Erlis Dhima asks:
Hello everyone,
My friend’s laptop has Windows Vista Home Premium on it and the laptop has the product key printed underneath. Now I was thinking if there is a way to upgrade directly to Windows 8 using this license, or even to upgrade to Windows 7? Do I need to buy anything else to complete the upgrade? Also, if I have this product key, can I do a clean install of Windows 8 using it?
Thanks in advance!
Browser: Firefox 16
System: Windows 7
Tagged: install operating system, upgrade operating system, windows 8, windows tips
System: Windows 7
Tagged: install operating system, upgrade operating system, windows 8, windows tips
17 Answers - Write an Answer
Alan Wade
November 15, 2012You cannot use a Vista or any other key to upgrade to Win 7 or 8 or any other version. You need to buy a new key to register the new operating system.
^ well said and completely correct IMO. I’d add more but you covered it so thought I’d confirm your advice.
November 15, 2012Jan Fritsch
November 15, 2012You need to buy either a Windows 7 respectively Windows 8 full or upgrade license [key] in order to install and use these version on the computer.
Yes, you can perform a “clean” installation of Windows 7/8 even if you have a upgrade license and/or media.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-and-product-key-on-formatted-or-empty-blank-hard-drive/
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/a/clean-install-windows-8-upgrade.htm
Bruce Epper
November 15, 2012Windows product keys are specific to both the version AND the edition. You cannot even use that Vista Home Premium key to install a different edition of Vista. And depending on the manufacturer of the laptop, you may not be able to install it on another OEM system (some HP and DELL Windows OEM products will not install at all on an Acer, Lenovo, or other manufacturer’s laptop – and not just due to driver issues).
Owaseye ILEMOBAYO
November 15, 2012yes you can
ha14
November 15, 2012Great upgrade, great deal
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/buy
Nikhil Chandak
November 15, 2012No u cannot
u need a Windows 8 product key for upgrading to Windows 8
Aniket Singh
November 15, 2012no u need to buy product key of that version u r installing……………
Erlis Dhima
November 15, 2012Thanks everyone for your comment! I really needed an answer for this, and now I got it! Probably buying an upgrade of win 8 would be the best thing to do!
I mark this question solved! (even if I don’t see that link where I can mark it solved anymore!)
You have to buy one for Win 8
November 17, 2012Harry Barnes
November 15, 2012Is this a serious question? of course you can’t! How on earth would microsoft make any money if people could just buy windows once and then get the new versions for free forever.
Aswin Kumar K P
November 16, 2012No.You need to buy a new key.
Sudhir Shingare
November 19, 2012Yes you can upgrade to windows 7 or windows 8.
I have a laptop with vista home premium.
In past i upgraded to windows 7 and i upgraded to windows 8 Pro.
You can either upgrade or do a clean install on your laptop.
One thing you have to keep in mind is Device drivers but most Vista Drivers work fine on windows 7 or 8
Sudhir Shingare
November 19, 2012adding to my last comment. off course you have to buy a upgrade from Microsoft.
Now there is a promotion going on for win 8 which is very cheap.
Viren Sakariya
November 22, 2012You Can’t.
kumar raja
November 27, 2012it is impossible to do like this U can upgrade to windows 8 with low cost before Jan31st
Sathya Murthy
November 30, 2012The product key is unique with respect to a product. so you cannot use the vista home product key with windows 8. You need to have a separate product key for windows 8 to use it.
Shahbaz Amin
December 5, 2012I don’t think so.
I thought you can only upgrade to new Win 8 from Win 7 systesm?
Rahul Prajapati
December 11, 2012it won’t work