Can I use my anytime upgrade key for a restore?

[mike6623]

My drive failed and I am needing to do a system recovery but I did an anytime upgrqade from pro-ultimate. If I do a system recovery, how do i go about getting ultimate back since I had no disks for it?

 

[Maguscreed]

I believe this applies to you.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

You may be forced to call it in the first time you do it this way, just tell them the situation and they'll give you an approval code. That may not even be required as the key should already be registered to your machine's hardware profile.

 

[gregrocker]

You can run HP Factory Recovery then open Anytime Upgrade to insert the key again. But I would first
Clean Up Factory Bloatware which is worst on HP than any other model.

To get a superior install, use the licensed version with Product Key on COA sticker to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 then insert the Anytime Upgrade key to unlock the higher version: Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to - Windows 7 Forums

This time save a Win7 backup image of the completed Ultimate Upgrade so in the future you can use it in place of double-reinstalling: Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup