Windows 7 wrong license key after reinstall

Hello All,

Quick back story, I currently use a HP elite desk I bought from a local computer store. I run two SSD 500 drives and it ran windows 7 (never paid attention to what version).

I upgraded to windows ten, (hated it) rolled back to seven and my troubles began.

I then tried to run windows 10 on the second SSD just to use Turbo Tax software. Finally removed that and formatted the 2nd SSD.

I was back to running 7 on the main SSD but always got an error at start up and could not load/use my Sony Vegas software so last might i found my USB with windows seven on it and reinstalled. I did not do a clean slate, I chose to save files and folders. The problem now is the license for the elite desk is Pro and the version of 7 I installed is home premium.

I have been looking on the net and found a site that list a bunch of keys but none will work. Called the shop were i bought it and they have nothing for windows 7.

Any ideas? eventually i will try to install windows 10 with a dual boot and try to work through all of the irritants but for now i need the 7 back.

Thanks,
Chris

...The problem now is the license for the elite desk is Pro and the version of 7 I installed is home premium.

You can enter any win7 pro key into anytime upgrade.

It will run for a minute and say it has failed. It hasn't.

reboot and your Home Prem will compete the upgrade to Pro.

Then you need to activate it.

I have done it several times.

When you enter a pro key into anytime upgrade it does 2 things

1. It triggers the os to physically upgrade to pro edition

2. It tries to connect through the anytime channel. Because that channel is no longer working, it fails to connect at that point and gives a message claiming it has failed.

However, just reboot and the physical upgrade to Pro works.

You need to activate afterwards.

It I were you, I would use slp activation after the os has upgraded.

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Reboot and the upgrade completes

You can upgrade the edition manually from home to pro through the command line. Note that you can't downgrade versions (ie go from pro to home premium). I have done this on 2008 r2 server. The commands are almost the same with 7 the only difference being the edition.

The commands are here: DISM Windows Server 2008 R2 Change Edition – The Cloud Eh!?

You will initially have to use a generic key then you can activate your own key. The generic keys are here: KMS Client Setup Keys | Microsoft Docs

Your computer will reboot (twice if I remember right) after which you should have professional running under the generic key. You can try a server activation of your key but if that fails you will have to force a phone activation.

Q. How can I force the Windows activation dialog to activate via phone from the command line? | ITPro Today: IT News, How-Tos, Trends, Case Studies, Career Tips, More

If I use the anytime upgrade with my pro key it will not force me to windows 10?

if you enter a win7 pro key, such as this 74T2M-DKDBC-788W3-H689G-6P6GT it will upgrade to win7 pro.

then after reboot, it will need to be activated which can de done like this if your bios has a slic 2 table.

HP-OEM-win7-pro.zip