Windows 7 Premium to Windows 7 Pro

I get free versions of Windows from Dreamspark and I have my old personally bought version of Windows 7 Premium installed on my PC. I would really like to install 7 Pro but don't want to go through the hassle of reinstalling things, unfortunately I only get full versions, no upgrade keys (I know sounds awful... how dare they give free stuff away, but not other free stuff too!). Besides why make my current discs and key useless by upgrading when I can sell it on for a good price? :)

I tried changing my key, but it just complained they were different versions. Is there a cheats way of getting round things or do I really need to install Windows from scratch?

Cheat = bad ;)

I'd be looking for a legal way of doing it rather than cheating which could be construed wrongly if yer not careful

You should be able to use Anytime Upgrade to go from Home Premium to Professional.

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Originally Posted by Splash

You should be able to use Anytime Upgrade to go from Home Premium to Professional.

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This and I have done it myself and know it works.

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Originally Posted by Splash

You should be able to use Anytime Upgrade to go from Home Premium to Professional.

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Yes, but won't that make my Windows 7 Premium key useless as upgrading normally ties the old key with the new?

My Windows 7 Premium is the FULL retail version with both 32bit and 64bit discs. I can still sell it on ebay for about £70 so it would be crazy to turn it into coasters.

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Originally Posted by grayg1

Yes, but won't that make my Windows 7 Premium key useless as upgrading normally ties the old key with the new?

My Windows 7 Premium is the FULL retail version with both 32bit and 64bit discs. I can still sell it on ebay for about £70 so it would be crazy to turn it into coasters.

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Yep, but in what way are you not asking to upgrade?

If I read it right, the question is essentially asking to shift licenses from a retail license to the one provided by MS Dreamspark, so that he can sell his retail license and use the Pro version from Dreamspark instead. Together with a question of going from an installed premium to pro version using Dreamspark.

I don't know the ins and outs of that kind of license swap, but I think a reinstall is quite likely if the Dreamspark version is full install only. Perhaps you might be able to deauthorise your retail version and then reauthorise with the Dreamspark, and then perform an anytime upgrade.

Often the cheapest way to upgrade is to get the latest version of Windows. Windows 8 came out at just £49 upgrade. If you really need Pro versions, you can Anytime Upgrade from within Windows itself, but the difference is only seen when using on networks really.

I have gone from win 7 pro 32bit to enterprise by modifying a couple of keys in the reg and then doing an upgrade.

In the end I got a new SSD so just installed Win 7 Pro from scratch