Reinstalling Windows 7 W/anytime upgrade.

[Allen Drake]

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.

 

[VanguardLH]

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/windows7/products/windows-anytime-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.

 

[Dave-UK]

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-desired-windows-7-edition-version-during-setup/

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

 

[Allen Drake]

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


Use the product key on the COA sticker.


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/windows7/products/windows-anytime-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.

 

[Allen Drake]

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-desired-windows-7-edition-version-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.

 

[VanguardLH]

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.

 

[Ken1943]

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

 

[Allen Drake]

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.

 

[Ken1943]

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

 

[Allen Drake]

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.

 

[Allen Drake]

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

OK, Thanks. I will have to wait until tomorrow as it's way past my
bed time.

Thanks again Ken.
regards.

Al.

 

[Ken1943]

OK, Thanks. I will have to wait until tomorrow as it's way past my
bed time.

Thanks again Ken.
regards.

Al.

I used this program, http://www.magicaljellybean.com/ and it found the
anytime upgrade key, only. I still think you would have to know what key
you used for the original install, as the upgrade key is probably tied to
the install key.


KenW

 

[Ken1943]

That program is Freeware.


KenW

 

[VanguardLH]

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.

But the CD doesn't carry the key! If you bought a dozen separate
licenses and had a dozen COA stickers, you can take any of the dozen CDs
to do a reinstall on those hosts. All the CDs are alike. In fact, you
can copy them onto a hard disk and run the install from there (once you
use a bootable CD to load an OS to load the setup program from the hard
disk). The CD isn't locked to the product key. You have 12 retail
packages of Windows 7. You have 12 CDs. You have 12 COA stickers with
the product key on them. Shove 11 of the CDs in a drawer and use just
one to do all the installs and when each asks for a product key then you
use the one on the COA sticker. There is no key on the CD. That's why
you can find licenses sold just by themself with absolutely no media.
The seller is selling you the license with the product key. That's
because it is cheaper to do multiple installs using just one install CD
and using an individual key on each install. However, jobbers that do
lots of builds don't even have to enter the key after the install since
their copy is already pre-validated but there is still is a key on the
COA sticker that they put on those multiple hosts.

 

[Dave-UK]

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.

Why involve a program that you have to pay for ?
I gave you a link to a free program.
I'll repost it here for you:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
It is FREE.

 

[Allen Drake]

But the CD doesn't carry the key! If you bought a dozen separate
licenses and had a dozen COA stickers, you can take any of the dozen CDs
to do a reinstall on those hosts. All the CDs are alike. In fact, you
can copy them onto a hard disk and run the install from there (once you
use a bootable CD to load an OS to load the setup program from the hard
disk). The CD isn't locked to the product key. You have 12 retail
packages of Windows 7. You have 12 CDs. You have 12 COA stickers with
the product key on them. Shove 11 of the CDs in a drawer and use just
one to do all the installs and when each asks for a product key then you
use the one on the COA sticker. There is no key on the CD. That's why
you can find licenses sold just by themself with absolutely no media.
The seller is selling you the license with the product key. That's
because it is cheaper to do multiple installs using just one install CD
and using an individual key on each install. However, jobbers that do
lots of builds don't even have to enter the key after the install since
their copy is already pre-validated but there is still is a key on the
COA sticker that they put on those multiple hosts.

Ok, Now I get it. My bad. What I have been wondering is what keys to
use if MS has no way of finding them. If I am asked if I am using that
key on any other computer I can't have a way of truthful answering
"No". In the end, after I do a clean install all my Win7 machines,
which is 4 right now, I might end up with some that have the wrong
keys. Probably that will be the case. Then when I try the Ultimate key
I have in email will that key work on each machine if the original
key is wrong?

 

[Allen Drake]

Why involve a program that you have to pay for ?
I gave you a link to a free program.
I'll repost it here for you:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html
It is FREE.

Have you downloaded and used that app? It says you have to register to
get it to work. Does the registration require payment? It isn't clear
and there is a version that you have to buy. Why would anyone pay if
it was all for free?

I hesitate to use something that might end up being spyware or
malware. I need to know if others have used it and it is legit.

 

[Allen Drake]

I used this program, http://www.magicaljellybean.com/ and it found the
anytime upgrade key, only. I still think you would have to know what key
you used for the original install, as the upgrade key is probably tied to
the install key.


KenW

That's what I was worried about. I might just have to try it and see
what happens. I do have a clone of every system I have so it would
only cost me time.

 

[Dave-UK]

Have you downloaded and used that app? It says you have to register to
get it to work. Does the registration require payment? It isn't clear
and there is a version that you have to buy. Why would anyone pay if
it was all for free?

I hesitate to use something that might end up being spyware or
malware. I need to know if others have used it and it is legit.

You don't really need any help, you are just taking the piss out of people trying to help you.
I'm not going to waste any more of my time with you or your imaginary 'problem'.

 

[Dominique]

That's what I was worried about. I might just have to try it and see
what happens. I do have a clone of every system I have so it would
only cost me time.

You said you have 3 systems running Ultimate from Anytime Upgrade, if the
two other systems are working you could run the key finder program on
those and don't use those keys on the system you have to rebuild.

BTW, the way I understand your first post, the key Belarc reported is the
key for Ultimate but you tried to use it with Home Premium which of
course would not work. What I would do, is install Home Premium without
entering a key (and without activating it) and try to upgrade it
immediately with the Anytime Upgrade file this time using the key
reported by Belarc and see if it works.

HTH