installing a New PID as OS found to be non-genuine

[masplin]

I bought a Sony laptop with Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium installed. I upgraded to Pro to match my desktop from what I thought was a genuine seller, but having read the threads I see 220 in the PID and getting messages it isn't genuine.


I was wondering what my options are to make getting a genuine PID as painless as possible:


1. Follow the windows validation route from laptop for £138 which seems to be buying a complete Win7 pro package. I am assuming this would be seemless and not affect any of my progrmas or files?


2. Purchase a full Win7 pro licence from another seller, assuming it is genuine. Question is what happens if you go to install Win7 pro genuine on a machine running Win7 Pro non-genuine? Can I use the upgrade menus and will this been a seemless "upgrade" leaving my programs and files OK?


3. Cheapest route reinstall Home premium OS that I have on disc then buying a genuine upgrade package for more like £80-90. While saving little bit of money I imagine this probably needs to be done as a clean install i.e. wipe all programs and files. Doesn't sound like a worthwhile saving in cash for the time involved.


Any advice appriciated especially if option 2. will work easily. i have asked this question in the MS forum and only anser was to use option 1, but £138 sounds expensive.


Mike

 

[richc46]

There is usually a way to return to factory specs (the system on your computer when you bought it), if you can do that you can buy an upgrade version of Windows and install that.

Boot and try to hold f10 and alt key

 

[Bill2]

1) I'm having trouble understanding the difference between the packages in Option 1 and Option 2. MS is selling it to you for 138 pounds, somebody else is selling the same for less than that? Make sure you dont get taken for a ride again.

Once you get a genuine key for win7 pro full, it should be a simple matter of changing the product key in System properties and activating online.

Change the Windows 7 Key - How To Change the Windows 7 Product Key Code

Otherwise, you always have the option of calling MS and getting them to activate for you.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

2) Regarding the cheap upgrade license, I think running a repair install (that'll keep your apps and files intact) will let you enter an upgrade key.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[gregrocker]

If the cheaper Anytime Upgrade is available in your region then you can use that to unlock Pro features but you will need to change back to activate Home Premium first. If you don't want to clean install HP, then use the popular workaround to change between Win7 versions:

In your case, to in-place Upgrade from Pro to HP, you would change the two registry keys shown below to read exactly HOMEPREMIUM and Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM to trick the installer into doing a same-version http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R which is always allowed. It will reinstall HP while keeping all of your programs, files and settings in place, resetting activation.



May I ask what are the features in Pro which you need that are not in HP? Is it really worth paying the extra? If so then buy an Anytime Upgrade key at a major retailer or from MS online. If it isn't avaiable there then buy a Pro Upgrade version to insert the key now, or reset activation first with a Repair install using Pro by unlocking all versions in the installer.