Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade – Unlocking more benefits

Today we take a look at the improved Windows Anytime Upgrade feature in Windows 7, first introduced in Vista. The Windows Team did an excellent job with the user experience. I attempted it once under Vista when I tried to do Anytime Upgrade from Vista Home Basic to Business on my sister in laws notebook, but discovered this was not supported. I got an opportunity to take it for a spin under Windows 7 to see if was improved and I must say I am very impressed and I know you will be too if the need arises.

The amazing thing about Anytime Upgrade is how quick and simple the process is, Microsoft estimates at least 10 minutes in comparison to Vista’s 30 minute or more process. Based on my trial, it was at least 7 minutes, some persons have even reported at least 5 mins for Anytime Upgrade from Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate.

If you are running supported SKU’s such as Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium or even Professional, you will have the option of upgrading to a higher SKU. Microsoft has made each of the SKU’s a subset of features, so a user can do an Anytime Upgrade from Windows 7 Home Premium to Professional, unlike Vista which only allowed Anytime Upgrades from certain SKU’s:

Vista Home Basic – Home Premium or Ultimate
Vista Business – Ultimate

All that has changed, if you want to move from Home Premium to Professional, you will have that option. No need to reinstall your applications or backup your personal data.

Just like Windows Vista, you can launch the Anytime Upgrade wizard from the Start menu > All Programs group or from within the Control Panel. The wizard provides two methods to unlocking a higher SKU, you can go online, purchase a license or if you already have a key, just enter it. This is major positive for customers who might not have a credit card or Internet Access.

Enter your product key

Verifying product key

Accept License Agreement

During the Anytime Upgrade Process, your computer will be restarted.

10 minutes? Try 7!

And there you have it, a smooth upgrade, no issues.

Pricing:

Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade Pricing List for USA

    * Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Home Premium: $79.99
    * Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Professional: $114.99
    * Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Ultimate: $164.99
    * Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional: $89.99
    * Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Ultimate: $139.99
    * Windows 7 Professional to Windows 7 Ultimate: $129.99

Microsoft has made this such a convenient procedure, no need for physical media, no need to go online, just enter your key and forget about it. What’s most impressive is how quick the process is.

Resources:

Windows Anytime Upgrade: Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate

Tags: Anytime Upgrade, Home Premium, Microsoft, Operating Systems, Professional, Upgrade, Vista, windows, Windows 7

Comments

isri

Hello

can anyone help me please, i tried to upgrade my win 7 professional edition with the ultimate edition.

i have an original dvd + key for both win7 pro and win7 ultimate
but when you try to install the ultimate over the pro (that currently installed on my pc)
with the installation wizard, it say's that upgrading the same windows with a different edition is done by the Anytime upgrade utility.
the installation told me to use the Anytime Upgrade tool.
I've searched the whole computer for this tool, and didn't find a thing!
not in the start up menu not in the control panel menu and not even when i searched the windows drive (c:\)

i opened the help menu and when i chose, upgrade using the anytime upgrade, it gave me a link to the program
when i click on this link, it does nothing!

may be it doesn't turned on in the windows applications in the control panel area

i really don't know what to do and i really don't want to reinstall the whole operation system again!

thanx isri

Paul Trebilcock

You should be able to find any program by clicking the start orb then type program or file name in the search box? But even if this works for you I am unsure if a full key for ultimate will work as an upgrade? Sorry I'm nor professional enough to give a more positive answer but give it a try. Hope it helps. Paul

isri i

I tried to search it, but it doesn't exist...
is there a way to download that feature?

Shiro

%windir%\system32\WindowsAnytimeUpgradeUI.exe

If you don't have that file... well, you are screwed.
Your pro version may be some light install or something, not the full pro version.

Tim

Be aware that if you choose to purchase the upgrade through the Microsoft Store, you WILL NOT get the upgrade key emailed to you for several hours. The upgrade IS NOT immediate, as their web site falsely tells you that it is. If you want to upgrade immediately, purchase the upgrade at your local retailer and use the key that comes with the purchase.