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I purchased a retail version of Windows 7 Professional and installed it on a computer. That machine has died, and I replaced it with a new computer which came with Windows 7 Home Premium already installed.

I'd like to have Professional, not Home Premium, on the new machine, and I don't want to pay for an "Anytime Upgrade" because I already have a valid Windows 7 Professional license (for the dead computer).

Is there a way to legally upgrade using my Professional license key? I've already installed programs, data, etc on the new machine, so I don't want to reformat and start from scratch.

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2 Answers

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Just run Anytime Upgrade, and when you're prompted for a license key, enter your retail key. It should work just as well.

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Yes, it should be okay; Home Premium to Professional is supported via Anytime Upgrade: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd772579(WS.10).aspx – Synetech Mar 14 '11 at 0:28
Worked perfectly! Thanks. – jalperin Mar 14 '11 at 16:02
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You can also probably just run the upgrade from the DVD. Make sure you run it from inside the existing system, or else it will install a clean installation (making a Windows.old, but still).

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This is actually incorrect. I have tried running an upgrade from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional from the installation disk before, and the installer told me to restart and use anytime upgrade. – nhinkle♦ Mar 14 '11 at 3:55
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