Windows 7 Upgrade

Harvey616 · 20 Jul 2010 at 19:19

Hello all,

I am going to be building a new PC soon and wish it to run Windows 7.

I have found out that I can get a cheap copy of Windows 7 Professional through Microsoft's scheme for giving students discounted prices. The only catch is that it is an upgrade only disc.

Just an idea, could I take my hard drive out of my laptop, it is running Windows Vista 32 Bit, could I install this in my new computer and then use the upgrade disc to get my computer running Windows 7 64 bit?

Thank you

theheyes · 20 Jul 2010 at 19:40

Technically you should have a copy to upgrade from but you may find this helpful.

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

Harvey616 · 20 Jul 2010 at 20:17

Thank you

So in affect, I could just insert the upgrade disk into the optical drive, change the boot order and install Windows, then just enter the product key as if it is a full version.
And if the doesn't work, try the hack?

stoofa · 21 Jul 2010 at 09:23

Once again - physically do Vs legally do.
You are purchasing an "Upgrade" and as the name suggests this allows you to upgrade a Windows license to Windows 7.

This means that yes - for this license you need an old version of Windows to upgrade from.
No you cannot move a copy of the OS from your laptop.
The laptop version will be OEM and so is tied to the laptop's motherboard.

Can you hack it?
Is there a way to install the upgrade without a previous version of the OS?
Yes - quite probably.
However you are then running an illegal copy of the OS on your machine.
So why bother spending any money at all on Windows 7?
What you are doing will make you license illegal as would downloading a pirate copy.
One costs you money, one doesn't and you end up int he same position - license illegal.

pingwing · 21 Jul 2010 at 11:18

Technically you just do the install twice (this is what i did when i noticed it was an upgrade edition on my macbook) so the install dvd you get can do a clean install, but it wont activate untill you upgrade that install.

No real problems just as long as you really are a student

robinbredin · 21 Jul 2010 at 13:31

There is a good journal HERE, telling you how to do a clean install using a upgrade copy of Win 7.

Harvey616 · 21 Jul 2010 at 15:57

Thanks guys, and yes- I really am a student

SiriusB · 21 Jul 2010 at 23:04

Microsoft supports the double-install method, but it is on the understanding/assumption you really do have a previous Windows OS [it could be that you cannot install it due to missing/damaged media but you have an actual license.]

You should also note that the Upgrade takes on the same license as the OS it is replacing. So first you cannot use the older/previous OS elsewhere and if it is OEM, your upgrade will also be OEM - meaning it is now tied to that machine.

If you want to be license legal either buy a full Retail copy or try and grab an el-cheapo copy of XP or Vista [which would probably work out at the same price as full Windows 7 Retail tbh].