Windows 7: Bloatware removal on new laptop.

I'm going to purchase a new laptop soon and had a general question regarding the legality of Windows 7 upgrade version. Basically, the second I get the new laptop home I will be formatting the HDD with the "clean all" command. Regardless of the OS already installed, can I "legally" install Windows 7 upgrade on this PC using the registry and command line hack? I want a brand new laptop with a clean, fresh start, with 0 crapware. I am willing to purchase the laptop and new OS. Deleting bloatware on an already installed OS is not an option.

You can legally clean install with an upgrade version provided you own a base, qualifying windows such as XP or Vista. The base license doesnt have to be installed, ownership is sufficient. 2 important things:

1) When you use the upgrade version of Windows 7, the base license becomes obsoleted- that means it cannot be used on any computer. If later you decide to get rid of the Windows 7 upgrade, you are free to return to the base version, provided you remove the upgrade.

2) This question gets raised sometimes so here goes. If the base license is an installed OEM copy, then since the OEM copy is immoveable, the upgraded Windows 7 is not moveable in totality. That means you cant junk a PC on which oem windows was upgraded to Windows 7, and then use the upgrade license on a new PC on the assumption that the oem license on the junked pc is the base. Thats because the oem license died with that PC.

3) The Upgrade license is retail and transferable- you can move it to a different computer provided you have a valid base license for the new computer.

It's as legal as legal can get. MS deliberately made the "full" and "upgrade" versions effectively the same. The only thing you have to be careful about is that you get a legitimate retail upgrade version. You also need to at least own a qualifying earlier OS.

Thanks for the help. I just wanted to make sure.

You do not need to buy another copy of Windows 7, as you own the copy which comes with the machine for life and can clean reinstall it as often as you want. You would be throwing away $100+ of your brand new property.

You also do not need to do the registry workaround to install Upgrade version to a clean HD, as this is OEM-SLP activation changing to OEM-COA which is not an Upgrade version key.

Here are tips to getting a perfect install of factory OEM (my specialty): Reinstalling Windows 7

Thanks, greg. My new laptop will more than likely have W7HP installed. I will be installing Windows 7 Pro on it. I have a Windows 7 Pro upgrade disk but I'm betting I can't use that as it's currently activated on my desktop. Also, because it's a different version than what's on the laptop, I can't use the laptop's CD key. So, I have no disk and the new laptop won't come with one. Where does that leave me? I really have no choice but to buy a CD key. Fortunately, it's not a problem because I can pick up an academic copy from my Dad for around $25.
Not that it matter because I'm moving up to the Pro version, but how would I clean reinstall the OEM version that comes with the laptop without also installing all the bloatware?

You can unlock all editions on the upgrade disk and clean install home premium with it. Since its an upgrade disk you'll need the registry workaround to activate.

Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

Then activate with the sticker key.

Thanks, Bill2, but herein lies my problem. I'll be upgrading the laptop from Home Premium to Pro. If I were to purchase a laptop with Windows 7 Pro already on it, what would my options be? If the laptop came with, say, Windows 7 Pro 64 and my upgrade disk is Windows 7 Pro 32, could I still use the CD key on the laptop?

Windows 7 keys are architecture neutral- that is the same key can be used for a 32 bit install or a 64 bit install as long as its the same Windows 7 edition and of course you arent using a single key multiple times.

That's great news, thanks!