I bought a copy of Win 7 pro from Microsoft, but I won't be able to get a copy until the launch on the 22nd. Is there anywhere I can get a legit copy of pro and just wait 2 weeks to activate it?
The only legit copy right now is RC and RTM... RTM is what is coming on the 22nd..
Some people were able to get it sooner.. Like Technet
RC is Windows 7 Ultimate..
No is my answer.. for a legit copy of Windows 7 Pro..
Sorry...
Only if you pay extra and get a technet account. If you can wait, its not that long.
Only if you got the RTM release of Windows 7 Pro. You can get all of the various flavors through MSDN or from somebody who might have an MSDN or TechNet subscription. I've got an MSDN Operating System account...so I have my media...I'm just waiting for the New Efficiency Launch event which is tomorrow where I will get a key for Windows 7 Ultimate which I can legally run at home.
NOPE you can not go backwards or downgrade you can ONLY go up..IN VERSIONS
AND RTM is Release to Manufacturing
Meaning that RTM is the Finished product of Windows 7 which has Home, Pro (etc) versions.. you have to get the Right Version of RTM..
Just like pparks1 Said:
Hope this Helps..
Well all the above is correct but there is a very simple mod that will allow one to install any version of W7 from the installation media. You still need to install the version you have (or will soon have) a key for, of course.
So if you were able to find a genuine copy of the Ultimate RTM floating around in cyberspace, you could modify it so it would allow you to install pro. And then you could activate it when you get your legit pro key. If you do find a copy of Ultimate floating around in cyberspace, make sure you verify it is genuine and unmodified by comparing the hash values to the official microsoft ones which are listed in the FAQ section of this site. You can make this comparison using a free utility called "hashtab."
The mod is to delete the Sources/ei.cfg file from the installation media. This allows you to get the screen that allows you select the version you want to install early on in the installation process.
You could modify (or remove) the ei.cfg file in the sources folder on the install media to make it Professional. It's very easy, and saves people on things like MSDN/Technet from having to download each version separately.
The downside is that unless you're "getting" RTM direct from Microsoft through MSDN, Technet, etc. you run risk of getting something that's been tampered with. And with just a couple weeks to go, that impatience isn't worth it. I'd wait for your official, purchased thing to arrive.
Not really. You can use a free program like Virtual Clone Drive to put a virtual DVD drive on your system. Then you "mount" the installation iso on the virtual drive. You then copy the entire contents of the iso from the virtual drive to a folder on your hard drive. You can then delete the file in question from the copy of the contents of the iso that is on your hard drive and then either burn yourself a new DVD from the modified version on your hard drive or even better save the files to a bootable flash drive and install from that.
Or if you have the iso on a DVD already, you could just copy all the files from the DVD to your hard drive, delete the file in question and again, burn yourself a new DVD from the files on your hard drive (or copy everything to the bootable flash drive).
Using a bootable flash drive is a lot faster both to create and to install from. There are loads of tutorials (probably one in the tutorial section of this site also) on the net on how to make a flash drive (or card) bootable. Just takes a few minutes.
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