win7 home premium 64bit sp1 OEM to home prem. retail fam pack ugrade

[bennylenny]

Hello, can I upgrade my win7 64bit sp1 OEM to the win7 64bit home premium retail family pack? Thanks

 

[AddRAM]

What would be the point ? Why do you want to ?

Is there something wrong with windows ?

You could do it by entering the retail key and reactivating, but it would waste a perfectly good oem license.

 

[bennylenny]

I want to use upgraded win7 image on 2 computers. I didn't know if the service pack on my win7 OEM would be compatible with this upgrade. How would it waste a license?

 

[Petey7]

How would it waste a license?

OEM Windows 7 Home Premium and retail Windows 7 Home Premium are exactly the same. Only the terms of the software license is different. With an OEM license, that license is tied to that one computer and cannot be moved to another, and yes, Microsoft can see when you try to activate Windows if the hardware is the same as it was previously. With a retail license, the license is not tied to one computer, and can be moved to another should something happen to the current computer. Switching to a retail license won't "upgrade" anything. It will be the same, accept the OEM license will no longer be in use and the retail license can't be used on another PC, should you decide to build/upgrade/downgrade another one.

I'll ask the same as Addram. Are you actually experiencing an issue with your current Windows 7 install?

 

[AddRAM]

Thank You Pete

 

[bennylenny]

Okay, here is my deal. I have a DAW That has a feature that will allow me to network 2 computers, running plugins on one, recording, editing on the other. The drawback is, both computers have to have exact same plugins. The OEM version will not allow me to transfer syspreped cloned hard drive because of it Beeing tied to motherboard & license. So here is what I wanted to do. Upgrade my version win7 64 OEM to retail fam. pack with multiple licenses, clone hard drive using acronis,remove "upgrade" key in registry, sysprep, transfer cloned & prepped hard drive to other computer, use one of the new activation keys to activate.thanks

 

[Petey7]

So, you cloned the hard drive of one computer, and want to put a copy of said hard drive on a different computer? Unless you have the exact same hardware setup (or I misunderstand what you are doing) on both computers, I doubt Windows will even get to the login screen before crashing because the necessary drivers will be completely different. However, I think you can use Windows Easy Transfer to make this work. I'll look up the necessary information and get back to you ASAP.

 

[bennylenny]

Thanks, petey. Yes two different computers running same legit image simultaneously. I did it, it does work after sysprep, wich strips all the drivers. The problem is, it won't take key, & starts the 30 day countdown. If there is an easier way to do this, please fill me in.

 

[Petey7]

Sorry I overlooked where you said you were using sysprep. Just do it basically how you were planning, but wait to change any product keys until you are done, then go to system in control panel on the new/second computer, scroll down, and press Change Product Key.

EDIT: For anyone reading this page and wanting to know more about sysprep, refer to our tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/135077-windows-7-installation-transfer-new-computer.html

 

[bennylenny]

Back to my original question. I have win7 64bit home premium OEM with service pack 1. Can I upgrade to any home premium retail? Or, does the upgrade have to include this service pack. If so, is this service pack include with win7 home premium family pack?

 

[bennylenny]

I can't do this with OEM version, correct?

 

[Petey7]

The service pack number has no effect. It will validate just fine regardless.

I actually just reinstalled Windows on my own computer and the key I had was for 7 Pro (purchased before SP1) but I used a 7 Pro SP1 install disc and had no problem.

EDIT: I'm afraid I don't understand the last question.

 

[bennylenny]

Okay, since I already have done the clone & installed it. Can I buy another OEM home premium, change product key, use new product key on this install? Or, do I need to upgrade to retail first?

 

[Petey7]

I can't recall Microsoft's policy on this. Let me do some checking.

 

[bennylenny]

The product key & activation key are two different things, correct?

 

[bennylenny]

Thankyou, dude!

 

[bennylenny]

Also, I do believe, if I continue with OEM, & ever upgrade my motherboards, I might have a hard time getting a new activation key from ms?

 

[Petey7]

Activate and Change Product Key should have the same effect.

Microsoft's official policy is that you can not use a new OEM Windows 7 license on a PC you are building for yourself. You have to use a retail copy. If you ignore this policy Microsoft has the right to permanently deactivate that license.

 

[Petey7]

Also, I do believe, if I continue with OEM, if I ever upgrade my motherboards, I might have a hard time getting a new activation key from ms?

If you replace the Motherboard on a computer you purchased, you can attempt to activate by phone. You will eventually get transferred to a real person (I think you can continuously press 0 to get transferred faster). When you do, explain the problem and if the person is reasonable they'll give you a new activation code.

 

[bennylenny]

So, upgrade to windows7 home premium family pack retail, clone, delete "upgrade" from registry on cloned drive, sysprep, install in other computer, change product key, use new key provided with fam pack. Does this sound like it would work? Thanks