Often users who do not have the skills necessary to independently install, update or configure the operating system, buy a computer or laptop with a specific version of the OS already installed by the manufacturer of the gadget. True, almost always the installed OS is a stripped down version of Windows 7 - Initial, Home Basic or Home Premium. The functionality of this edition is limited, and it may not always be enough for comfortable work. In this case, to change the current release to a more functional one, you can use a special utility called Window anytime upgrade (WAU).
Determining the current edition of Windows
The very first step should be to determine the version of the operating system installed on the PC, its version and bit depth, as well as the capabilities that this edition provides to the user. To do this, go to "System Properties" by right-clicking on the desktop shortcut "My Computer" and selecting the "Properties" menu item. Here you can see the type of installed OS, its version and other necessary data. It is proposed to familiarize yourself with the functionality of each edition on the official Microsoft website in a special section that tells in detail about existing versions of Windows.
Window anytime upgrade utility limitations
Those who decided to use the utility for expanding the functionality of the WAU OS should be aware that it has several significant limitations:
- using the program you can update the operating system edition only within the same bit capacity: 32-bit to 32-bit, and 64-bit to 64-bit, respectively;
- initially the utility does not work in the Maximum and Corporate editions of Windows 7 (however, there is a way to get around this limitation, which can be found below);
- The utility is designed to perform updates only between releases of Windows, and with its help it is impossible to update from previous versions of the OS.
Windows editions can be conditionally divided into levels according to the available functionality in each of them:
- 1st level: Beginner, or Home Basic.
- Level 2: Home Advanced.
- Level 3: Professional.
- 4th level: Maximum.
The increase is made by increasing the functionality. Thus, for example, the Initial Edition can be updated to any of the subsequent, more functional, and Professional - only to the Maximum.
It is also worth considering that during the update process, only the addition of additional functions takes place, which is unlikely to affect the speed of the PC, and the expanded edition will not increase its speed.
Windows 7 anytime upgrade: getting new OS features
Before using the utility, you need to make sure that the computer contains all the necessary updates from Windows Update, as well as the latest "Service Pack".
WAU Utility will require a stable Internet connection, as well as the presence of the Window anytime upgrade key purchased through a retail store.
To start the program, you need to go to "System Properties" through the control panel or the context menu of the "My Computer" icon and select "Get access to additional features by installing a new release of Windows 7". Next, the system will ask you to enter the WAU key, offer to familiarize yourself with the terms of the license agreement and display the "Update" button, which you should click on. The update process may take up to half an hour, during which the OS will reboot several times. As a result, the required edition of Windows 7 will be installed on the computer.
Downgrade Windows 7
One of the main reasons for downgrading may be the transition from a pirated "professional" edition to a licensed one. It may be more truncated, but during the transition, user settings and updates are not lost. Windows anytime upgrade allows you to do this, but you will need to perform some additional steps, as the installation program checks the edition before updating.
In order for the utility to successfully pass the compatibility check, you must use the Registry Editor to change the value of the installed OS version.
In the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE section, go to the SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion path and change the EditionID parameter to the appropriate installation: Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise.
Next, using the Window anytime upgrade utility, select the “Update. Change Windows 7 Edition. ” After the update process is completed, a new version of the operating system will be installed on the PC with all the applications and settings of the previous saved.