Students = Cheap windows 7

Can't sleep tonight so I decided to install windows 7. Which true to form Microsoft form has ******d up!

I had win 7 rc on there before and it was happy to do the upgrade so it did it's thing for a while and all seemed okay. However when it came to start up the new installation for the first time it doesn't output anything to the monitor, I can hear the hard disk loading the OS but there is no video output.

So I try safe mode, which works fine but it gets to "setup is preparing your computer for first use" and decides that the setup cannot be done in safe mode and prompts me to restart in normal mode, which leaves me with a blank screen.

I'm not actually sure what to do now :confused: just glad I have the laptop as a backup. The download file was an .exe so there is no .iso file for me to burn. Does anyone know how to create the .iso or fix the no video issue?
 
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LOL - sounds like people are having fun and games already.

I don't have time to do it until the weekend. So I'll be following the various threads carefully and watching for the pitfalls :)
 
I'm downloading it atm. Was maxed at 2.3MB/s but dropped down to 1MB/s for the majority which is a shame.

Will be installing it tomorrow. Anyone know the issues i'll face when coming from Vista Ultimate? Can't afford for PC to be inactive for more than a day...
 
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Just finished installing now and all ok here..

You deffinately need an OS on the drive to be able to run the exe file there is no option to burn an ISO. You end up with 3 files 2 large unknown files and the exe file. You can either do an upgrade or custom install but there are no disk options available for the custom install so you cannot create or install partitions, you need the disc for this.

I did a new install and it worked with no problems at all, running fine now..
 
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rexehuk said:
I'm downloading it atm. Was maxed at 2.3MB/s but dropped down to 1MB/s for the majority which is a shame.

Will be installing it tomorrow. Anyone know the issues i'll face when coming from Vista Ultimate? Can't afford for PC to be inactive for more than a day...
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Same here a steady 2.3MB/s, at 25% now. If the install goes as smoothly as the download I'll be a happy bunny !

Edit: peaked at 3MB/s - not bad at all !
 
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People are saying that you definitely need a former OS on there, but then are not stating if at any point you get prompted to enter the serial key of your former OS during installation at all. I assume the only reason people are stating that you need a former OS, is because the download file you get given is an executable (.exe file) which obviously can be run from an OS. Surely since there is an option with the student deal to be sent the DVD media as well, this media will contain a proper bootable image on it meaning a former OS is NOT required?

I would also like to know with the student version of Pro if it genuinely is retail, in terms of future activation having changed your components (motherboard)....will that work?

Can anyone confirm/answer the above?

Cheers
 
There is nothing to say the media would be a bootable DVD. Indeed, if it doesn't prompt for a CD Key then it's because it searches for the current key installed with the current OS.

So a former OS would be required on both counts.
 
iv d/loaded the three files for my son , but as some else stated i want to fit a new bigger drive which wont have an operating system , luckily i have my retail win7 disc,s and will try that and use my sons key that came with the d/load , which means iv paid £34 for the license key .
 
Big red said:
iv d/loaded the three files for my son , but as some else stated i want to fit a new bigger drive which wont have an operating system , luckily i have my retail win7 disc,s and will try that and use my sons key that came with the d/load , which means iv paid £34 for the license key .
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I would suggest that would be highly unlikely to work? Or would it? Too easy surely. Otherwise we would all do that.
 
You do get prompted for the win 7 installation key during install, It does not ask for a previous key. It seems to work exactly like my vista upgrade you can skip the cd key part and enter it later if you wish.
 
dovey said:
Can't sleep tonight so I decided to install windows 7. Which true to form Microsoft form has ******d up!

I had win 7 rc on there before and it was happy to do the upgrade so it did it's thing for a while and all seemed okay. However when it came to start up the new installation for the first time it doesn't output anything to the monitor, I can hear the hard disk loading the OS but there is no video output.

So I try safe mode, which works fine but it gets to "setup is preparing your computer for first use" and decides that the setup cannot be done in safe mode and prompts me to restart in normal mode, which leaves me with a blank screen.

I'm not actually sure what to do now :confused: just glad I have the laptop as a backup. The download file was an .exe so there is no .iso file for me to burn. Does anyone know how to create the .iso or fix the no video issue?
Click to expand...

Microsoft made it quite clear that upgrading from the RC to the final version was not supported.
Don't blame MS if you aren't actually going to bother following their recommendations.
 
MOOGLEYS said:
If you run the setup, it creates a folder with the windows files called expanded setup is it something to do with that.. ?
Click to expand...

Alpha said:
Could you tell us how please?
Click to expand...

Big red said:
yes can u advise how you made the bootable image before i try it with a new drive
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Sure thing.

Basically you do get those files from the expanded setup folder:

Boot
EFI
sources
support
upgrade
autorun.inf
bootmgr
bootmgr.efi
setup.exe

Then you need to get hold of (google it) OSCDIMG.EXE

And then run a command similar to the below:


Oscdimg.exe –u2 –bC:\<path to expanded setup folder>\boot\etfsboot.com –h C:\<path to expanded setup folder> C:\Win7_ISO_OutputFile.iso


You should use the OSCDIMG.exe method above and not attempt this with ISO creation software as it will be unlikely to create it properly due to the non standard ISO comformation in the efsboot.com file. However, I believe using vlite may work according to a quick google from version 1.1.6. Above method will be best though.
 
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Can you use the student key to activate an installation from the "Full" media?

I purchased 7 Pro for myself during the pre-orders.
I purchased Student 7 for my wife (she is doing an OU course).

Can I use the Windows 7 Media from my box, install it on her machine and then activate it with the student key?
 
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