Installing W7 Ultimate upgrade over ummm... W7 Ultimate

I need to reinstall the Windows 7 Ultimate on my machine because of endless problems I am having after I changed my motherboard.

Currently installed OS is Ultimate 64bit which is an upgrade from Vista Home 64bit. The problem is I lost my both Vista and Ultimate DVDs and need to buy a new one.

If I buy Ultimate upgrade version, will it work? Can I install it over my current Ultimate, or will it require a lower grade of windows installed on the machine (e.g. Vista, W7 Home, Pro etc.)

Thanks for any help.

Just use Magical jellybean keyfinder (or something similar) to extract the key that you used when installing win7 ultimate. Then just find a win7 ultimate installer (borrow a disk from a friend or download a clean iso off the web), install and use the extracted key to activate.

Many tech enthusiasts find a clean-copy DVD of their OS version and reinstall using the OEM Product Key on the COA sticker on machine. Any retail installer can also have all versions unlocked by extracting the ISO using ImgBurn, running the ei.cfg removal tool, then burning an all-versions DVD to install your licensed version.

Back up your files externally, make your Recovery Disks so you have a path back to factory condition, or save a Backup Image of the entire HD first.

Boot the Windows 7 installer, choose Custom Install, then Drive Options (Advanced) to Delete all partitions not needed, following illustrated steps given here: Clean Install Windows 7

If you Delete all partitions to create New ones and Format, the installer will issue a 100mb System Reserved boot partition which conveniently places the Repair Console (normally only on the DVD or Repair CD) on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. Partition as you wish and Format before installing to first OS partition.

The installer is mostly driver-complete, with newer arriving quickly via optional Windows Updates. Just in case, have your Wireless driver on flash stick or CD so you can get online quickly. Then enable hardware driver auto-updating and check for optional Updates several times.

Any drivers still missing in Device Manager can be found on the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer or device. Driver Install - Device Manager

Install updates and then programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes after each. Don't let any programs write themselves into msconfig>Startup as they slow startup, become freeloaders on your RAM/CPU and can spy on you. I only allow AV and gadgets. Startup Programs - Change

Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials which works perfectly with Windows 7 Firewall. http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

When it is finished, clean and order the HD perfectly using state-of-the-art free CCleaner Disk and Registry tabs, then Puran boot-time defragger after adding it's Intelligent Optimizer on Additional Operations tab.
CCleaner - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com
http://download.cnet.com/Puran-Defra...-75115626.html

Finally save a Windows 7 Backup image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD (or replacement) using DVD/Repair CD with the stored image. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

theog said:

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

If this is an upgrade key you have for ultimate, you need to use the workaround described in that linked tut to clean install. OTOH if its a full key, you dont need the workaround. Just use the extracted key I mentioned in my earlier post.