Will english activation code work with Spanish OS?

I want to do a clean and smooth update without needing to format anything

In my experience there is no such thing. I always ended up in a mess. I suggest you make a clean install with your professional key - a much neater way and probably a lot less work than debugging the upgrade.

I believe keys are language-specific, unless you buy Ultimate and get the language packs.

The guy who will know for sure is Kari. I asked him to look at this.

I don't think that product keys are language-specific, rather they are version-specific (i.e. Professional, Ultimate, Starter, etc)..

Spanish and English are part of the 5 language pack which also has French, German and Japanese. The key should be the same. But then again we do not really know what an OEM would install.

Well I've used an English UK Professional Key on a copy of French Profession for my girlfriend, she borrowed the disk off her Sister's boyfriend and I got a key off MSDN for her and it activated fine with no problems, but I dunno if MSDN keys are language specific.

RegiKing said:

Hi, I just bought this new laptop that came preintalled with win 7 home premium in spanish (bought it in Mexico) and I want to upgrade to professional. my concern is I have the activaion code for professional in english and I want to do a clean and smooth update without needing to format anything. So with the english activation code will I be able to activate spanish win 7 professional? Thanks

The retail and OEM Windows 7 activation keys are both version and language specific. You can use your English key only to activate an English version of Windows 7.

I have Finnish, English and German versions of Windows 7. To test if this information is correct, I have tried all variations with these three language versions. It's a no go.

An exception: I know for sure that a code from different language version has worked when activated by phone, when the circumstances were explained on the phone to MS tech support. You could try, at least, but I do not guarantee anything. As I mentioned, the principle is that a key is version and language specific.

Dwarf said:

I don't think that product keys are language-specific, rather they are version-specific (i.e. Professional, Ultimate, Starter, etc)..

Even if you ask TechNet and / or MVP's, you get different answers from different sources. The answer I have got, phoning MS Tech Support, was that a full Windows 7 version name contains both edition (Starter, Home B or P, Pro, Ultimate, Enterprise) and language (EN, ES, DE, FR etc.), so the full version name is for instance Windows 7 Professional EN.

Because the key is version specific, it have to match the full version name i.e. both edition and language.

Everlong said:

Well I've used an English UK Professional Key on a copy of French Profession for my girlfriend, she borrowed the disk off her Sister's boyfriend and I got a key off MSDN for her and it activated fine with no problems, but I dunno if MSDN keys are language specific.

TechNet / MSDN codes are not language dependant. Me too, I have used an English TechNet code to activate German Windows 7.

Kari