This is purely a question about installing the NON-PRO version of 8/8.1 over the Pro version of 7, because the computer The question I'm asking is about installing from an 8.1 DVD (but not 8.1 Pro) over Windows 7 Pro. It's looking like I won't be able to do that. To avoid needing to reconfigure all my settings and reinstall the dozens of applications I use with Windows 7. I'm still not sure about my files (no one has responded with any details about what happens when updating Windows 7 Pro with Windows 8/8.1 that is not Pro), but those are the easiest part to back up, so I don't really care about that.
Need to be a clean install (and therefore NOT an upgrade), and all programs and settings wil be lost.
So I think I still don't have an answer to my original question, but this would seem to indicate that answer is: No it's not possible to pay to update the installer at initial install time, and therefore if upgrading Windows 7 Pro, with Windows 8.1, it will Windows 8 and want to get a different edition that has more features. Windows 8 if you already have Windows 8.1 or You can only use Add features to Windows 8.1 or Add features to No, you can't upgrade previous versions of Windows to Windows 8.1 or
After the upgrade completed, if you decided you then needed Windows 8.1 Proįeatures, you could use the embedded “Add Features to Windows 8.1” option and get the Windows 8.1 Pro Pack for the cost of $99.99 as is stated onįinally, if you purchased a full install of Windows 8.1, and not an upgrade license, you will be able to perform a clean install per your most recent addition to this thread but, yes, you will need to reinstall all applications and reconfigure your settings Now, if you were on Windows 7 Home Premium, and attempted to install your Windows 8.1 (not pro) upgrade install, the product key would be accepted and the upgrade would proceed. When you insert the upgrade disk, and type in your product key, you will receive an error stating the ineligible license which will subsequently not let Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 requires the same version or SKU, you will not be able to perform the upgrade. While I realize that is not your question, it is part of the answer.
I realize this thread is a bit older now but I wanted to chime in here with a full response.Īs Thomas Prohel stated, upgrading from Windows 7 Pro to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 (not pro) is not supported per the TechNet article he referenced.