upgrade from home premium to Professional or Ultimate

[mjb1957]

I currently have home premium but want to upgrade to professional or ultimate. I have tried to get an activation key so I can use "anytime" but it does not seem to exist. I am trying to avoid backing up prior to upgrade as I am not a computer wiz. Can you please advise what is the best course of action. Thank you

 

[Kaktussoft]

What extra features of professional/ultimate do you want? Backing up a system disk is always a good thing to do regulary.

 

[mjb1957]

upgrade

Home premium can only run 16gb of ram I have 32gb ram, so professional and ultimate can run 32gb.
also I need domain joining to my work network.

 

[King Arthur]

Windows Anytime Upgrade can be found within Control Panel. Once you run it you will be given two options: Either to enter an upgrade key (aka product key) you already purchased separately, or to purchase an upgrade key online from Microsoft directly.

The upgrade process itself is in-place and shouldn't take more than 10~15 minutes or so, the entire process is seamless and there shouldn't be any loss of data. As always with any upgrades though, take backups if you are in doubt.

 

[mjb1957]

reply to King Arthur

I cannot buy a upgrade key anywhere!! unless you know where I can. Microsoft no longer supply this service. Once I have a upgrade key I know what to do next. can you help in sourcing where I can buy a upgrade key from.

 

[King Arthur]

Just took a look over on Newegg and NCIX, it would appear indeed that Anytime Upgrade keys aren't being sold anymore.

This actually puts a damper on your plans, I'm not sure if Windows Anytime Upgrade can be used with other retail/OEM product keys.

 

[theog]

Take a look here:
Cheap Operating Systems from Microsoft


No install files needed.
Only the Upgrade/Full key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/95744-windows-anytime-upgrade-how.html
You will have a hard time finding a Anytime Upgrade to buy, as Windows 8/8.1 is out.

 

[gregrocker]

This is the only cheap retail OEM version I can find, although I can't vouch for the company so I would research it thoroughly first: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 32 bit or 64 bit Download | Designer Tech Software

Tiger Direct has consistently stocked Professional retail OEM for $134.99 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...ce=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=MBWEM4002

Either key can be used in Anytime Upgrade.

It's mind-boggling that MS is actually avoiding millions of dollars worth of sales by hiding retail copies of their only successful OS at a time when business is moving off of final XP almost entirely into Windows 7. They appear to have constructed an alternate universe where Windows 8 is a big success so Win7 can be phased out on some sort of schedule, even though 7 doesn't show the slightest sign of age. Tell that to the business world who are voting which OS will continue and which one will flounder.