Windows 7: Win 7 Upgrade on macbook pro

My dilemma . . .

I got the discounted student download of Win 7 Pro Upgrade for $29. I currently have XP installed on my desktop pc. My plan was to install Win 7 on my macbook pro so I could dual-boot (which I did but now won't accept the product key).

After researching, since Win 7 Upgrade requires XP to be installed, is there a way for me to use the XP license to install 7 on the macbook and then continue using XP on the desktop? or will the upgrade invalidate my XP license on the desktop?

Any advice or similar experiences?

Thx.

Welcome to SF!

The terms of the Upgrade version way that you must have a previous Windows OS on your machine to use it. No, it is not possible to use your XP key to activate 7. Whether you can install XP and use your other product key will depend on what XP license you have. If you have the retail version, I believe it would be legal. Or you could buy a cheap copy of XP online and install it, then upgrade to 7.

The whole thing is a little hairy, because Microsoft left it up to our honor to follow the license. It is fully possible to install the upgrade version without even having a previous OS!

If I were you, I would read the EULAs of your Windows and follow your conscience.

I followed the instructions on this website (or so I thought) for installing a Win 7 Upgrade without a previous OS installed, but it doesn't seem to work. Win 7 just will not accept the 7 license key I was sent per my student download purchase. Frustrating experience. I even tried installing Windows 2000 on my macbook pro first before Win 7 but ran into problems there. I'm thinking I wasted $30 bucks on a worthless Win 7 Upgrade.

Do you have Windows 7 installed? If not, follow the instructions, but do not enter your key. If everything works, next time it prompts for a key, enter it.

Win 7 is installed and working, but I did not enter my product key during installation. After installation I went under Computer > Properties to the Activation link. It prompted me for the product key, but I keep getting error "0xC004F061" - invalid product key.

That error means that it has detected you have not had a previous version of Windows on your machine. You will need to reinstall Windows, this time following this tutorial.

Installed Win 7 via Option 1 steps last night. I'll try Option 3 and see if that let's me activate.

Jonathan_King, success!

Many thx for the help and advice.

Great! Glad you got it figured out. Any more questions? Just ask 'em.