Windows 7 Upgrading Windows 7 to a better version

[JTL9000]

I've got a upgrade related problem that I can't seem to figure out. I'm current running the RC of Windows 7 Home Premium and recently got a release copy of Win 7 Professional via Microsoft's Academic Alliance (which, for some reason, got it about a month before the official release date). Naturally, I want to upgrade Home Premium to Pro, preferably without formatting my entire system. But here's the problem. If I put in the Pro disc and try to install, it says that, to upgrade to a different version of Windows 7, I need to use Windows Anytime Upgrade instead of the disc. So I tried Windows Anytime, entering my Pro product key when it asked for my Anytime Upgrade key, and got a message saying that my key is invalid. I double and triple checked the key but it still didn't work. What am I missing here? I'm sure there's got to be an easy way to upgrade to a better version of 7, but I can't figure it out...

 

[SIW2]

Was there any info at msdnaa about how those student deal keys work ?

 

[JTL9000]

The site is rather barebones, but from what I could gather they should work just like ordinary product keys.

At this point, the only thing I can think of is that Anytime Upgrade may not actually work until after Win 7's official release date (if I use Anytime Upgdade to try and purchase a new key, it says it won't be available until Oct 22). But other than that, I'm out of ideas.

 

[Joe S]

I don't think you can upgrade the RC.
Joe

 

[rock_doctor]

There is no upgrade path from the beta nor RC directly to 7 upgrade. So you will have to back up anything you want to keep and reinstall the original OS then the 7 upgrade. I know how you feel. I am not looking forward to reinstalling vista only to install 7 but that is the way it is.

 

[JTL9000]

Seriously?!? The only reason I even installed the RC in the first place was because Vista Home Premium won't upgrade directly to 7 Pro thanks to the way Microsoft structured their upgrade paths (which, BTW, I can't think of any logical reason for) and I didn't want to have to format my entire system. Isn't there some work-around?

EDIT: Upon further investigation, the error I'm getting when I try to install Pro over the HP RC isn't the "this pre-release version can't be upgraded" error. It just wants me to use Anytime Upgrade. So I'm assuming that's not my problem (though I could be wrong). Also, the RC can be directly upgraded to a later version of 7, it just requires a simple hack, which can be easily Googled.

 

[JTL9000]

Sigh... I decided to just give up and do a new custom install of 7 Pro. At least I can save myself a little time by grabbing some of my stuff out of the WindowsOld folder instead of restoring and reinstalling everything. Though I do think the fact that I had to do this is the first place is pretty dumb.

Thanks anyway, guys.

 

[Clintre]

There is no upgrade path from the beta nor RC directly to 7 upgrade. So you will have to back up anything you want to keep and reinstall the original OS then the 7 upgrade. I know how you feel. I am not looking forward to reinstalling vista only to install 7 but that is the way it is.

Actually that's not true. It can be done with a small tweak to the ISO file. Here's a good post on how easy it is to upgrade from the RC version of Windows 7 to RTM. Did this myself and it works quite well.

Upgrade Windows 7 RC to RTM | FettesPS

Note: If you are using a customized version of a Windows 7 it will probably fail.