Question about Windows 7/Dell

If I have Windows 7 Home Premium, can I install Windows 7 Ultimate over it or do I need to uninstall the basic version first?

PS: Does anyone know if changing the Windows Operating system changes the dell warranty service? I've heard from one of my friends that had issues with his M15x and Dell wouldn't replace or fix it until it had the original operating system on it. Anyone have any ideas?

 

As long as you are going from 32-bit Home Premium to 32-Bit Ultimate OR 64-Bit Premium to 64-Bit Ultimate you can use the Windows Anytime Upgrade feature without having to uninstall your previous OS:

In Windows 7 Home Premium, type Anytime Upgrade in the Search programs and files box in the Start menu and click on the Windows Anytime Upgrade icon. From there, you can enter your retail (Full or Upgrade) Windows 7 Professional/Ultimate product key and perform a simple upgrade. All programs and files will stay on the computer, no disk is needed and it takes about 10 minutes.

 

Be ultra careful with Marvie100's advice. I tried to install Windows 7 Professional over an existing Windows 7 Home Edition using Windows Anytime Upgrade and ran into BIG issues.

My copy of Windows 7 Professional was purchased from Microsoft's student program. It was fulfilled by Digital River and they shipped me a upgrade copy. I loaded up Windows Anytime Upgrade, entered the CD-Key and it converted my operating system to Professional without any problems.

A month later, Windows 7 alerted me that my copy of Windows 7 would be placed into reduced functionality mode. The CD-key I used was 100% legal and valid but would not activate! The error I received suggested I can only ' upgrade' with my key not perform a ' clean' installation. I didn't do a clean install, only the Windows Anytime Upgrade. Yet, it refused to accept the activation.

If you think Dell support is bad you should try Microsoft. They are completely useless and transfered me all over the place for two hours. Finally a supervisor told me reinstalling Windows was the only solution. Even though in theory there should be no problem and there is nothing wrong with my CD-key. This inconvenience left me reinstalling everything and put me back to where I started... Windows 7 Home Edition.

I know this was long winded but be very careful using a retail/VLK with Windows Anytime Upgrade. Let me know if it works for you should you decide to do it though!

 

ALWAYS do a fresh install of an OS that you are upgrading... the 'upgare' never quite works as clean and smooth as a fresh install...

 

As I understand it (from the initial Vista---> W7 upgrade on 17xR1), Dell will only support the system with the OS it shipped with. Meaning, if you install another OS/OS version and call support for assistance, they will not troubleshoot with you unless you reinstall the OS the system shipped with. Sucks, I know - but its the way it is.