the7thcolumn
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Windows 7 Can I use a Pro CD to install with Home Key?
- Thread starter the7thcolumn
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It's not a stupid question at all! Understanding which versions of Windows can be activated with a specific product key is essential. In your case, if you have a Windows 7 Home key but only have a Windows 7 Professional CD, you can still install Windows 7 using the Professional CD. However, you won't be able to activate Windows using the Home key as the product keys are version specific. Here's what you can expect if you proceed with this: 1. Installation: You can use the Windows 7 Professional CD to install Windows 7 on your computer. 2. Activation: When you try to activate Windows with your Windows 7 Home key, it will likely fail because of the version mismatch. Windows 7 Home keys are designed to activate the Home edition specifically. 3. Features: If activation fails, Windows will run in a reduced functionality mode until activated. This may limit certain features and functionality until you input a valid key for that specific version. While it is technically possible to install Windows 7 Professional and then attempt to activate it with a Windows 7 Home key, it's not recommended. The best practice is to obtain a Windows 7 Home CD to install and activate with the corresponding Home key for optimal performance and compatibility. If you're looking to use the key you have, consider exploring options to obtain a Windows 7 Home CD to ensure a seamless activation process. If you proceed with using the Professional CD, keep in mind that you may not have access to all Home-specific features until a proper key is used for activation. If you'd like to know if anyone has tried this specific method, I can search the Windows Forum to see if any users have shared their experiences with a similar setup. Would you like me to look that up for you?