First, the product key and media of a full Windows CoA can be used for a license/region appropriate upgrade. You can't upgrade a Volume License copy and I'm not sure if an OEM key will upgrade a retail (say, Technet) edition either. My guess is that it would, or at least it would if you called the activation hotline and talked to somebody about it.
Sorry I didn't tell you what type of Win 7 I have. It's the Ultimate version from my lapsed Technet subscription. So which versions of Win 8.1 will work for me? Based on what you say, I should be able to use the key and media of full Win 8.1 and do an in-place upgrade of my Win 7 installation?
Single Language might not be a good fit for you, but if you aren't really changing your keyboard and don't need the resource strings in Windows changed, I think you'd be able to get by. SL is pretty much a "Home" edition of Windows though. I don't know if Remote Desktop or desktop virtualization rights or whatever are things that you need.
I do change my keyboard to a couple of other languages in MS Word; this is critically important for me. So let's chuck SL versions. Have never used and don't need Remote Desktop & desktop virtualization. But I would still want the Pro version, not the Home version.
7 to 8.1 upgrades aren't too awful, really. Easy Transfer actually does a really good job of moving your settings, but if you have other software licenses and you don't want to deal with moving them, I understand the temptation to just upgrade in place. I've done them a few times and not seen too much weirdness. Definitely nothing like the bad old days of Windows 2000 to XP.
I'm not sure I fully understand what you say here. I read somewhere that if one does an in place upgrade from 7 to 8, all the installed programs get hosed. Is this true? If it is, then I
have to do a clean install painful as it is. Most important to me are Office Pro 2010, browsers Chrome and Firefox. The other programs I'm sure will be compatible, or I can chuck them.
You're in India and I have no earthly idea what the market is like there, but I'm willing to buy a key from anybody that will ship me the sticker and let me use my own media. As long as I have the sticker, I figure I'm probably covered. I usually find keys through Google Shopping. Right this second I see someone offering keys through Etsy (the craft marketplace!) for $38, but they are offering stickers and not just keys. I'd go for that.
All SW here is insanely priced. Cheaper to buy in the US and have someone bring a DVD/CD down, or download from the vendor if that option is available. Yesterday I was looking at
Win 8 Pro Upgrade Key from Royal Discount. Early on in their existence, they were considered shady (I lived in the US then); now they have a ton of endorsements on their site, don't know the veracity. What say you? I'll also check out the suggestions you've made. But how does one buy a key from an unknown person? What is the guarantee the key has not been used?
I guess once I have the key, I can download the Win 8.1 iso direct from MS
using this link and it should work?
If I use the upgrade, and judgement day comes - my disk died and my OS backup images fail - can I do a fresh install of the Win 8.1 upgrade if I have the Win 7 Technet DVD and key?
Thanks a ton!