Windows 7 Install question

[gumby6371]

As there are a few IT bods on here I'd thought I'd ask here.

I did a Windows 7 starter install on a friends laptop, another friend was going to get me a key from a scrap machine (yes I know the license doesn't cover transfer of keys from machine to machine yadda yadda)

However after doing the install, fully updating the machine, loading AV and lots of other useful software the key finally turned up but it was for Home Premium.

My question - As I don't really want to format and start again can I use the upgrade function on the disc and then use the HP key without having to start from scratch or is there a way of using the anytime upgrade function with an existing key (I believe the anytime upgrade keys are different to OEM ones?)

I know I'm being lazy and if it needs to be done I'll start from scratch but I just don't fancy spending another night staring at the windows update screen if at all possible.

[benczuk]

I have used an MSDN key with the anytime upgrade on win 7 in the past but I suspect like you, that the OEM key wont work. The only way to be sure is to try it and see, it wont break your machine if the key isn't accepted.