See if you can boot into Safe Mode with Command Line by tapping F8 at bootup, then type into Command Line slmgr -rearm which might give you another 30 days to activate.
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/0...ey-activation/
Then you can run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor - Download - Microsoft Windows as suggested by Stormy which will tell you all you need to know.
You can use that Win 7 DVD to wipe your hard disk clean!
1. go to a command prompt using the win 7 dvd,
2. use the diskpart command and its commands to clean the disk
Here's how:
■Boot up from your Windows 7 DVD.COMMAND PROMPT - GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING YOUR WIN 7 DVD
■At the first dialog window, press SHIFT + F10 key combo
■You will have a X:> command prompt
X: is a ram drive created by Windows 7.
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and now how to clean the disc:
WIPE A DISK CLEAN
· type DiskPart, Enter key
· type List disk, Enter key
note the numeral of the disk you want to clean
for example purposes, I’ll be using the numeral 0
· type Select disk 0, Enter key
· type Detail disk, Enter key
this info will let you know if you selected correctly
· type Clean ALL, Enter key
your entire disk is being overwritten with zeros.
This can take a considerable amount of time
· type EXIT, Enter key (only after Clean is finished)
· type EXIT, Enter key (this gets you back where you were)
Hi Cindi,
If you are going to go ahead with installing W7, I suggest you do it in two stages AND this may seem a bit odd. But after all, the guy who sold you the computer was not on the up and up.
First, either with a LiveCD of Puppy Linux or Ubuntu Linux - verify that the computer is working well. This will not cost you anything. It is just to verify that the hardware is intact. The ONLY drawback with this is that you will have to get someone that understands what to do. The other alternative is to use a computer expert/shop to handle the upgrade for a small fee and to verify your hardware.
Second, reformat the hard disk to completely remove the Vista before you install the new W7. That should both avoid future problems and make the installation a rather straight forward task.
I want to thank people here as I've been rather impatient and shifted over to Ubuntu Linux in the disastrous Vista launch. I have a 64bit machine, a Quad Core 2, that I'd like to install W7 to, but was fearful of getting stuck with something bad from an OEM deal. I happen to be in Taiwan, so there isn't much recourse if it doesn't work due to being a fraudulent vendor.
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