Change win7 pro to ultimate without a format/reinstall

[jingo500]

Hi fellow tech-heads
Just want to know if I can "upgrade" my win7 pro to ultimate, WITHOUT formatting, as in installing/overwriting the core components that make the OS change, without losing all my games/program installs, much like how you could when upgrading to XP from 98/Millenium.
Right now it's winblows 7 pro 64 bit, but I used Ultimate 64 bit in the past, which I kinda miss.
The mighty Google keeps showing links to downgrade/ switch from 64 bit to 32(unwanted), but no links to show if anybody's done a tier change kind of thing.
Anybody know if this is possible? I don't want to waste days setting this rig back up to speed.
TIA

Cheers from NZ, btw 😉
Jingo

 

[COLGeek]

You can upgrade from Pro to Ultimate by performing an in-place upgrade. Start Win 7 Pro, insert the Win 7 Ultimate DVD/USB drive and start the setup. Perform an upgrade. Previous settings will be retained.....However, there is not a good reason to do this. You really won't gain anything from such an upgrade.

By the way, if you want to change from any 32-bit version of Windows to any 64-bit version of Windows (or vice versa), that change requires a full, clean install and can't be performed via an upgrade.