Help retrieving Windows Anytime Upgrade Key from OE disc

So way, way, way back when... when Microsoft was offering presale Windows 7 disks to university students I purchased mine online.

I recently had to reinstall the OS due to a failing hard drive but I just now noticed, on the original disk (OE from MS, complete with hologram, etc) it says, "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade".
Also I just noticed in the System information window under Windows Edition it says, "Get more features with a new edition of Windows 7". From there it takes me to another window to enter the key. This is a different key than the original installer key.

My question is, how do I get this key? When they say "Includes Windows Anytime Upgrade", do they just mean Microsoft just gives you a handy link to purchase a key???

No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to

If you have not use your upgrade, you will find your key in the email from the university students purchased.

It means that you can buy an ANytime Upgrade key to unlock the few extra expensive features in the upper versions, which almost no consumer needs.

I would not use that pre-SP1 disk as it lacks hours of updates and important OS improvements in the latest official installer for your licensed version found in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

The tutorial also gives helpful tips for getting and keeping a perfect install, even for retail which is what Student version is.

Thanks for the replies. This version is Windows 7 Pro x64, so there may not be a logical upgrade path beyond this.
The reason I'm even inquiring is because my HDD crashed and Seagate sent me a replacement. I ran the Windows 7 disk for a clean install but the key didnt work... so I skipped the activation step and pushed the install through anyway. Once installed I realized why the key didnt work. Its an "upgrade" so apparently it needs to be installed over Vista or XP. Cant find my xp disk and dont have a Vista disk.
My thought was I could use the "anytime upgrade" to upgrade the disk to something I dont have to have Vista for...

211 said:

Thanks for the replies. This version is Windows 7 Pro x64, so there may not be a logical upgrade path beyond this.
The reason I'm even inquiring is because my HDD crashed and Seagate sent me a replacement. I ran the Windows 7 disk for a clean install but the key didnt work... so I skipped the activation step and pushed the install through anyway. Once installed I realized why the key didnt work. Its an "upgrade" so apparently it needs to be installed over Vista or XP. Cant find my xp disk and dont have a Vista disk.
My thought was I could use the "anytime upgrade" to upgrade the disk to something I dont have to have Vista for...

Try one of these methods,

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

AddRAM said:

You don`t have to have the other OS installed, as long as you have it. Others will no more about the upgrade process. I thought you said you bought a retail windows install from Microsoft not the upgrade disc.

I did say that in my first post but that was before I realized the disc said "Upgrade" on it. It's been so long ago that I originally installed it. When first purchased using the MS Student discount all it did was give you access to download the ISO; activation key came via email (which I wrote on the disc). They also gave me an option to purchase the disc, for a few dollars more which I did even though it was redundant at that point.
Anyway, at the time I just installed over XP and it was pretty seamless. This time I used the OEM Hologram CD mentioned earlier, which I've never used before till now.

to your first comment, I didnt think an installed OS was necessary either. Prior to Win7 I had an XP upgrade disc which would promp me to insert a pervious version cd which I always had lying around.
I never got such a prompt during this Win7 install.