Installing Windows 7 HP using a Windows 7 U Disc

[claec]

Quick question for anyone: I am currently running Windows 7 HP 64-bit. I need to do a clean reinstall, but don't have a HP disc. I do however, have a W7 Ultimate disc. Can I reinstall HP using that disc? I have a HP key code.

 

[mbreslin1954]

There is no such thing as "Windows 7 HP 64-bit". That is NOT a version of Windows 7. You most likely have either Windows 7 Home Premium or Windows 7 Professional. I would bet you have Windows 7 Home Premium.

Your HP Windows license key will not activate Windows 7 Ultimate if you install it, not if the key is for Home Premium. Ultimate costs more, they're not going to let you in effect upgrade your version of Windows with the key for the cheaper version.

You can download an ISO of your version of Windows from digital river and burn it to a DVD, then use that to re-install Windows. Just make sure you download the right version, either Home Premium 64-bit or Professional 64-bit.

 

[claec]

Sorry, I suppose I should have said "Home Premium", I just tend to always abbreviate it as HP. I also was not referring to activating W7 Ultimate, I was just wondering if I could use that disc as an install disc for W7 Home Premium. I had read somewhere that all the discs are the same and that MS detects what version to install based on your key code. Based on your response, I assume that is incorrect?

 

[joebakb]

Sorry, I suppose I should have said "Home Premium", I just tend to always abbreviate it as HP. I also was not referring to activating W7 Ultimate, I was just wondering if I could use that disc as an install disc for W7 Home Premium. I had read somewhere that all the discs are the same and that MS detects what version to install based on your key code. Based on your response, I assume that is incorrect?

Some discs will do that, yes, if you have a greater version which basically means that your ultimate disc may work. However, if you have an OA key you may have some trouble as it registers with some BIOS code. I'm not aware if you need an OEM disc or if you simply need to call microsoft to activate it as I've never really had to resolve that one.

 

[mbreslin1954]

You might be right on that, I don't really know for certain. Hopefully someone else will chime in who knows the answer. However, I have a number of Windows 7 disk images (ISOs) downloaded from Microsoft's TechNet site, and I have different images or files for the different versions of Windows 7. The files for Windows 7 Starter, Basic, Home Premium, Pro, and Ultimate are each different files, and if you could install all versions from the same disk, then why does Microsoft make different ISO disk images for each available for download (if you have a TecnNet subscription)? This seems to imply that each version has its own disk.

 

[claec]

I'll try it with the ultimate DVD first, and if it doesn't work I'll create a USB ISO.