Applies to these editions of Windows 7

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Windows Anytime Upgrade: frequently asked questions

Here are answers to some common questions about Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade. For more information, see Upgrade to another edition of Windows 7 by using Windows Anytime Upgrade.

Notes

Notes

  • Windows Anytime Upgrade is unavailable in some editions of Windows 7.

  • Online purchase is available only in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

  • If you have a Windows 7 Professional volume license, you can't use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate.

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How much does each edition of Windows 7 cost?

You'll see pricing information for each edition during the Windows Anytime Upgrade process. You can also go to an electronics store to see prices and to buy a Windows Anytime Upgrade key.

How can I buy a Windows Anytime Upgrade key?

In most places, you can go to an electronics store to buy an upgrade key.

In Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, you also have the option to buy an upgrade key online.

Can I use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade a previous version of Windows to Windows 7?

No. Windows Anytime Upgrade can't upgrade previous versions of Windows to Windows 7. Windows Anytime Upgrade is designed only to upgrade your computer from one edition of Windows 7 to another edition of Windows 7.

Note

Note

  • To use Windows Anytime Upgrade, your computer must be running an activated copy of Windows 7.

Can I upgrade both 32-bit versions and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 with Windows Anytime Upgrade?

Yes, you can use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade a 32-bit version to a 32-bit version or from a 64-bit version to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. However, Windows Anytime Upgrade can't upgrade a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or a 64-bit version to a 32-bit version of Windows 7.

Can I upgrade more than one computer to a different edition of Windows 7 with Windows Anytime Upgrade?

Yes. You'll need to buy an upgrade for each computer on which you want to install a different edition of Windows 7. You can buy additional upgrades through the Windows Anytime Upgrade online purchase process or by getting a Windows Anytime Upgrade key at an electronics store.

How can I find out if my computer will run features in other editions of Windows 7?

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is a program that you can download and run on your computer to find out if you have the necessary hardware to use specific features of a particular edition of Windows 7. To download Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, go to the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor website. The download is about 5 megabytes.

Note

Note

  • Downloading this file over a high-speed Internet connection might take just a few minutes. Downloading this file over a modem or other slower Internet connection might take more time.

Can I return to the edition of Windows 7 my computer was running before the upgrade?

Yes, but you'll need to do a clean installation of your previous edition of Windows 7, which means that your files and program settings won't be preserved.

Note

Note

  • To reinstall your previous edition of Windows 7, you'll need to have your original edition's product key. It's a good idea to keep all of your Windows product keys in case you need to reinstall Windows.

Article ID: MSW700006