upgrade advice ?

[boohbah]

hi. our school has just got a new pc for the secretary and it came pre installed with win 7 home , can we upgrade to "professional" using the same licence key . any advice howto would be appreciated. i believe we paid for a professional licence so do we download professional software or can we unlock it with key/license

 

[WindowsStar]

If you want to move to Professional you will have to buy the upgrade. You will get a new key as well.

Here is a link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...m_re=windows_7_upgrade-_-32-116-774-_-Product

 

[boohbah]

i think we paid for upgrade . if so how do we do that

 

[WindowsStar]

If you paid for it you will have a new key and DVD. Just do put the DVD in the drive and it will autorun, click the upgrade and then enter the key when asked. It will do the update and then reboot, you will then need to activate and then you are done. Super Simple.

 

[boohbah]

just seen on new egg that we may upgrade by entering upgrade license from properties ect

 

[boohbah]

thanks guys will go check the pc now

 

[Wishmaster]

Perhaps Im wrong or misunderstanding it but,

If theres already a purchased key for an upgrade, Could you not search start for Windows anytime Upgrade and put the key in here?

Doesnt this just activate features that are already installed just locked?

Apologies, i know the method mentioned does work but i am curious about this myself. Never went this route.

 

[WindowsStar]

Perhaps Im wrong or misunderstanding it but,

If theres already a purchased key for an upgrade, Could you not search start for Windows anytime Upgrade and put the key in here?

Doesnt this just activate features that are already installed just locked?

Apologies, i know the method mentioned does work but i am curious about this myself. Never went this route.

Yes that should work too...I think??? I have never done this.

 

[Wishmaster]

Niether have I, which is why I am curious if it works the same, faster, or asks for the disc anyway.

 

[gregrocker]

If you bought an Anytime Upgrade which is how MS wants us to change to a higher WIn7 version, then you can insert the Key as shown in #7.

A retail Product Key will also work for Anytime Upgrade, by most reports.

If not, there is a workaround to in-place Upgrade between Win7 versions, or you can always clean install Pro.

 

[housry23]

I just did this with my Windows Home Premium. I have a retail Ultimate key that I was using on a laptop that I don't have anymore, so I upgraded my new laptop from Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate. I clicked start and typed in Windows Anytime Upgrade, opened the program and followed instructions. When it asked for my key I typed in the Ultimate key and clicked next, agreed to this and that and Windows did its thing. It upgraded in a very short time with 2 reboots and I was using ultimate in about 10 minutes. I didn't even need my Ultimate DVD.

 

[Wishmaster]

I just did this with my Windows Home Premium. I have a retail Ultimate key that I was using on a laptop that I don't have anymore, so I upgraded my new laptop from Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate. I clicked start and typed in Windows Anytime Upgrade, opened the program and followed instructions. When it asked for my key I typed in the Ultimate key and clicked next, agreed to this and that and Windows did its thing. It upgraded in a very short time with 2 reboots and I was using ultimate in about 10 minutes. I didn't even need my Ultimate DVD.

Thats good to know. Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

Anytime unlocks features that are installed with every Win7 version but hidden in lesser versions.

MS wants us to unlock them with Anytime Upgrade key, but retail keys apparently work, too, probably because it makes them more money anyway.

The problem is on reinstall you might need to install/activate original licensed version then Anytime Upgrade again to higher version. But you should be able to avoid this by saving a Win7 Backup Image now as soon as it is set up as you like but before corruption begins creeping in.

Your Ultimate DVD can be used for reimaging by booting Repair console, and its ISO can be unlocked to burn all-versions DVD to reinstall the lesser version if needed:http://lifehacker.com/5438005/eicfg...-use-any-product-key-with-your-windows-7-disc

 

[boohbah]

thanks guys for all the info , what the school has is a win7 pro disc and a license for several computers . the new issue im told is the disc is 32bit and the new pc with home on it is 64bit, if we do anytime upgrade can we still use the multi license despite it being for 32bit

 

[gregrocker]

The license on retail and OEM allows use of the same Product Key for either 32 or 64 bit, so your Pro key may well work to unlock the lesser version in 64 bit.

However volume license keys are a completely different licensing scheme.

It is worth a try, though. Then if it activates, be sure to store a Win7 backup image so you never have to do it again.

 

[boohbah]

quick update: the volume license key wouldn't work. then when the chap looked in the box he found the professional key he paid for when he purchased the computer so all is well ...for now!