Downgrade from windows 7 ultimate to home

Question

I recently bought a laptop and unknowingly that the lisance would run out (30day trail) and I dont have the money to buy the full ultimate addition and unable to return to seller I am wondering if i could just buy a windows 7 home now that the trail has
run out?

Answer 1

Which edition is listed on the COA sticker at the bottom of the laptop?
If its licensed for Windows 7, then do the following:
Download the corresponding edition of Windows 7 you have a license for from the following link. You can identify the edition on COA sticker attached to your machine, with at bottom or battery compartment (laptop) or top/side if its a desktop computer.
COA Certificate of Authenticity:
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa
What is the Windows Certificate of Authenticity?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Windows-Certificate-of-Authenticity
Windows 7 (English) with Service Pack 1
Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) – 32 bit
Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) – 64 bit
Windows 7 Professional (x86) – 32 bit
Windows 7 Professional (x64) – 64 bit
Windows 7 Ultimate (x86)* – 32 bit
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)* – 64 bit
32 vs 64 bit
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions
Is my PC running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/find-out-32-or-64-bit
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Installing-and-reinstalling-Windows-7
ImgBurn - In addtion to supporting the creation of CD's from .ISO files,
it supports a wide range of other image file formats, and it's free.
(BIN, CUE, DI, DVD, GI, IMG, MDS, NRG, PDI and ISO)
http://www.imgburn.com/
http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/G/Burning+ISO+Images+with+ImgBurn
Note: Always use the slowest burn speed (4x or 2x) if offered a choice.
Once you have installed it, all you need to do is change the product key located on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Lets take a look at how to do that.
Click Start, right click Computer
Click Properties
Scroll down to Windows activation.
You will notice it displays a time until Activation but be completed. Also the Product ID indicates it is using a default key, this is only for the 30 day grace period allowed until you must activate Windows 7.
Click the link, Change product key
Enter the product key located on the COA sticker located at the bottom or (sometimes in the battery compartment of your laptop), you can also find it at the top or side if its a Desktop computer.  It looks something like the following:
Proceed to enter the product key and click Next
Wait while Windows attempts to activate.
If all goes well, within a minute, you should see this screen.
You can further confirm Windows 7 is activated by checking the Windows Activation status:
Notice Windows 7 now displays OEM within the Product ID to indicate the product channel it is licensed from. Please note, this also works with Windows Vista if you are still running that version.
If you are unable to activate Windows 7 using the Change product key method, you can try phone activation and speak with a call agent who will assist with reactivating Windows 7:
How to activate Windows 7 manually (activate by phone)
1) Click Start, and in the Search box type:   slui.exe  4
2) Next press the ‘ENTER’ key
3) Select your ‘Country’ from the list.
4) Choose the ‘Phone Activation’ option.
5) Stay on the phone (do not select/press any options) and wait for a person to help you with activation.
6) Explain your problem clearly to the support person.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929/en-us
Resources:
COA Certificate of Authenticity:
http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/content.aspx?pg=coa
What is the Windows Certificate of Authenticity?
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-is-the-Windows-Certificate-of-Authenticity
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