Windows 7 upgrade edition

Murdin999

Murdin999

Murdin999

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Joined
12 Jul 2010
Posts
57
Firstly i know i know i should have windows 7 by now, but I've had a old system which i had xp on and always preferred. However being a student I qualify for discounts from http://www.software4students.co.uk/default1.aspx.

My question is though, if i want to upgrade my xp to windows 7 64 bit, i assume i can do that with ease, but if i buy a new system in the future, with no OS on it, can i use the windows 7 upgrade edition somehow to install windows 7 without having to install xp beforehand? Like i dunno give the program my XP key or something?
 
You can't do an "in-place-upgrade" from XP to 7. You have to do a clean install. Boot from the CD to do this. You will need XP present on this disk when the installer is loading, this check is performed before you get the option to erase partitions.

You can use a trick to put 7 on a blank hard drive with the upgrade edition.
1. install without entering product key
2. install again (do not delete previous install) with product key. choose clean install.
3. success!
 
Aye i know i have to delete everything if i install over xp which i don't mind much about anyway.

But lemme get this straight for a new PC i install windows 7 without the product key of xp (or product key of the windows 7) then after that is done i try to install it again, using the product key and it will install completely like a normal windows 7 OS?

Sorry for all the questions but has a upgrade version got everything of a full version? I don't wanna miss out on anything.
 
I got my disk from a similar site (I'm a poor student too :p) and I always format my hard drive, then do a custom install from the upgrade disk (rather than an 'upgrade'), which gives you a full clean install of Windows. I also tried it with and without putting my key in when it asks you and it made no difference to me :)

I hope this makes sense.
 
The above is true, it is possible to install a upgrade version of Windows 7 onto bare hardware. The end result will basically be identical to installing a full retail/OEM version.

If you do install it onto hardware that doesn't have an existing Windows license to upgrade from then you'll obviously be in breach of the licensing terms. Whether you care or not is a different matter.
 
bremen1874 said:
If you do install it onto hardware that doesn't have an existing Windows license to upgrade from then you'll obviously be in breach of the licensing terms. Whether you care or not is a different matter.
Click to expand...

I do also have a copy of Vista x64 which originally I upgraded, but it's too messy and takes ages if you want to format, which is why I don't bother any more. Bill Gates still has my monies ;)
 
The EU insisted that all windows 7 versions sold over here were full versions. That is why there is not a true upgrade version as in the states and why there may be a price premium (at least some of reason).

All european versions of windows 7 are full versions, whether they are licensed as such or not.

andy.
 
Murdin999 you just saved me £181.04 I completely forgot about this website! Now I can get Windows 7 Pro for just £38!!! Cheers
 
Yes I done a new install from an upgrade CD.

I used the reghack that changes

MediaBootInstall from "1" to "0".

After a reboot I could then enter the serial number successfully.

I don't know wheather it matters or not but i had initially installed onto an existing xp install and activated, the new install was for a new SSD.
 
It installs fine. Just when you enter the serial it says something along the lines of 'this key is for upgrades only, and will not work for clean installs'.

Luckily my uni are signed upto the Microsoft Developer Network so I have a few full install keys available :)
 
I didn't try it, sorry. I clean installed it from the upgrade disk but then used a full version key :)

Hopefully someone else could help you out :)
 
admoo said:
It installs fine. Just when you enter the serial it says something along the lines of 'this key is for upgrades only, and will not work for clean installs'.
Click to expand...

Yep had that too, done the reg hack.. reboot..serial number accepted.


Someone said above it not legal...well..i have a full copy of XP Pro, I see no reason to install that just to re-install Win 7 immediately afterwards. IMHO if you satisfy the upgrade requirements of using the upgrade then the install method is irrelevant.

If you dont fancy the registry hack then double install works too.
 
WAWAWEEWA

so does that mean that my windows 7 is messing up compleeetely i can format my HDDs which are in Raid 0 but i dont want that id rather have 2 seperate drives
i can just buy windows 7 64bit professional upgrade, format my drives then 1. install without product key then
2. reinstall with product key and youre away??
 
Ivyforce said:
...Someone said above it not legal...well..i have a full copy of XP Pro, I see no reason to install that just to re-install Win 7 immediately afterwards. IMHO if you satisfy the upgrade requirements of using the upgrade then the install method is irrelevant...
Click to expand...

The legality issue is not whether the base XP is physically installed on the PC you are installing W7 on. It is whether you own a valid XP license for the W7 PC. OEM licenses cannot legally be transferred across systems, so unless the XP was a full retail edition, you may only install W7 upgrade on the XP hardware, not a new build. Similarly the XP system should not be used seperately and/or sold.

Many people seem to incorrectly think that if they have say an XP OEM laptop then that qualifies them to buy W7 upgrade and use it legally on their new custom build desktop because "I've already paid for XP".
 
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