Solved Question - For Microsoft Certs - RE: Upgrade.

[mrdemon]

1st of If I upgraded say Home to Ultimate with a Update Disk am I able to use the Retail version of Home that I had installed on the PC that has Just been upgraded too Ultimate. If not Why not, Its my Code why cant I use it.

2nd Can I do a fresh install of Ultimate Update without having any other OS on the disk?

I know that My copy has the "Windows anytime Update" and wont need to be installed, But If I choose to do a fresh install I don't want to be doing Home then Ultimate.

Thanks advance.

MrD.

 

[seavixen32]

I assume you are talking about Windows Anytime Upgrade?

If you have Windows 7 Home Premium already installed just buy an anytime upgrade key and insert the product key during the upgrade procedure. The wizard will scan your computer and validate your Home Premium key first.

Windows Anytime Upgrade - Upgrade your Windows 7 edition - Microsoft Windows

For future installations, you would need to install Home Premium first, and then upgrade to Ultimate.

If you don't want that hassle, just create a complete system image as a backup after you've upgraded to Ultimate and restore from that if needed.

 

[gregrocker]

You can clean install Upgrade version by booting the installer, which will see the prior OS on the HD and allow Upgrade key up front during install. Only if the HD is wiped or new do you have to do a workaround to clean install with Upgrade version. Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

You can also insert the Ultimate Upgrade key in Anytime Upgrade to unlock the extra features in a few minutes time. Then I would keep a Win7 backup image to use in place of reinstall.

For the clean install follow the tips in the Perfect Reinstall link in my signature picture box below.

 

[mrdemon]

1st of If I upgraded say Home to Ultimate with a Update Disk am I able to use the Retail version of Home that I had installed on the PC that has Just been upgraded too Ultimate. If not Why not, Its my Code why cant I use it.

What about this question, Can I reuse the windows Home Code once I have installed Ult or Pro?

 

[gregrocker]

1st of If I upgraded say Home to Ultimate with a Update Disk am I able to use the Retail version of Home that I had installed on the PC that has Just been upgraded too Ultimate. If not Why not, Its my Code why cant I use it.

What about this question, Can I reuse the windows Home Code once I have installed Ult or Pro?

It get's complicated here, but I'll give it a go and we'll see if it passes Bill2's scrutiny.

Once you use an OS to qualify for Upgrade version, under the EULA you shouldn't use the OS again as long as it is serving as the qualifier. This is spelled out clearly for XP and Vista being used to Upgrade to Win7.

However, I don't think MS recognizes a lesser Win7 version as a qualifying OS to upgrade to a greater Win7 unless one uses Anytime Upgrade. If for whatever reason you choose to clean install the Upgrade then it logically follows the lesser version is not available while it qualifies for Upgrade, since you are getting a price break based on Upgrading from it.

 

[Bill2]

As Greg rightly said, its complicated but not too much.

1) As per EULA, a win7 upgrade disk can only be used to upgrade XP or Vista. When you do such an upgrade the qualifying license (XP/Vista) gets subsumed in the win7 license so you cant reuse XP/Vista.

2) To move from a lower version of win7 to higher, say home to Ultimate, you need to use Anytime Upgrade. This also subsumes the underlying win7 license.

Now, in your case there are these options.

1) Anytime upgrade to ultimate using the key on the upgrade disk. When you do this, your home version cannot be reused as long as you're using the ultimate you just anytime upgraded to.

2) If you have an XP or Vista license lying around unused, use the Upgrade disk to clean install ultimate (its legal). That leaves your home license free to be used independently.

 

[gregrocker]

And what if he wants to clean install the upgrade without XP or Vista qualifier?

Lesser version is subsumed?

 

[Bill2]

And what if he wants to clean install the upgrade without XP or Vista qualifier?

Lesser version is subsumed?

Lesser version what? He cant use the upgrade disk to clean install unless he owns a qualifier. If you mean the qualifier (XP/Vista) yes of course, thats subsumed.