Reinstalling Windows 7 W/anytime upgrade.

I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin. I need to
have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a repair
install in the past but that only got me to the original version and
would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I have to
restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square one. Is
this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
activate or some other way? I have never gone through this process
with Win7 although I have done it with WinXP Pro several times.

I have several Windows Home Premium Disks here that I purchased for
other systems but I am not sure which disk goes with what computer.
Are there any differences and will I need to use the right disk when I
do a clean install on all the systems? I plan on doing this because I
want to have a fresh install on the SSDs I am now using to be sure I
have them all aligned properly.

If anyone can post a step by step procedure I would be very grateful.

Thanks.

Al.

Allen Drake wrote:

> I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
> full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
> Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin.

Since it is an *upgrade*, you'll have to install the base version upon
which the upgrade applies.

> I need to have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a
> repair install in the past but that only got me to the original
> version and would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I
> have to restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square
> one.

Use the product key on the COA sticker.

> Is this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
> activate or some other way?

They won't give you a product key unless you can prove to them that you
bought a legitimate license for the Home Premium edition.

I haven't used the Anytime upgrade licenses. Doesn't it come with its
own product key? The key reflects the product installed. So you could
install Home Premium (without validation or its product key since you
get a 30-day trial after which it disables or cripples itself), install
the Anytime upgrade, and use the product key that came with the
upgrade.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...nytime-upgrade

Since you already have Windows 7 Home Edition installed, the article
says "follow the instructions that came with your upgrade key." You
need to apply the new product key to reflect the correct version and
edition of Windows that you will validate.

"Allen Drake" <> wrote in message news:...
>
> I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
> full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
> Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin. I need to
> have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a repair
> install in the past but that only got me to the original version and
> would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I have to
> restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square one. Is
> this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
> activate or some other way? I have never gone through this process
> with Win7 although I have done it with WinXP Pro several times.
>
> I have several Windows Home Premium Disks here that I purchased for
> other systems but I am not sure which disk goes with what computer.
> Are there any differences and will I need to use the right disk when I
> do a clean install on all the systems? I plan on doing this because I
> want to have a fresh install on the SSDs I am now using to be sure I
> have them all aligned properly.
>
> If anyone can post a step by step procedure I would be very grateful.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Al.

If you are currently running Ultimate then you must have an Ultimate key on your system.
If you don't know what it is then run a key search tool to retrieve it:

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html

As I understand it any Win 7 retail dvd contains all versions regardless of what the label says.
The version actually installed is determined by a small configuration file : ei.cfg.

This page describes how to choose your version at install time:

http://www.askvg.com/how-to-choose-d...-during-setup/

Once you've fixed your iso image your Ultimate key will be accepted.

On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:11:18 -0500, VanguardLH <> wrote:

>Allen Drake wrote:
>
>> I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
>> full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
>> Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin.
>
>Since it is an *upgrade*, you'll have to install the base version upon
>which the upgrade applies.
>
>> I need to have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a
>> repair install in the past but that only got me to the original
>> version and would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I
>> have to restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square
>> one.
>
>Use the product key on the COA sticker.
>
>> Is this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
>> activate or some other way?
>
>They won't give you a product key unless you can prove to them that you
>bought a legitimate license for the Home Premium edition.

I have the CDs here with the original keys.

>
>I haven't used the Anytime upgrade licenses. Doesn't it come with its
>own product key? The key reflects the product installed. So you could
>install Home Premium (without validation or its product key since you
>get a 30-day trial after which it disables or cripples itself), install
>the Anytime upgrade, and use the product key that came with the
>upgrade.

The key is provided online when you make the purchase. It has been
some time since I did this so I don't really remember exactly how it
went down.
>
>http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...nytime-upgrade
>
>Since you already have Windows 7 Home Edition installed, the article
>says "follow the instructions that came with your upgrade key." You
>need to apply the new product key to reflect the correct version and
>edition of Windows that you will validate.

I went through the anytime upgrade procedure and used a key that was
also supposed to be emailed to me. It was not. I have read of others
that never got any email either. I tried using the anytime upgrade
feature when I did a repair install using the key I got with Belarc
Advisor but it didn't work. The only way I could restore to Ultimate
version was to purchase another key.

I am hoping to find someone that has done exactly what I need to do
that can relate what exactly needs to be done.

I have read that Belarc Advisor will show the key but as I stated
that didn't work. It seems that MS should provide the answer without
having to use 3rd party work arounds.

On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:46:17 +0100, "Dave-UK" <> wrote:

>
>"Allen Drake" <> wrote in message news:...
>>
>> I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
>> full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
>> Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin. I need to
>> have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a repair
>> install in the past but that only got me to the original version and
>> would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I have to
>> restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square one. Is
>> this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
>> activate or some other way? I have never gone through this process
>> with Win7 although I have done it with WinXP Pro several times.
>>
>> I have several Windows Home Premium Disks here that I purchased for
>> other systems but I am not sure which disk goes with what computer.
>> Are there any differences and will I need to use the right disk when I
>> do a clean install on all the systems? I plan on doing this because I
>> want to have a fresh install on the SSDs I am now using to be sure I
>> have them all aligned properly.
>>
>> If anyone can post a step by step procedure I would be very grateful.
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> Al.
>
>If you are currently running Ultimate then you must have an Ultimate key on your system.
>If you don't know what it is then run a key search tool to retrieve it:
>
>http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
>
>As I understand it any Win 7 retail dvd contains all versions regardless of what the label says.
>The version actually installed is determined by a small configuration file : ei.cfg.
>
>This page describes how to choose your version at install time:
>
>http://www.askvg.com/how-to-choose-d...-during-setup/
>
>Once you've fixed your iso image your Ultimate key will be accepted.
>
>
>
>
I saw the app but it needs to be purchased and for all my systems it
is a bit out of budget.

http://recover-keys.com/en/order.html

Now that second link looks very interesting but I will have to read
it a few more times and try it and see what happens. It doesn't sound
a bit shady though.

Thanks.

Allen Drake wrote:

> I have read that Belarc Advisor will show the key but as I stated
> that didn't work. It seems that MS should provide the answer without
> having to use 3rd party work arounds.

Belarc Advisor will report the product key used for the install. That
could be a volume install (not a volume license but a mass install of a
sysprep image) and the COA sticker carries a different product key (but
for the same product). These volume installs are pre-validated (the
jobber doesn't have to validate and neither does the customer) but it's
a special license the jobber buys to do their system builds. That's why
I mentioned using the product key on the COA sticker.

It isn't a matter of "which disk goes with what computer". The disc
doesn't have the product key embedded within it for validation against
what you enter. You can use ANY disc to do the install but need a
product key that matches that product. So you could slap the COA
sticker on several hosts before doing the install and use the same CD
for all those installations. You just use the product key on the COA
sticker.

On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:31:31 -0400, Allen Drake <>
wrote:

>
> I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
>full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
>Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin. I need to
>have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a repair
>install in the past but that only got me to the original version and
>would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I have to
>restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square one. Is
>this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
>activate or some other way? I have never gone through this process
>with Win7 although I have done it with WinXP Pro several times.
>
> I have several Windows Home Premium Disks here that I purchased for
>other systems but I am not sure which disk goes with what computer.
>Are there any differences and will I need to use the right disk when I
>do a clean install on all the systems? I plan on doing this because I
>want to have a fresh install on the SSDs I am now using to be sure I
>have them all aligned properly.
>
> If anyone can post a step by step procedure I would be very grateful.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Al.
A Toshiba net book came with starter and I reinstalled using recovery
disks. I clicked on anytime upgrade on the start menu and one of the
options is to enter a purchased key,which I have. Entered it and got home
premium back.

Hope you have the email with the key.


KenW

On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:24:41 -0600, Ken1943 <> wrote:

>On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:31:31 -0400, Allen Drake <>
>wrote:
>
>>
>> I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
>>full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
>>Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin. I need to
>>have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a repair
>>install in the past but that only got me to the original version and
>>would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I have to
>>restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square one. Is
>>this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
>>activate or some other way? I have never gone through this process
>>with Win7 although I have done it with WinXP Pro several times.
>>
>> I have several Windows Home Premium Disks here that I purchased for
>>other systems but I am not sure which disk goes with what computer.
>>Are there any differences and will I need to use the right disk when I
>>do a clean install on all the systems? I plan on doing this because I
>>want to have a fresh install on the SSDs I am now using to be sure I
>>have them all aligned properly.
>>
>> If anyone can post a step by step procedure I would be very grateful.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Al.
>A Toshiba net book came with starter and I reinstalled using recovery
>disks. I clicked on anytime upgrade on the start menu and one of the
>options is to enter a purchased key,which I have. Entered it and got home
>premium back.
>
>Hope you have the email with the key.
>
>
>KenW

I just found some emails that I have on a laptop that show 2 different
keys for ultimate upgrades. I wonder if it matters which one I use. I
am still missing one key for a third system. If it doesn't matter what
key I use then I am all set for all three systems. If it does I will
have to try both keys to see which one works for which install.

On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 21:30:41 -0400, Allen Drake <>
wrote:

>On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 18:24:41 -0600, Ken1943 <> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 17:31:31 -0400, Allen Drake <>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I am planning on a fresh install of W7 from my original Home Premium
>>>full version disk that has been upgraded to Ultimate with Anytime
>>>Upgrade so I need to know the procedure well before I begin. I need to
>>>have the key available that will install Ultimate. I tried a repair
>>>install in the past but that only got me to the original version and
>>>would not accept the key I used using Belarc Advisor so I have to
>>>restore my system with a cloned copy and was back at square one. Is
>>>this something that can be done with a call to MS when I try to
>>>activate or some other way? I have never gone through this process
>>>with Win7 although I have done it with WinXP Pro several times.
>>>
>>> I have several Windows Home Premium Disks here that I purchased for
>>>other systems but I am not sure which disk goes with what computer.
>>>Are there any differences and will I need to use the right disk when I
>>>do a clean install on all the systems? I plan on doing this because I
>>>want to have a fresh install on the SSDs I am now using to be sure I
>>>have them all aligned properly.
>>>
>>> If anyone can post a step by step procedure I would be very grateful.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>Al.
>>A Toshiba net book came with starter and I reinstalled using recovery
>>disks. I clicked on anytime upgrade on the start menu and one of the
>>options is to enter a purchased key,which I have. Entered it and got home
>>premium back.
>>
>>Hope you have the email with the key.
>>
>>
>>KenW
>
>I just found some emails that I have on a laptop that show 2 different
>keys for ultimate upgrades. I wonder if it matters which one I use. I
>am still missing one key for a third system. If it doesn't matter what
>key I use then I am all set for all three systems. If it does I will
>have to try both keys to see which one works for which install.

I am not sure but, wrong key might screw up another machines update.
Let me get a key program installed on the Toshiba and see if it shows the
upgrade key or not. Will get back to you.


KenW

On Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:13:08 -0500, VanguardLH <> wrote:

>Allen Drake wrote:
>
>> I have read that Belarc Advisor will show the key but as I stated
>> that didn't work. It seems that MS should provide the answer without
>> having to use 3rd party work arounds.
>
>Belarc Advisor will report the product key used for the install. That
>could be a volume install (not a volume license but a mass install of a
>sysprep image) and the COA sticker carries a different product key (but
>for the same product). These volume installs are pre-validated (the
>jobber doesn't have to validate and neither does the customer) but it's
>a special license the jobber buys to do their system builds. That's why
>I mentioned using the product key on the COA sticker.
>
>It isn't a matter of "which disk goes with what computer". The disc
>doesn't have the product key embedded within it for validation against
>what you enter. You can use ANY disc to do the install but need a
>product key that matches that product. So you could slap the COA
>sticker on several hosts before doing the install and use the same CD
>for all those installations. You just use the product key on the COA
>sticker.

What jobbers are you referring to? I build my own systems and
purchase a full version for every machine I put together. The key on
the packages are for the version I bought. I am posting about a MS
application or contact where you can retrieve your anytime upgrade
key.