(Updated!) Upgrading to Windows 7 Professional from Windows Home editions

Wait...  Autumn...  since when?  I have been able to use TechSoup issued licensing in the past to verify for Charity resellers that I have an existing charity license and thus do not need to go through an approval process?  Why would Microsoft change their policy in regards to TechSoup and move them from the Charity program over into the regular Open License program?  That just makes them need to jump through more hoops when it comes time to order Charity licenses.  Isn't that one of the reasons they have TechSoup in the first place, to remove the burden of proof of non-profit from their resellers?

jmarie, I'm not going to bother after your attempt and Autumn's explanation.  *sigh* Microsoft...  *sigh* why did you DO that???

Hey Chris,

  I am not sure when - or if - the licensing has changed. Since the release of Windows 7 and the revamp of the Volume Licensing Service Center last year we've been digging deeper into the offers and licensing information - it just may not have been much of an issue before.  I can also confirm that I've spoken to VLSC representatives who have stated that the licenses provided through TechSoup are Open License and not a Charity License.

Autumn

 Hello autumn!

It sounds like the Licensing has changed. I vaguely remember a conversation I had with Microsoft years ago verifying that under the TechSoup charity license you could actually upgrade Windows 95 to XP which I don’t think was  allowed under standard volume licensing. But that was a long time ago and a lot has changed since then.

as far as I can remember, MS license always be "open charity" to me (at least in the last 5 yrs).

Jmarie: before VISTA, XP upgrade license from Techsoup allow to upgrade from XP home to Pro. That was change when Vista came out.

I think we need to find out what is the different in term of qualification, between "Charity Open" and "Acadamic & Charity" . The latter is way much better because Windows 7 pro upgrade can be use on home edition. That saving of about $100 for new computer in term of OEM license of Home VS. Pro.

jmarie

So far I’ve tried to upgrade using the downloaded media from the Volume Licensing center and had no luck. I get a message saying to use Anytime Upgrade. I then entered my TechSoup Windows 7 Key into the Anytime Upgrade but it wouldn’t accept it.

Microsoft’s About Licensing page states “You must remove the existing qualifying OS from the device in order to deploy the Volume Licensing upgrade license, unless the PC is covered by Microsoft Software Assurance.” So it seems like you can’t do an upgrade without doing a clean install of the upgraded media. I’m not exactly sure why they even offer the upgrade media but I bet you could use it to upgrade a Vista business product to a Windows 7 business product. Maybe it only works if you have SA on the PC.
 

Thank You for your reply shipley.c. Let me know if you find out anything different.

It's the way MS identify group of license I guess.  It's like OEM, Retail, VL keys are not interchangeable.  You will need to have matching media for the right key. 

WOW -

After reading those 4 pages I am more confused now than before.....LOL

SO I have several machines that I have purchased with XP or Vista HOME.  I want to upgrade them to a PRO or Business OS of vista or W7 I don't care which but I need them to be either a PRO or Business OS so I can make use of Windows Server 2008 R2 software....  

SO how can I do this???

Thanks!

I found upgrading is not the more the better, sometime too frequent upgrading often makes your PC get freezing, I use tuneup360 to help me solve this problem!!!

Hi there,

 The simple answer is this: Windows 7 licenses offered through TechSoup cannot be used to upgrade any home editions of Windows Operating systems. In the first post in this thread there are some alternatives listed but these are options outside of TechSoup.

Autumn

I'm trying to upgrade to window 7 from Vista. However my question is Do I need the windows home version or can I use the professional  version?

I will have to refer you to the reply I just gave to another person. If you currently have a Home edition operating system, you will not be able use the licenses available through TechSoup to upgrade since they are only for Business and Professional product lines.

Autumn

Thanks for the reply autumnt.

I have 2 more questions I hope you can help me with....

1.  Why can't home editions be upgraded to pro?  If one tries will the software not work or is it more a licenses agreement with microsoft.

2.  A year or so ago I purchased several referbished desktops from techsoup.  All have MS xp pro.  Can those be upgraded to W7 pro?  The version techsoup is selling.

Thanks again.

Todd,

 Thanks for your patience during our holiday break! We are now back and I'm happy to answer your questions. First, it is the licensing agreement with Microsoft that does not allow an upgrade from Home editions to Professional editions (the specific licensing available through TechSoup: Open Licensing.) Secondly, you can upgrade any professional edition (XP include) though this will require a clean installation - or you can request the Vista Business product and do a direct upgrade using that disk and then, through the VLSC website, you can upgrade the Vista license to Windows 7 and request a disk or download the upgrade files.

I hope this information helps. Let us know if you have additional questions.

Autumn

Hey Autumnt,

I’ve been doing some research and according to what you’re saying it sounds like we should receive a Commercial/ Standard Open License Agreement for Microsoft products we purchase from Techsoup, but this is not the case. The actual agreement, we are bound to accept, is a Charity Open License Agreement , which is the same exact license agreement you get when you purchase Microsoft Charity licenses from a Charity reseller. According to Microsoft’s Product List, referenced from Qualifying System License in the Charity Open License Agreement, Charity Open Licenses are allowed to upgrade from Windows 7 Home to Windows 7 Professional.

Are your Microsoft contacts aware that this is the license agreement we receive when we purchase from Techsoup?

Hi jmarie,

 We have confirmation from Microsoft that the agreement is an Open License agreement and this information is provided in the fulfillment emails as well as the confirmation emails from Microsoft when requesting a donation through TechSoup. If your license agreement states "Charity Open License" could you perhaps get a screenshot for me? Let me know if you are able to do so and I'll contact you directly.

Autumn

Hey Autumn,

I have the screen shot for you.

The only other reference to this agreement, that I know of, is the License Agreement Addendum from the Fulfillment email.

The Addendum addresses changes to the following terms:

• Eligible charitable organization

• Restrictions on use

• Transferring Licenses

I didn’t see anything in the email or Addendum changing the type of open license.