From Windows 7 Home Premium back to Pro

[ellenc]

About three years ago I went from Dell to HP and purchased an extended warranty. I had used Windows
Pro with the Dell, but HP told me I had to use Home Premium or void the contract. It dawned me recently
that whenever my machine crashes, HP support says to do a clean Windows install (!), which I do. I know
how to do that blind-folded; why do I need a warranty to cover it? Answer: I don't.
I want to uninstall Home Premium and reinstall Windows Pro. I really appreciate your instructions for
the best way to make this "monumental" change (without my machine blowing up). I want to give HP credit:
I like their PCs and other products, and the tech support is very good. Thanks to all. ellen

 

[ellenc]

From Home Premium back to Pro, continued

I just thought of something: the old version of Pro will be 32 bit. My HP is 64. I might not be able to use the old Pro dick to install. ellen

 

[dlc41]

If you want to use 64bit you will have to get 64bit. The other issue is the Pro that came with your Dell is licensed to that computer and can not be used on another. To load Win7 Pro onto the HP you are going to have to purchase it.

 

[gregrocker]

Was this a retail copy or the one which came preinstalled with the Dell? It would need to be retail to use on another PC as preinstalled Win7 is tied to the motherboard it came with.

Compare your reinstall steps to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 which compiles everything that works best in tens of thousands of installs we've helped with here since Win7 beta. One step is to save a Win7 backup image of your finished perfect setup, so that you never need to reinstall again but can simply reimage the hard drive in 20 minutes.

 

[ellenc]

Home Premium back to Pro

I purchased the Pro disk from Dell and have the receipt. It was not preinstalled on the machine. I make backup images with Acronis, Macrium, EaseUS. I didn't think about media rescue reboot disks before but have recently done so with Macrium and Acronis since the last crash. Since I own Pro would it be possible to just purchase an upgrade to 64 as I have the operating disks? I'm reading the clean install info and it sounds very complicated. ellen P. S. I've used Belarc for years and think it's one of the very best programs ever.

 

[SIW2]

If you have a Pro key, you don't need to buy it again.

It works with 32 or 64 bit installation media. You would want the SP1 U ( media refresh) x17-59186.iso

You can get the installation media from here: here

 

[gregrocker]

Use your key with Windows 7 Professional x86 SP1 U (media refresh) X17-59186.iso

Again, you'll get and keep a perfect install to the exact extent you stick with these same steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7