Windows 7: Trial Version to Full Windows 7

I loaded on Windows 7 Home Premium from disk I had from previous copy I had purchased from digital river. I took downloaded version and placed it on a disk. I then loaded new computer with new hard drive with this disk. When I do winver, it shows windows 7 Home premium build 6.1 .

Can I purchase the upgrade version or do I have to purchase full version. Can I just type in new serial or will I have to reinstall OS all over again? I have 29 days left until I have to activate. It has change activation code button next to days left. Hoping I can just type in new purchased serial.




Thanks,


Mike

Let's see if i'm getting it right. You bought a serial for Home premium and 29 days are left for activation. To activate it you just need to click the activate windows link besides the days remaining text and enter the serial and it'll be activated.
If you want to upgrade from home premium to pro or ultimate, you can upgrade via Windows anytime upgrade but you need to have the upgrade serial which is different from the product code/activation serial as you say.
And if i remember right, the upgrade process doesn't require you to do a reinstall, just a reboot is required.
Hope this helps.

Not quite. I previously purchased home premium for another computer and used the same disk to get my new computer up and running. This gave me a 30 day activation. I am wondering if I can buy the upgrade 3 licenses for 149.00 (current special) instead of the full version. I only need the serial license to activate.

You indeed need a new licence for that second computer and it should be a full version licence. You can't use an upgrade licence since the computer didn't have another installed Windows before. You can't use an OEM (although, people still buy those separately even if it's not in accordance with Microsoft's EULA) because it doesn't come pre-installed with the PC. So, because of that, you need a full version. It's up to you to respect or not Microsoft's EULA but I encourage you do so.

Did your New Computer have any OS on it at all before you used the Win 7 from the other computer? This is the important question as to what type of license you need. == As far as your Trial Version, you can not use it for with the new Key that you buy. The Trial Version is only good for 90 days and it shuts down. You will have to do a clean install with the Win 7 that you purchased. The type that you need to buy depends on how you answer the first question in my post. See this link that explains the Trial Versions. http://www.computerworld.com/s/artic...ws_7_RTM_trial

I built my computer from scratch. The hardrive was brand new. Are you saying that I will lose everything when I do a clean install?

Prior to my reading the last post, I called Microsoft and they told me something different. I explained my situation and emphasized that I loaded a copy that gave me 30 days till activation, and then a new code was needed.

Now I am totally confused. If I remember correctly, last year I loaded on trial version and just added code which was given to me by a friend who had an extra one.

I don't see why I will would have to do clean install if I wind up having to buy full version.

If you did not have a Windows OS on it before, then you are required to buy a full version of Windows per Microsoft EULA. == Read the link I gave you above about the Trial Version of Windows. == When you do a Clean Install, it erases everything on your hard drive. That is why you need to back up your files so they can be reinstalled.

If you have any retail XP or Vista laying around then you can use it as qualifying OS for Upgrade version. Maybe a friend has one they won't use again since XP is almost XPired and Vista is crap compared to Windows 7.

The best deal on Family Pack is now $129 at NewEgg and Amazon: Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Family Pack/ Home Premium Upgrade - Retail 3 PCs This is better than the half-priced deal Beta testers got. Just keep it in the family and keep the key to yourself.

There is no "trial" version any longer - that was beta or Enterprise trial. You simply have an unactivated install. Find any XP and Vista so you can keep it and insert an Upgrade key.