Another "Downgrade Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit to Pro" post

ThrashZone said:

I doubt there are any Retail upgrade keys they just do not exist in any version of windows

OEM/ System builds are locked to the mother board only not the hard drive.

Newegg is a legitimate source.

This is what I am planning to buy if it works

Buy Windows 8.1 Pro Pack - Microsoft Store

I shouldn't have said I didn't want to get OEM because of hard drive, but I probably will get a new motherboard in the future so I would rather not have OEM. I'm hoping I can buy 8.1 Pro Upgrade (and that's it, not 8.1 normal) so I don't have to buy Win 7 Pro from a source that could potentially be selling blocked MSDN keys. The first time I bought the key as I explained above I didn't take any precautions. Now I'm being as careful as I can. I don't know what you mean "I doubt there are any Retail upgrade keys they just do not exist in any version of windows" because I (I guess I should have been clearer) was planning on purchasing the product from the link above, so it's not retail anyway, just email I believe.

gregrocker said:

Another reason to try Technical Preview if you haven't is you may not like it and want to return to 7. So don't buy a lemon like 8 to upgrade to a OS you may not want to keep. I would buy Win7 Prem From Tiger when it comes down regularly to $89 unless you know for sure you need the few extra expensive features in Pro.

I'm pretty sure I'll want to keep Windows 10 from what I saw, and if I can get Pro I would be happier because I could control which updates are installed. If worst comes to worst, I can reinstall my unlicensed copy of Win 7 Ultimate if I hate Windows 10 and Windows 8. Win 7 Prem may be around $90 from Tiger Direct but the upgrade key for 8.1 is only $10 more and I can have peace of mind knowing nothing could go wrong.

UNLESS I can't use the 8.1 Pro Upgrade key on an unactivated 8.1. That's my main issue. Do you know if I can do that or not? Will it ask me to activate 8.1 first?

I'm thinking now that I should have posted to EightForums but originally I was asking about Win 7 Pro. Sorry if I caused confusion. I don't know how to move this to another place but if that would be better then feel free to do it.

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
Well you might take notice to this,

Other system requirements


You must be running Windows 8.1 in order to use Windows 8.1 Pro Pack. Microsoft account required for some features. Watching DVDs requires separate playback software.

Not to mention Windows Media Center will not be in win-10 so that feature will disappear if you upgrade it to 10

Also,

Be smart and read the fine print
It's not an os just an addon to the operating system, sadly I made that mistake. I'm sure it'd be worth buying if you wanted the features, I personally only use my pc builds for gaming.

Do you know what "You must be running Windows 8.1 in order to use Windows 8.1 Pro Pack" means? Do I have to be running ACTIVATED windows 8.1 or just 8.1 and still be able to validate Windows with an 8.1 Pro Pack?

I know the limitations Win 8 and Win 10 bring in, but I don't use Media Center much anyway/watch DVDs. I use VLC player and other alternatives so that is not an issue. I just really want to get Win 10. Sorry if I'm asking something nobody knows because I searched it on Google and it seems like no one has the answer.

Some people will argue with Free.

Might as well install Technical Preview to make an informed decision?

I don't think MS cut off new installs? The TP Clean Install tutorial is now for RTM. Mike ?

So you don't think keeping TP runs enough chance of eventually keeping the OS permanently for free?

I was asking if TP is still available for new installs or cut off to all but registered Insiders.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll list out what I was thinking. I thought it made sense but maybe not.

1)I'm pretty sure you can't get free Windows 10 from the TP anymore. Even if so I would rather have genuine Windows.
2)I want non OEM Windows. I probably will change my motherboard sometime in the future.
3)I was thinking of 'cheating the system' by installing Windows 8.1 on to of my un-genuine Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit SP1. I would skip the activation like you can always do for 30 days. Then, if I could -and I'm still not sure if I can- I would buy a Windows 8.1 Pro Pack upgrade from here...

Buy Windows 8.1 Pro Pack - Microsoft Store

...which seem to just went out of stock.
4)If my idea worked I would be able to upgrade to genuine Windows 8.1 Pro from an unactivated copy of Windows 8.1. It doesn't make sense to me that someone would be able to do this because doing this gets you Pro for cheaper than either 8.1 or 8.1 Pro. That's why I'm asking. What is the upgrade process like?

And to those saying the cost doesn't make sense... It does. Windows 10 OEM might be on some good sales right now but as far as I know the non OEM copies are $200. If my idea worked I would spend $100 to get Windows 10 Pro (eventually).