EditionID, and Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM for the ProductName.

I would cut and paste.

gregrocker said:

You can change between retail versions with the popular workaround many beta testers used to change from the RC to a retail version.

Change the two registry keys shown below to Professional exactly as they are typed, which tricks the installer into thinking it is doing a Repair Install which is always allowed:

(click on image to enlarge)

Next run the Professional Installer from desktop, select "Keep Connected To Internet" to get latest drivers and updates into Installer, then "Upgrade". You will have to reactivate afterwards with the Professional Key, but activation is reset anyway in a Repair Install.

I tested this about two weeks ago successfully from Ult>Pro after reports it wasn't working. Another Guru also found it to work then.

The performance reported by many who tried it after Win7 release are the best reports ever on in-place Upgrade, completely contradicting MS claims that beta code couldn't be upgraded. Two friends of mine who I did the RC Upgrade to retail for via Remote Desktop don't even want the promised clean install now when I come to visit.

Hello Gregrocker,

i've tried using HOMEPREMIUM instead of Home Premium, but now it tells me that:

Les problèmes suivants empêchent Windows de procéder à la mise à niveau. Annulez la mise à niveau, complétez chaque tâche et redémarrez la mise à niveau pour continuer.

• Votre version actuelle de Windows est plus récente que la version vers laquelle vous essayez d’effectuer une mise à niveau. Windows ne peut pas effectuer la mise à niveau.
  
  

• Windows doit être redémarré afin que les modifications nécessaires des fichiers système puissent être effectuées avant de poursuivre.
  
  

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/harlock59/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/windows/upgrade/images/warning.gif[/IMG] La mise à niveau de Windows affectera les périphériques et/ou programmes suivants :

• Il se peut que ces périphériques ne fonctionnent pas correctement après la mise à niveau. Avant la mise à niveau, nous vous recommandons de mettre à jour les pilotes de ces périphériques. Annulez la mise à niveau, ouvrez le Panneau de configuration et recherchez « pilotes de périphérique mis à jour » ou accédez au site Web du fabricant du périphérique pour rechercher des pilotes mis à jour.

• • Bluetooth: Android Composite ADB Interface
  • Ports (COM et LPT): USB Modem Driver (COM3)

• Il se peut que ces programmes ne fonctionnent pas correctement après la mise à niveau. Nous vous recommandons de désinstaller ces programmes avant la mise à niveau. Annulez la mise à niveau, ouvrez le Panneau de configuration et recherchez « désinstaller un programme ». (Remarque : les programmes portant la marque * peuvent être résinstallés en toute sécurité après la mise à niveau.)

• • iTunes (Please deauthorize computer prior to upgrade)
  • MagicISO Virtual CD/DVD Manager *