Best way to clean reinstall a previously upgraded copy of Windows?

I have a Samsung laptop that needs reformatting. It was originally purchased with Windows 7 Home Premium, then upgraded to Ultimate using Windows Anytime Upgrade. I have a paper copy of the HP to Ultimate product key, and the laptop itself has a sticker with the OEM Home Premium product key.

Can I create a bootable USB stick using, say, a Windows 7 Pro DVD I have, and deleting the ei.cfg file? I don't think I have a Win7 SP1 DVD sitting around anywhere.

I just reinstalled Win7 Pro onto a desktop PC last week, and had to go through all the updates which took many hours. I'd like to try to slipstream all the updates if possible.

I tried Microsoft's software recovery website, entering the Ultimate product key I have, but it would not allow access to anything with that key.

You'd have to install Home Premium along with all its updates, activate, then run the Anytime Upgrade again to unlock the few extra expensive features hardly any consumer needs.

This is why the modern method to handle reinstalls is to save a backup image so you don't have to do all this more than once.

Everything needed is here to get and keep a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7.
Handling the media to unlock all versions and make a bootable installer is discussed in Step 1.

Read the Special Note for Samsung owners at the end.

It's an office laptop that is usually connected to a domain, so no the Home version is not suitable for us. I think the boss originally purchased it and then did the Anytime upgrade to Ultimate. I had no part in that original upgrade.

Can I slipstream all current updates for the Home version so that it installs fresh and fully up to date, and THEN do the upgrade to Ultimate after that?

This also is discussed in Step 1 of Clean Reinstall Windows 7 explaining that since it takes over an hour to Update 7 installation media you may not want to bother since installing the Updates takes about as long. But if you plan to use that version of the installer again, then it may be worth it.

Everything that works best to get and keep a perfect reinstall is compiled in that tutorial, based on tens of thousands of installs we've directly helped with here. It has been used by over 1.3 million consumers without a single complaint or return here with problems. You will positively have a perfect install of Win7 and it will stay that way to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the tutorial.

You should first discuss your plans with your office IT director if it is a company PC, unless you are that person.

yeah, I am that person. :) small office so no separate IT staff. I've done clean installs of Windows many, many times. But it always takes hours upon hours to complete. Thought I'd give slipstreaming a try. Also have never dealt with reinstalling on a machine that had Anytime Upgrade run on it.

Again, the modern way is to do a perfect Clean Reinstall Windows 7 and the following its steps after its all set up and running perfectly save a backup image so you never need to reinstall again. No need to be stuck in old XPired ways.

You can even SysPrep to move HD to another computer so the image can be applied anywhere. The author will interact with you in the tutorial if you have special needs in generalizing the image.

Anytime Upgrade keys still work to unlock higher versions only. These have never allowed full installation of their version. You must reinstall the lower version, activate and then run Anytime Upgrade to the higher version.

AddRAM said:

I guess that proves that a Windows Anytime Upgrade key will not work to downlaod the iso file.

It`s seems to be down to a full retail key or a full retail upgrade key and that`s it.

No one has reported that either of these work yet, not that I`ve read anyway.

I don`t even think a Windows Anytime Upgrade key will work anymore because that program is outdated, not 100% sure.

Not sure what you mean by an HP to Ultimate key unless you are talking about the Windows Anytime Upgrade key.

What is this Ultimate key you are talking about ?

Is it a Retail key or a Retail Upgarde key ?


Answer these questions in detail and you will get excellent responses :)

HP = Home Premium, someone (my boss) I think purchased an Anytime Upgrade key to Ultimate. I have a piece of paper printed out from his email with the key on it.

I got Home Premium installed and fully updated, so now I'm about to run the Anytime Upgrade with that key.

Also I just tried the Microsoft Software Recovery page and put in the key for a retail Win7 Pro Upgrade DVD I have, and it did not work. It said the language I selected (English) was not available for the product I was eligible for. WTF??