Will reinstalling Windows 7 remove my programs ?

[gregrocker]

Yes you can change the unwanted Professional to Home Premium to activate your licensed version using the popular workaround by which many beta testers changed from the RC beta version to their purchased version.

To do this, you should set a System Restore Point then change the following two Registry keys to exactly HOMEPREMIUM for the EditionID, and Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM for the ProductName. This will trick the Home Premium retail installer into allowing a same-version Repair Install which is always allowed, reinstalling Home Premium while keeping all files, programs and settings in place.



If you have SP1 installed you will have to uninstall it unless you find a Win7 retail installer with SP1. uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

This cannot be done with Recovery Disks provided by manufacturer. You should back up your files (either way) and run the Recovery Disks or partition if you have that available, then reinstall your programs and copy back in your files. Or find a Win7 retail installer for your version, or unlock all versions in any other version using this: Unlock any version eicfg removal tool