Swap Window Keys to aviod reinstallation

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  1. arkarkwin
    Posts : 3
    window 7
       New #1

    Swap Window Keys to aviod reinstallation


    I bought window 7 home premium with Micro Center coupon. After I installed it on my main desktop, I got myself one more copy of Window 7 from digital river though my student account. I didn't know that these guy were giving away window7 professional for same price with home premium. Now I need to get professional install on my main desktop for XP mode and plan to upgrade my laptop with home premium I currently installed on my desktop. I am just wondering if it could be possible to just swap the CD key to aviod reinstalling over my desktop. I talked to Microsoft tech and support said each key is tied to each DVD. So I can't just swap my Desktop key with digital river version and then install home premium in laptop.
    I want to get second option from you guy.
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  3. wallyinnc
    Posts : 1,607
    Windows 7 x64 finally!
       New #2

    arkarkwin, welcome to the forums.

    I don't think you can, I am not sure they are linked to the DVD, but they are specific for the version. Moreoveer, if you could activate a Home Premium with a Professional key, it would still be a Home Premium, if I understood what you are trying to do.

    I am pretty sure you will have to reinstall if you need another version. then you should use the respective keys
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  4. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #3

    Keys are version-specific.
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  6. arkarkwin
    Posts : 3
    window 7
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Thanks you , then I just have to bite the bullet and install the pro over my desktop and upgrade my laptop with home premium.
    Thanks you.
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  7. wallyinnc
    Posts : 1,607
    Windows 7 x64 finally!
       New #5

    Sounds like a plan.
    Please, BACK UP any personal files before you start...
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  8. arkarkwin
    Posts : 3
    window 7
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Oh yeah, quite the work in this weekend. I just back up the whole /users/arkar folder which is about 250GB and 30GB worth of steam backup game file to my secondary HD.
    There is one more thing I want to know, since I just format the drive and install the Window 7 Home premium, do u think, it will be ok just to install window 7 pro on the top as "upgrade install" or shall I go with custom install to format and install everything for long term stability?
    Thanks
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  10. wallyinnc
    Posts : 1,607
    Windows 7 x64 finally!
       New #7

    arkar, as your Home Premium install is new, it won't be polluted with crap that builds up in time, so the upgrade would (maybe) only mean installing the extra features of Pro. I don't know enough about the OS's guts to tell if there are other differences.

    On the other hand, as you don't have anything to preserve from this install, there is no reason for doing an upgrade, I would just go with a clean install. It won't take you much longer in this situation (it might actually take less time than upgrading) and will guarantee a sparkling clean new Pro install!!
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  11. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #8

    +1

    and boot from the Installer so you can use the Advanced tools to Delete everything, create New partition(s) as desired, then Format.

    If you are using Upgrade media, the installer will scan your HDD at boot-up and find the previous qualifying OS to pass a flag allowing activation.
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  12. jonwayne
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7
       New #9

    Swap Win7 Ultimate Full CD Key with Another Win7 Ultimate Full CD Key


    I have 2 laptops with Windows 7 Ultimate Full version installed. I want to swap the CD Keys between the 2 laptops, as I want to give one laptop to a family member.

    How do I do the CD KEY swaps without having to re-install or buying new keys? I changed the CD KEY on one laptop but Activation Barked at me stating it was invalid.

    Thanks,
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  13. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #10

    How did you attempt to Change the Key? Did you use the link at Control Panel>System?

    Try typing CMD in Start search box, rightclick on result to Run as Admin., then type slmgr -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx replacing x's with the new Product Key.

    If this fails, try calling MS: How To Activate Windows 7 by Phone Step-by-Step Guide
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