Upgrading from XP-Pro 32bit to Windows 7 Pro questions

Question

I am working on a Precision T3400 with XP Professional. I believe when it was purchased back in January 2010, it was a Windows 7 Pro PC and it was ordered with an XP Professional downgrade installed. The Microsoft sticker on the tower says Windows 7 Pro. Anyway, it's on Dell's 'Compatible with Windows 7' list but I am running Windows 7 Upgrade advisor just to make sure there are no issues. (It's been running for at least 3 hours now...) We've made no hardware changes since the purchase - just various programs. I have read Microsoft's guide for upgrading & I understand that I will need to perform a custom installation off the upgrade disc. Which means reinstalling all of my programs. Which is a pain but nothing I can't handle for most of my programs. Except I am concerned about the programs that came already installed on the PC by Dell. Namely my Adobe Acrobat & Microsoft Office 2007 programs. Will I lose those? Or will I be able to download & reinstall using the key off the Microsoft sticker on my tower?  We haven't purchased a disc yet. I assume we need Windows 7 Pro Upgrade disc. Anything else I should know?

theflash1932 · Accepted Answer

In the US, you can request an installation disc from Dell:

support.dell.com/.../backupcd_form

Alternatively, you can also install using Retail media, then activate over the phone with Microsoft (not Dell) using the product key on your COA:

www.heidoc.net/.../14-windows-7-direct-download-links

As for Adobe and Office ... you should have received license cards for those. If you have lost them, you can probably retrieve them with Magic Jelly Bean or similar, obtain the retail media, then activate using the keys.

DELL-Ravi Ch · Accepted Answer

Hi LadySaotome, I agree with theflash1932, Dell Precision T3400 is compatible with Windows 7 operating system. I see that your system came with both Windows 7 and Windows XP licensed. Please send me a private message with the computer's service tag, Name registered during the system purchase and email address so that I can check what best can be done. To send a private message, click on my name and select start conversation.

LadySaotome · Answer

Thanks, theflash1932. The owner was convinced she did not have any discs since the programs came pre-installed. But I looked through the box where she stores computer supplies & found the discs with the license cards for both Adobe & Office 2007.

DELL_Ravi Ch, I have messaged you. Thanks!

Philip_Yip · Answer

My Windows Reinstallation Guide/A Clean Install of Windows 7 may also assist you through the installation: http://philipyip.wordpress.com/dell-community-forums/

LadySaotome · Answer

Thanks. I'll check it out!

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