oops - have win7 ultimate COA, installed win7 pro; activate?

nickp · 21 Feb 2015

So, I got a new desktop computer that came with an original windows 7 ultimate COA sticker. I installed windows 7 yesterday, and spend some hours getting it all set, and then got the activation reminder...

And then I realized, I accidentally installed windows 7 pro instead (I had last year made a bootable usb from a previous digitalriver downloaded copy that i used on my laptop, that has a win7 pro coa).

Is there any way I can get this activated, or "upgrade" it to ultimate, or anything? I really hate to be out all my hours of work yesterday and have to start from scratch using a copy of ultimate.

Secondly... I'm having a hard time finding a genuine download of win7 ultimate, if I need it. Where can I find this to download these days? My search is coming up empty so far.

Thanks.

alphanumeric · 21 Feb 2015

It sucks but a lot of the download links have come up dead. Seems to coincide with the end of mainstream support. If it was Windows 8 you could just use add features to upgrade. If it helps, MSDN lists this?
File Name: en_windows_7_ultimate_with_sp1_x64_dvd_u_677332.iso
Languages: English
SHA1: 36AE90DEFBAD9D9539E649B193AE573B77A71C83

Alejandro85 · 21 Feb 2015

The installer for all editions of Windows is exactly the same, save for a single file (ei.cfg), so the very same downloaded disk will do.
Look here: How to Choose Desired Windows 7 Edition / Version During Setup? - AskVG

I don't know if you can "upgrade" to Ultimate before activation using that modified ISO, then activate with your Ultimate serial.
In the worst case, a clean install can be done with a proper ultimate installation, then activation should be easy.

alphanumeric · 21 Feb 2015

Yes, if you delete the ei.cfg file it will ask you what edition you want to install.

NoelDP · 22 Feb 2015

You can't use the Ultimate Key to do an upgrade to Ultimate, unless the current installation is activated - so you'll have to do a clean install. As alphanumeric says, simply deleting the ei.cfg file from your installation files will open the disk to all versions of Win7.

nickp · 23 Feb 2015

So, I decided I'll have to do a clean install with the correct version. However, on my win7 usb boot disk that I made, I can't find the ei.cfg file on it? I read that it should be in the "sources" folder, but I'm not seeing it. But still, I don't get the option to select a version to install. Where do I go from here?