WIndows 7 Upgrade Testing

[Blackhood]

I received my upgrade disk from amazon today.

For those that want to know I tried installing with just a blank hard drive.

Booted with upgrade disk. Got to the part where it asks "upgrade" or "custom".

Chose custom and the install started.

Got all the way to product key and it came back invailid. Took out the key and contuned into windows.

From within windows I tried to activate. Told me to enter the key. I did. It then told me I can only use the key for upgrading, not a clean install.

[master2k27]

well its an upgrade disk not a full install disk.

[Blackhood]

well its an upgrade disk not a full install disk.

Rght, people wanted to know if you could do so. Specuating if you needed just the vista or xp key or disk. Just letting them know it installs, but comes back invalid.

[+SOOPRcow MVC]

Have you tried running the upgrade from windows 7 to windows 7?

[Blackhood]

Have you tried running the upgrade from windows 7 to windows 7?

Trying as we speak.

[Obraxis]

That should work. It did in Vista.

[+SOOPRcow MVC]

There was a lot of talk before the release that it wouldn't work with windows 7 but I never saw a definitive answer on it.

[Blackhood]

From boot, tried to upgrade. Told me I had to be in Windows

Booted to my windows 7 install, started the setup process, chose upgrade.

Got to where you enter your key. This time it accepted it! :)

And it activated! :)

So yes it does work

[Aragorn]

So you are upgrading from Windows 7 RC version to the normal version and that works fine?

[Si Veteran]

This method was used with Vista too. The discs are the same between the versions, it is the key which determines whether you have to have upgraded or not.

[Boeing 787]

So let's be clear:

1. Install Windows 7 RTM on clean hard drive but don't enter key.

2. Start the Windows 7 RTM DVD from within Windows and choose upgrade.

3. The upgrade key will activate?

[Blackhood]

So you are upgrading from Windows 7 RC version to the normal version and that works fine?

No, blank HDD.

With Windows 7 upgrade disk.

Install 7 with no key. Boot into that installation. Run setup again. Chose upgrade. Install key and activate.

Just like vista.

We didn't know if you could or not. I tried it and it worked.

[Boeing 787]

This is good news: :)

[Blackhood]

So let's be clear:

1. Install Windows 7 RTM on clean hard drive but don't enter key.

2. Start the Windows 7 RTM DVD from within Windows and choose upgrade.

3. The upgrade key will activate?

Yes. I am using the Windows 7 upgrade disk, Home Premium.

[ryanmcv]

Thanks for testing this! I'll have to use that loophole to upgrade my desktop PC with my student copy.

[Obraxis]

Great job Blackhood. This should be on the Neowin News. :)

[grewnd33]

The Windows 7 Upgrade disc is bootable from the Bios? Some rumors on the internet say that it is not bootable and that this trick does not work.

[+SOOPRcow MVC]

Of course its bootable. The only difference between the disks is the CD Key.

[Shadrack]

There was a lot of talk before the release that it wouldn't work with windows 7 but I never saw a definitive answer on it.

Yeah. A lot of people seem to like to talk out of their ass on this subject, I've noticed. If you do not know something for sure, don't speculate. It only makes it more difficult to find a solution. Especially when people post like they know what they are talking about.

I really appreciate the Blackhood for taking the time to post about his findings. This will save me time when I get home, because doing a clean install is the first thing I was going to try. Hopefully I can get it to work the same you did.

No, blank HDD.

With Windows 7 upgrade disk.

Install 7 with no key. Boot into that installation. Run setup again. Chose upgrade. Install key and activate.

Just like vista.

We didn't know if you could or not. I tried it and it worked.

Does the whole setup and install re-run when you run the setup program the 2nd time (from within Windows 7)?

[lnmnky]

This was already confirmed.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/09/windows...mehow-maintai/2

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jacobhpaul @ Oct 9th 2009 7:18PM

I've had a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for over three weeks purchased from the Indiana University Bookstore for $20. They only had upgrade disks available, but there was a workaround that involved upgrading the fresh unactivated install (basically you have to install it twice). I switched from Ubuntu Jaunty (waiting for Karmic). Overall it is pretty nice. I like the new taskbar design and the jumplists (when they are supported). Also new Win+Arrowkey shortcuts are pretty useful.

[Shadrack]

This was already confirmed.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/09/windows...mehow-maintai/2

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jacobhpaul @ Oct 9th 2009 7:18PM

I've had a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for over three weeks purchased from the Indiana University Bookstore for $20. They only had upgrade disks available, but there was a workaround that involved upgrading the fresh unactivated install (basically you have to install it twice). I switched from Ubuntu Jaunty (waiting for Karmic). Overall it is pretty nice. I like the new taskbar design and the jumplists (when they are supported). Also new Win+Arrowkey shortcuts are pretty useful.

Someone made a comment somewhere else about the same thing!!! OMG! Shocker! :whistle:

[Raa]

Damn! There goes a quick upgrade method! :/

[lnmnky]

Someone made a comment somewhere else about the same thing!!! OMG! Shocker! :whistle:

I was only pointing out that it wasn't "news".... it's "olds". ;)

[Blackhood]

Yeah. A lot of people seem to like to talk out of their ass on this subject, I've noticed. If you do not know something for sure, don't speculate. It only makes it more difficult to find a solution. Especially when people post like they know what they are talking about.

I really appreciate the Blackhood for taking the time to post about his findings. This will save me time when I get home, because doing a clean install is the first thing I was going to try. Hopefully I can get it to work the same you did.

Does the whole setup and install re-run when you run the setup program the 2nd time (from within Windows 7)?

Yes it does. But when asked the 2nd time, you must chose upgrade.

[Xerxes]

Have you tried running the upgrade from windows 7 to windows 7?

Yeah, that is what I did with my upgrade copy of Vista Home Premium and it worked a treat :p I heard MS have fixed that "exploit" though....so not sure if it works on 7? so I just got the full install version of 7 because I couldn't be stuffed chancing it and hoping it still worked :p