Because the code for premium editions is already local to the file system, executing an Anytime Upgrade is swift, generally taking between . Step 1: Initialize the WAU Wizard Open the Start Menu . Type Windows Anytime Upgrade into the search bar. Click the matching utility from the list. Step 2: Input Your Key Select the option titled Enter an upgrade key .
For power users, finding a genuine, unused Anytime Upgrade key for $30 to jump from Home Premium to Ultimate was a thrill. For Microsoft, it was a logistical headache of piracy and key management. windows 7 anytime upgrade key
A Windows Anytime Upgrade key is a 25-character alphanumeric code used to unlock a higher edition of Windows 7. Unlike a standard installation key, which is used during a clean install of the OS, an Anytime Upgrade key is applied to an already running, activated version of Windows 7. Because the code for premium editions is already
The key had to match the specific upgrade path. For example: Click the matching utility from the list
Microsoft fought back by blacklisting keys via Windows Update. If you used a known pirated Anytime Upgrade key, your "upgrade" would revert after 30 days, or your wallpaper would turn solid black (the infamous "Windows is not genuine" black screen of death).