I have installed Windows 7 Professional 32bit as a demo version and bought the Windows 7 Ulimate 32bit as it was the only software available in store, will I be able to use the Windows 7 Ultimate Key for my Windows 7 Professional installation?
I do not want to reinstall Windows 7....
Help Please.
Windows Ultimate Keys cannot be used in Windows Pro installs (although if the Pro was activated, you could use an Anytime Upgrade process to upgrade to Ultimate) - you will have to do an Upgrade install, or a Custom/Clean install.
Assuming that the Pro is still within the grace period, then an upgrade install should work - make sure that you start the upgrade from within Windows, NOT by booting the DVD.
If the Pro has gone out of grace period, you can rearm it using the command slmgr.vbs /rearm before upgrading with Ultimate.
Note that this is ONLY likely to work if the Ultimate is a Full Retail edition. If it's an Upgrade, I'm not sure what would happen, but certainly it should refuse to begin the upgrade, as it is supposed to check that the qualifying OS is actiavted as well as genuine. An OEM copy will only do a Custom install.
Last edited by NoelDP; 24 Mar 2012 at 06:08. Reason: typos
Thank You NoelDP, Yes the Windows 7 Ultimate is a Full retail version (In The Box). I will do the upgrade later today when I'm home.
So if I understand you correctly, I can type in the Windows 7 Ultimate Key in (Control Panel/System/Incert Product Key) and then it should accept the Key. But i Can update my Windows Profesional to Ultimate by clicking om Windows Update?
No install files needed.
Only the key is need.
Anytime upgrade only adds-on the Programs & Features from version to version.
Windows Anytime Upgrade - How to
Thank you I will give it a Try!
Sorry - that will NOT work, unless the current installation is activated and genuine. Rick's current installation is not activated, as I understand his original post.
@Rick
You will need to do a full Upgrade install - boot to windows and insert your Utimate disk. If the installer doesn't start automatically, open the DVD in Explorer and run the Setup.exe file
The Demo version may behave differently - but Anytime Upgrade is *supposed* only to install on activated and validated systems.
OP is not talking about a Anytime Upgrade Product Key.I have installed Windows 7 Professional 32bit as a demo version and bought the Windows 7 Ulimate 32bit as it was the only software available in store, will I be able to use the Windows 7 Ultimate Key for my Windows 7 Professional installation?
I do not want to reinstall Windows 7....
Help Please.
A full Retail Product Key will activate.
A Upgrade Product Key will activate
Hmmm - my earlier response seems to have gotten lost in the post....
After testing here:-
Using a Full Product Key in Anytime Upgrade will work on an unactivated system (to my surprise)
Using an Upgrade Key on an Unactivated system gives only an error message - it will *not* upgrade (as expected).
I never mentioned an Anytime Upgrade Key - and I don't have one to test, but I'm certain that it would act the same as the ordinary Upgrade Key.
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