Windows 7: Installation help with Upgrade Kit

Hello,

I have bought an online version of the upgrade kit using my student discount through MS's site. And i have also ordered the hard copy paying extra $20CAD.

It has been a month and a half and i still haven't received the hardcopy.

And here is where the problem is. My computer broke down last night (thus i can get my installation file that i downloaded) and it won't let me redownload because it has passed 30days of my purchase.

Here i have a friend where he has the same version of windows but just a FULL version instead of just an upgrade kit.



Will i be able to use that DVD to install windows 7 and use my own CD key to register/activate?

Thanks for all your help in this forum. Hope that i can find some answers.

Thank you again.

EDIT: i would like to also ask if anyone have purchased the windows 7 from the student discount site and have ordered their hardcopy of windows 7. If yes, how long did it take to receive your copy.

Thank you.

If I am not mistaken you can install with a full DVD no problem but activation with the upgrade key will fail

Hi Plater
As long as you have a valid Vista or XP license, you were eligible for the upgrade.

The keys are not disc specific, but they are version specific (you cannot install from a Ultimate disc and activate with a home Premium key, for example). I really don't know if they are install type (upgrade x full) specific. Is the Full disc the same version as the upgrade you bought? That is the starting point.

I think that if you then try and it works you are OK, since you will have a valid install and a valid key and that is a legal situation in my opinion.

I only bought retail boxes so I can't answer your last question. But I would contact their customer service and ask them to reactivate your download, since it is taking forever for them to deliver your hard copy

Let me know if the key thing works, I would like a confirmation (or not) of that scenario

thats what im asking. Is it possible for me to install the full version and use my key successfully.

All of the Windows 7 installers are the same, with just some versions hidden due to a ei.cfg file in Sources, which can be removed then recompiled into a bootable all-versions ISO using vLite.

As long as you use the version you purchased, then you can reinstall using that version. But I would try a Repair Install first, running the files or DVD from the desktop selecting Upgrade which is a repair install in Windows 7 - it refreshes the activation and normally allows for insertion of the key again at Computer>properties link.

If not, reinstall your version and when your key arrives, try to insert it. Most likely you'll need to run a Repair install over the installation to enable inserting the key, which the installer views as an Upgrade.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Thanks for your reply, and yes the upgrade kit that i bought is the same as the disk that i have. I will give it a try and let you guys know.

If anyone else have had this problem and solved, please give me some tips and heads up.

I would try the Repair install first so you don't have to reinstall all of your programs, settings and files.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

Its a HDD failure, i am currently installing it into a replacement HDD instead of the original.

If you have a Windows 7 Backup image, you can try to reimage the replacement HD.

Otherwise....Be sure to format your new HDD booting from the Windows 7 DVD, install, try key when it arrives.

THEN it may need the repair install to accept key.

oh.ok..thanks for the information.