Windows 7: Upgrade key, no disk question

Hi all,

I have a friend who is not a student, so I bought a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade through win741.com for him. They will be emailing me tomorrow with information on how to download the file to perform the installation, and I didn't purchase a physical disk to save an extra $13 or so.
I was wondering if I can burn the file that I download tomorrow (hoping it's an ISO) and use that plus the key they'll email me to do a clean install on his computer. Does anything think this will or won't work? And if so, why or why not?
If not, would I be able to get a download somewhere of a Home Premium ISO image and use the valid key to finish his installation?
Also, does anyone have info as to what type of file this will be, ISO or not?

Thanks in advance!

The key will work with any valid installation media - all the media contains all the files to install all Editions.

The product key you enter determines what Edition is actually installed to the HD.

Probably be an .iso. In the unlikely event it is just a d/l of the installation files - you can make a bootable .iso easily.

Ok, how about if I'm not able to burn the file (if it's not an ISO) to a disk, would I be able to boot his computer using my Windows 7 Ultimate Sig Edition disk, then use his key to finish installation?

Please note: the student deal gets you an UPGRADE version, with all of its limitations.

For one thing: you wouldn't be able to do an installation without the key, and activate it with an upgrade key later. (If it was possible to activate an existing installation with an upgrade key, MS wouldn't sell many Full licenses.)

Yes, it's not the media that matters here. It is the requirement to provide evidence of a qualifying version for the upgrade key.

If it is an upgrade key. I believe I heard that was misleading and they are full keys - didn't pay too much attention as I won't be using one.

Yeah, he will have an upgrade key, the only difference being that the current OS on the system be a genuine XP or Vista, and that he has.

You bought the key for yourself, but you dont want it you want to give it to your friend. Legally I dont know how that will work. Technically, you will only be able to use the key for one installation at a time so if you upgrade his with your key, you dont get to upgrade yours. That being said, the upgrade version can e downloaded. Once downloaded you can just burnt it as it is, exe or a folder with exe and files, and copy it on his computer and run the upgrade, the install should not be limited/locked to any specific machine. He just has to have an OS installation of XP or higher, the setup will detect it and go through the update with your key. Again if you upgrade his computer, you wont be able to upgrade yours with the same key. The install files/media are transferable, the keys are not.

i bought the key for him, so when he installs it he should be able to use the key if i don't use it for anything else. as stated above, i already have the Windows 7 ultimate signature edition.