can unactivated RTM be activated by retail upgrade key?

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  1. win7noob
    Posts : 33
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
       New #1

    can unactivated RTM be activated by retail upgrade key?


    say one were to install the windows 7 RTM unactivated. could a "upgrade" retail key activate it? or would it require a "full" retail key?

    thanks
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  3. sup3rsprt
    Posts : 1,557
    XP, Seven, 2008R2
       New #2

    my guess is No. Unless there is an upgrade hack like there was in Vista.

    but it's only a guess...and that's pretty much all anyone can do at this point.
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  4. EarlZ
    Posts : 146
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 RTM
       New #3

    win7noob said:
    say one were to install the windows 7 RTM unactivated. could a "upgrade" retail key activate it? or would it require a "full" retail key?

    thanks
    I think you just need to change to the retail product ID then input the retail key via slmgr
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  6. zigzag3143
    Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       New #4

    Gray Area Alert Be careful

    Just a heads up

    Ken
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  7. win7noob
    Posts : 33
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    hmmmm i think i'll just suggest to Person X that they wait 2 more months for the DVD
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  8. Snufffed
    Posts : 1,179
       New #6

    win7noob said:
    say one were to install the windows 7 RTM unactivated. could a "upgrade" retail key activate it? or would it require a "full" retail key?

    thanks
    YES, the best was to upgrade is insert the DVD while booted to Win7.
    when you see the UPGRADE- click yes, when ask insert the UPGRADE KEY.
    that is the way it works.
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  10. pparks1
    Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #7

    Don't think this will work as you have to have a previous OS installed and ACTIVATED in order to install the upgrade. You can install the RC1 release with it's key, activate it and then upgrade it.

    Don't hack the OS to get it activated. If you aren't willing to pay for Windows there are plenty of free alternatives out there.
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  11. Snufffed
    Posts : 1,179
       New #8

    pparks1 said:
    Don't think this will work as you have to have a previous OS installed and ACTIVATED in order to install the upgrade. You can install the RC1 release with it's key, activate it and then upgrade it.

    Don't hack the OS to get it activated. If you aren't willing to pay for Windows there are plenty of free alternatives out there.
    Sorry, you do not need a previous activated OS to use the UPGRADE KEY to install and activate.

    MS details how to clean install with the upgrade disk (do not use your key) then upgrade with the UPGRADE KEY.
    The information is on the Technet site, MSDN and MS upgrade site.
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  12. CrunchDude
    Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 / OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard x64
       New #9

    Probably full only. Think about it. How will the OS know that you ever had Vista? Or XP? Maybe it'll just ask for the key from whatever you had before, but that's unlikely.
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  13. Snufffed
    Posts : 1,179
       New #10

    The key you have is special for ea version.
    basic, starter, homepremium, Pro, Enterprise, or Ultimate.

    and if you try to use the UPGRADE key when doing a CLEAN INSTALL it will not work.

    All the upgrade ask for is a Previous install OS of the same Version.

    There is a popup that directs you to select the same version as the KEY for your version.
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