Solved Win 7 Starter to Home Premium?

[bertie11]

MY wife wants to buy a netbook (no DVD drive). It comes with Starter but she wants HP. If she buys the upgrade is it done by a download (with checks on the existing s/w)?

She already has a laptop that came with Vista and I upgraded it with 7HP. If I revert back to Vista can I then use the serial key on the new netbook to upgrade that to 7HP?

The upgrade kit I have is for an Acer Aspire but the new netbook will be a Samsung N310, I suppose that means I can't do what I want?

Thanks.

 

[logicearth]

Windows Anytime Upgrade

 

[DeaconFrost]

People still use DVD drives to install Windows? Have Windows 7 ready to be installed from a flash drive, and do the Anytime Upgrade on the Starter edition, putting in her legit key for Home Premium. It will upgrade to Home Premium, and possibly ask for the install media...which would be the flash drive.

 

[bertie11]

The upgrade media is marked as Acer Upgrade DVD, and contains Acer upgrade wizard, apps and drivers.. There is a second DVD - Windows Upgrade Media Windows 7, provided by Acer. The leaflet tells me to insert the Acer Upgrade DVD, then Windows 7 DVD, then Upgrade DVD again to install apps and drivers.

We wanted to use this upgrade on a Samsung netbook. Can this be done? Do I just use the Windows 7Upgrade media disk only?

Thanks.

 

[logicearth]

For Anytime Upgrade you don't need any disc or media.

 

[gregrocker]

The Win7 Upgrade kits have bootable clean copy installation DVD which can be used to clean reinstall the OS, thanks to MS requiring this for manufacturers to participate in the program. Perfect Reinstall

However I don't think an Acer Upgrade Kit key can be used on another machine to upgrade either in-place, via clean reinstall or just inserting the key into Anytime Upgrade as you can with a retail key - although you can try.

Easiest for the purpose you describe is to simply buy Anytime Upgrade key for Home Premium to insert after typing Anytime in Start Search box. After a few minutes the additional features will be unlocked, then you should save a Win7 backup image so you never have to reinstall/upgrade again. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

 

[bertie11]

OK. thanks for that. Still mulling it over. I had found a Samsung with an upgrade to HP but now discover it is out of stock!

I may well be back for more help!

 

[bertie11]

She has now bought an Acer Aspire D257 netbook so that hopefully, we can use the Acer upgrade disks off the old Acer on the new Acer netbook (after I remove 7 HP from the old system).

Is this feasible? Seem a waste to buy another Anytime upgrade.

Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

I'm pretty sure the Upgrade Kit key is OEM version so it becomes tied to the first mobo installed upon, but you can still try it and it may activate.

Be sure to make a WIn7 backup image and back up the Recovery Disks (look for USB flash stick option) of the preinstalled OS. Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

 

[bertie11]

I'm in a bit of a bind here I think.

I completely forgot about doing a backup image before I started configuring the netbook. there was nothing on the piece of paper that came with it to remind me, so I've now configured the netbook by taking off all the junk etc and adding other programs. There were no disks with it anyway as it doesn't have a disk drive.

I have backed it up in it's current state to an external USB drive from within Acer eRecovery (system and drivers and apps) and I could also do an Acronis True Image of C:\ but I assume I can't now get it back to factory state?

Does anyone know for sure whether I can use the key off the original Acer laptop (after I've removed it) I could ask Microsoft I suppose.

Thanks Greg.

 

[bertie11]

Update time.

Using Anytime Upgrade, I entered the key from my wife's upgrade from Vista to 7 Home Premium pack on the new netbook. The key was accepted and I then agreed the T&C. There were several minutes while (I assume) the system was being scanned and then I got a message to say the the key was from the wrong type of media . I can't remember the exact message now but I got a big red cross with it! I was advised to try again which I did and this time I was advised to go to the Microsoft website or talk to someone at MS. I shut the netbook down.

The following morning I powered up the netbook and straight away it showed 'upgrading, 35%', do not switch off'. I let it continue and the upgrade completed, so we now have Home Premium working, so the key was accepted after all!

A bit puzzling after being told the key was the wrong type of media, but it works OK. I'm removing Win 7HP from the original system tomorrow.

Thanks for suggestions etc.

 

[rraod]

This is a common problem with Windows Anytime upgrade. Sometimes the upgrade fails and all you have to do is to restart the system and try again. From second time onwards you don't need to enter the upgrade key again as the key gets saved in registry.

 

[bertie11]

OK. so can i assume all is well?

Thanks.

 

[rraod]

You are welcome...

Yes... Now you can enjoy the Home Premium features... To make sure check the windows activation status (Right click on Computer and selecting Properties). You will find the windows activation information at the bottom of the opened window.

 

[bertie11]

Never noticed that before! I needed to scroll down the page.

Great. Thank you all for assistance.