Windows 7 Home Premimium Installlation

[cyrilbiker2]

I have been running the trial version of Windows 7 Ultimate downloaded from the Microsoft site. I now have a copy of the official release of Windowns7 Home Premium (full edition not upgrade) I Ran the CD but it is set to do clean install via a full format etc. Is there any way that I can change the product code number on my laptop to that of the one relative to the CD? I am trying to preserve all my settings, programmes etc so that I don't have to go through the routine of reinastalling all my programes. Thanks in advance for any advice offered. Cyrilbiker.

[rojash]

If by the trial version you actually mean the release candidate, then no: you were warned at the time that you downloaded the RC1 that you would need to perform a clean install to replace it with the official release version. However, if you have a spare partition, or external drive, you can use Easy Transfer (saying "This is my old computer" to copy all your settings prior to re-installing. After reinstalling you will need to run the Easy Transfer again (saying "this is my new computer") and pick up the files from where you saved them.
Ensure that you have the latest version of Easy Transfer before starting: http://windows.micros...windows-easy-transfer

So it goes like this:
Boot your existing system
Download and install Easy transfer from link above
Run easy transfer and save your settings to another partition or external drive
Clean install the Full Release of Windows 7
Install any other programs
Run Easy transfer to recover all your original documents and settings.

[cyrilbiker2]

Cheers Rojash, Once again thanks for your advice. Now that you have highlighted the route I need to take it does not seem such a challenge. Will have my roast dinner and take up the task. Thanks again for straight foward easy to understand instructions. Cyrilbiker