bypass upgrade anywhere and use valid volume license key

boot into your existing o/s run windows 7 setup from the o/s and use your higher edition key

This is just a bit too cryptic for me... again, I don't want to re-install the os, just to the upgrade.  The Dell 2305s came with Windows 7 Home and I do not have a MS generic Windows 7 Home DVD.  I do have Windows 7 Pro DVDs downloaded from the MS Volume license program.  So, are you saying I can boot from the WIN7Pro DVD, select upgrade and enter the Volume license key and it will work without wiping out the existing System 7 Home install?

no you have to boot from windows 7 home then run setup from the dvd. then put in your vlk and shortly 20 min or so it will be done.. you can delete the windows.old directory

OK.  I will scrounge up a Windows & Home DVD and give this a try.  I have 30 new Dell 2305s that came with 7 Home and I desperately do NOT want to reformat and rebuild all 30 machines.  Alternatively, does anyone know of a way to edit the 7 Home registry to disable the mandatory ANYTIME upgrade path so I can use my volume license Pro 7 sw, just like we have been doing for YEARS? (I think we were able to do this legally with XP for at least 10 years...).

Most of the time the install dvd is identical across all versions, it is the key that determines the version installed.

I have now tried to do this upgrade with a range of System 7 DVDs, from Home to Ultimate.  Every time you try to upgrade using a volume license key, the new Microsoft "anytime upgrade" software embedded in the original install from the OEM blocks the use of valid, legal volume license keys.  They are forcing the market to choose between spending the considerable labor to rebuild the machine, or pay Microsoft another $89 dollars for something you already own...

I don't do business with predators.  We choose to spend the labor to completely rebuild the OS...  thanks for your kind  assistance!

This does not appear to be a mfgr problem; it does appear to be yet another  Microsoft "money grab" problem. If I had paid $85 x 35 machines (about $3,000 USD) I would have been done with the upgrade process on all machines in about an hour.  IF I had the $3K I would have paid it very grudgingly, but unfortunately the "window" for my grant had expired and I was not able to ask for more money.  So, 60+ hours later, I have rebuilt every machine using the valid volume licence keys previously purchased from Microsoft.

My conclusion?  any time the senior management of any company focuses on themselves and the money, instead of the customers and the marketplace, it's just a matter of time until they fail.  There are a lot of wonderful people at Microsoft, but they obviously do not have the power.  In order for the "good guys and gals" to triumph,

"Microsoft must die so MIcrosoft might live"

Thanks for trying,

God bless

Non-profits are able to purchase Microsoft volume licenses for almost nothing.  We have been able to use these volume licence keys for years to do upgrades.  Not any more, due to Microsoft's new "Upgrade Anytime" policies which we now know only work sometimes, and not for all license holders. Please see www.techsoup.org for qualification details and pricing.