Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade to Windows 7 Professional 64Bit - Failed

How did you attempt the upgrade, using Anytime Upgrade or an in place upgrade using the Windows 7 Professional disc?

Try using Anytime Upgrade if you didn't:

If the license for Windows 7 Professional you have access to is either a retail upgrade or full version, you can use the product key and Anytime Upgrade to move from Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional. First, make sure the edition of Windows 7 you are upgrading from is already activated (if its not you will run into complications and you might have start all over by doing a clean install). Click Start, type Anytime Upgrade, click the option to enter a key, enter the Windows 7 Professional key when requested, click Next, wait while the key is verified, accept the license agreement, click upgrade, wait while the software upgrades, (it might take 10 minutes or more depending on if updates are needed), your computer will automatically restart, after restarting, Windows 7 will notify you its updating the computer, the computer will restart one more time automatically and the upgrade will be completed, a windows will pop up notifying the upgrade was successful and your computer is ready to use, click close, you should be upgraded to Windows 7 Professional your files, programs and settings preserved.

Troubleshooting Windows Anytime Upgrades:

Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade fails:

If your get the following:  Error: Windows Anytime Upgrade was not successful
 This issue can occur if Windows 7 SP1 has been downloaded by Windows Update but has not been installed yet.
 See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2660811

 =============== Other reasons and possible fixes ====================

Windows Anytime Upgrade Fails with error:
 "anytime upgrade failed. Go online to resolve the issue"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2658652

If Anytime Upgrade still fails:

Shutdown and start your computer again.

Make sure the latest Windows Updates have been installed.

Download the hotfix containing a tool called CheckSUR, this tool will look into the servicing and package folders and fix any corrupted data the tool is listed under kb947821 it can be found at the following link http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=947821

If Anytime Upgrade still fails, disable User Account Control:

1. Go to User Accounts in Control Panel

2. Change User Account Control Settings

3. Pull the Slider down to lowest level possible

4. Reboot the PC

5. Go through the "Anytime Upgrade" as normal

Try the following:

1. Disable any security software before attempting to upgrade

2. Make sure your computer is updated (devices and applications)

3. Disconnect any external devices before installing.

4. Check your hard disk for any errors:

Click Start

Type: CMD, from the results, right click CMD

Click 'Run as Administrator'

At the Command Prompt, type: chkdsk /r /f

When you restart your system, your computer will be scanned for errors and attempts will be made to correct them.

1. Click Start, type msconfig in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

User Account Control permission

If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.

3. Under Selective Startup, click to clear the Load Startup Items check box.

4. Click the Services tab, click to select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.

5. Click OK.

6. When you are prompted, click Restart.

7. After the computer starts, check whether the problem is resolved.

Also run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/upgrade-advisor.aspx

Who should I contact if I'm having trouble installing and / or activating my Product Key Card?

Please contact customer support at: www.windows7.com/getkeysupport.

If all the above fails, install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 then attempt the Anytime Upgrade again:

Learn how to install Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/learn-how-to-install-windows-7-service-pack-1-sp1

If your key is invalid and you need to change the keys you may have to open regedit and deleting the ProductKey value in the following registry key first:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsAnytimeUpgrade

I would first use the upgrade advisor. It produces a report that may indicate a problem  https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/download/details.aspx?id=20

I would then use the upgrade assistant http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/upgrade-assistant-download-online-faq

Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade fails:

If your get the following:  Error: Windows Anytime Upgrade was not successful
This issue can occur if Windows 7 SP1 has been downloaded by Windows Update but has not been installed yet.
See: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2660811

=============== Other reasons and possible fixes ====================

Windows Anytime Upgrade Fails with error:
"anytime upgrade failed. Go online to resolve the issue"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2658652

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A) If Anytime Upgrade fails: Run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/upgrade-advisor.aspx

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B) If Internet Explorer is not set as your default web browser,
you need make it so and then try the Anytime Upgrade.

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One person's solution was either in unhooking the Internet,
or removing SP1 - or a combination of both. Then re-installing SP1
Save this method for a last resort.

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C) Did you get a PIN number with the "Anytime Upgrade", if so enter the pin number here to get a product key: https://windows.getmicrosoftkey.com/

Support for your product key: https://windows.getmicrosoftkey.com/Home/Support

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D) Shutdown and start your computer again.

1) Run the System Readyness tool - Method #2 (Download and run the tool: "Checksur.exe")
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821
(System resources, such as file data, registry data, and even in-memory data, can develop inconsistencies during the lifetime of the operating system. The System Update Readiness Tool tries to resolve these inconsistencies.)

2) Disable any security software before attempting to upgrade

3) Disconnect any unneccesarry external devices.

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E) If Anytime Upgrade still fails, disable User Account Control:

1. Go to User Accounts in Control Panel

2. Change User Account Control Settings

3. Pull the Slider down to lowest level possible

4. Reboot the computer

5. Try the "Anytime Upgrade" process again

To start the upgrade process:
Click Start/Search and enter the words:   Anytime upgrade
Next in the list of displayed results, click on 'Windows Anytime Upgrade'.
Then follow the anytime upgrade screen prompts.
Basically all you need to do is enter the Windows 7 upgrade product key.

Alternate Method:
Start/Control Panel/Small icons option (located in upper right)/Click on the 'Windows Anytime Upgrade' icon.

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F) If it still continues to fail, then try the following 3 Methods:

Method #1
1) Run Chkdsk and see if it helps.
Click Start / Type: CMD, and right click on  'CMD' and select 'Run as Administrator'
At the Command Prompt, type: chkdsk  /f  /r
Restart your system, your computer's hard drive will be scanned for errors and attempts will be made to correct them.

2) Run Memory Diagnostics to check for issues with the system hardware. Type Memory in start search and hit Enter to open Open Memory Diagnostics Tool. Click Restart Now and Check Problems. Your computer will restart  & the diagnostic program will start. Please note any reported errors.

Method #2
1. Click Start, enter: "msconfig" (without the quotes) in box, and then press the 'ENTER' key.

User Account Control permissions: If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup.

3. Under 'Selective Startup', click to clear the 'Load Startup Items' check box.

4. Click the 'Services' tab, click to select the 'Hide All Microsoft Services check box', and then click Disable All.

5. Click 'OK'.

6. When you are prompted, click 'Restart'.

7. After the computer restarts, check whether the problem is resolved.

Method #3
If your key is invalid and you need to change the keys you may have to open regedit and deleting the ProductKey value in the following registry key first:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsAnytimeUpgrade

----------------  Anytime Upgrade may not work for all version of Windows  ---------------------

Note: Retail "Full" or "Upgrade" product keys will work when using the Anytime Upgrade feature.
The Anytime Upgrade "May"  not work (check with the computer manufacture's support team) for users who have OEM and or System Builders product Keys, this also applies to VL (Volume License), MSDN-Academic Alliance (MSDNAA)/ DreamSpark or Academic product Keys which will not work / support the  Anytime Upgrade option. KMS users should consult with your administrator prior to attempting to perform an Anytime Upgrade.

J W Stuart: http://www.pagestart.com

Still having problems - get to about 97% complete in upgrading and then using Anytime Upgrade it fails and "reverts" back to my Windows 7 Home Premium edition.

Will try the other suggestions to see if they resolve my issue.

Charles Patridge