Solved Windows 7 *Upgrade* Download Links

[tom982]

Hi guys,

I've run into a little trouble and hopefully someone will be able to help me out here.

I've just finished building my new PC and, surprisingly, it boots. I have a Windows 7 Upgrade Disc (x86) which I bought a few years ago when I upgraded to 7. Because this is x86 and my new PC is x64, I needed a new disc. I downloaded a Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 ISO from DigitalRiver, but unfortunately, it's a retail disc, and won't work with my upgrade key.

I spoke to MS this morning and they said I needed to buy a new disc. Luckily they weren't trying to get me to buy a new license, just the disc. But it's still a cost I'd rather not pay to be honest.

Does anyone know where I could download an ISO image of a Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Upgrade Disc?

Thanks in advance.

I'm fairly sure this doesn't violate the forum rules...

Tom

 

[windude99]

Hi guys,

I've run into a little trouble and hopefully someone will be able to help me out here.

I've just finished building my new PC and, surprisingly, it boots. I have a Windows 7 Upgrade Disc (x86) which I bought a few years ago when I upgraded to 7. Because this is x86 and my new PC is x64, I needed a new disc. I downloaded a Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 ISO from DigitalRiver, but unfortunately, it's a retail disc, and won't work with my upgrade key.

I spoke to MS this morning and they said I needed to buy a new disc. Luckily they weren't trying to get me to buy a new license, just the disc. But it's still a cost I'd rather not pay to be honest.

Does anyone know where I could download an ISO image of a Windows 7 Ultimate x64 Upgrade Disc?

Thanks in advance.

I'm fairly sure this doesn't violate the forum rules...

Tom

I used an oem upgrade key with an oem clean install disc and it activated. Is this upgrade key from a retailer or was it an oem upgrade key? If it is retail, then it seems like it would activate with a retail clean install disc Try entering in your upgrade key into Windows Anytime Upgrade and see if it will work.

 

[tom982]

It's a retail upgrade key. Slight oxymoron there. I bought it from Software4Students about a year ago now

 

[Golden]

I downloaded a Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 ISO from DigitalRiver, but unfortunately, it's a retail disc, and won't work with my upgrade key.

That's bizarre Tom - it should work - what sort of error message did you get?

I had a laptop that came with a Vista OEM and 7 Upgrade Disk. I wiped the laptop, used a digitalriver Home Premium SP1 ISO and activated it with the upgrade key - no trouble at all.

See this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Regards,
Golden

 

[tom982]

Mine isn't an OEM upgrade disc, it's a normal upgrade disc Windows kicked up a fuss when I tried to update as it wasn't activated yet, saying how I might have a counterfeit disc and all that. It then the activation data in the bottom corner of my desktop: build, not activated etc.

When I clicked activate it said something about how you're not allowed to use an upgrade key with a retail disc. Exactly the same as the error in that tutorial:

Thanks for the link Colin! It's exactly what I'm after "Activation was successful". Thank you, thank you, thank you! I owe you one!

If anyone else has this problem, the registry fix in that link solved it for me.

Tom

 

[Golden]

Yeehaa! Great news.

 

[Alejandro85]

But keep in mind that by doing so equals to cracking the system and turning your legal copy illegal. The upgrade disk is not meant to be used in a new PC, but rather when you already have an working copy of XP or Vista and want to convert it into Win7.

 

[tom982]

But keep in mind that by doing so equals to cracking the system and turning your legal copy illegal. The upgrade disk is not meant to be used in a new PC, but rather when you already have an working copy of XP or Vista and want to convert it into Win7.

I have a full Vista license. I don't have any x64 discs because the only x64 PC in my house is OEM. So I didn't have the option to upgrade from a copy of Vista, as I only had x86. I'm fully entitled to be running Windows 7 and wouldn't consider it to be illegal in any way

 

[gregrocker]

Then you qualify to use Upgrade version and can of course Clean Install it without installing Vista first, as long as you leave the Product key blank during install and then do the Option 2 or 3 workaround in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a new or wiped HD.

This is because the installer will not see an OS when booted to install and thus will reject the Upgrade key until the workaround is done which is provided to save consumers trouble if they need to replace their HD, etc.

The installers are all the same with some versions hidden in each - it is the key which determines which version - Upgrade or full, retail or OEM - will activate.

 

[tom982]

Then you qualify to use Upgrade version and can of course Clean Install it without installing Vista first, as long as you leave the Product key blank during install and then do the Option 2 or 3 workaround in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version to activate Upgrade version on a new or wiped HD.

This is because the installer will not see an OS when booted to install and thus will reject the Upgrade key until the workaround is done which is provided to save consumers trouble if they need to replace their HD, etc.

The installers are all the same with some versions hidden in each - it is the key which determines which version - Upgrade or full, retail or OEM - will activate.

Thanks for the info Greg! I didn't have an upgrade disc to clean install with, I only had a retail disc - which is where the problem was

 

[gazz9496]

understand this is solved but i want to make it clear for others that come across this, only ever use the upgrade version you are meant to and have paid for, if you paid for windows 7 ultimate upgrade then use that but if you didn't your licence key won't work.

using a registry fix will work as long as it takes for microsoft to come along and do a verification check which they are doing more regularly and will de-authorise your computer and ask for a valid licence key.

in short cracking is not the answer whether you paid for a legititamte copy or not.

edit: my digital life, is a valid source of all microsoft download iso's.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks for the info Greg! I didn't have an upgrade disc to clean install with, I only had a retail disc - which is where the problem was

Again, the disks are all the same. It is the Product key which determines which version will activate.

When you tried your Product Key it noticed no flag had been set by the installer that it had seen an OS on the HD when booted so it rejected it with that error message.

The solution is to set the flag manually by running the workaround.

using a registry fix will work as long as it takes for microsoft to come along and do a verification check which they are doing more regularly and will de-authorise your computer and ask for a valid licence key.

in short cracking is not the answer whether you paid for a legititamte copy or not.

An admirable sentiment although this has nothing to do with whether windows is genuine but is a convenience workaround allowed by MS for those with Upgrade version keys who must clean reinstall to a new or wiped HD.

You can read more about this here: Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

 

[tom982]

in short cracking is not the answer whether you paid for a legititamte copy or not.

How is this cracking in any way, shape or form?

edit: my digital life, is a valid source of all microsoft download iso's.

I would never download an ISO from MDL, I would only download them from DigitalRiver - which is where I got the ISO that I'm currently using. MDL doesn't have links for upgrade disc ISO files

 

[Golden]

understand this is solved but i want to make it clear for others that come across this, only ever use the upgrade version you are meant to and have paid for, if you paid for windows 7 ultimate upgrade then use that but if you didn't your licence key won't work.

using a registry fix will work as long as it takes for microsoft to come along and do a verification check which they are doing more regularly and will de-authorise your computer and ask for a valid licence key.

in short cracking is not the answer whether you paid for a legititamte copy or not.

edit: my digital life, is a valid source of all microsoft download iso's.

Eh? :sarc:

 

[Britton30]

This is not hacking, cracking nor illegal. Read all the posts and links before posting misinformation.
I had the same issue with my upgrade version and the reg fix fixed it.

understand this is solved but i want to make it clear for others that come across this, only ever use the upgrade version you are meant to and have paid for, if you paid for windows 7 ultimate upgrade then use that but if you didn't your licence key won't work.

using a registry fix will work as long as it takes for microsoft to come along and do a verification check which they are doing more regularly and will de-authorise your computer and ask for a valid licence key.

in short cracking is not the answer whether you paid for a legititamte copy or not.

edit: my digital life, is a valid source of all microsoft download iso's.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I would never download an ISO from MDL, I would only download them from DigitalRiver - which is where I got the ISO that I'm currently using. MDL doesn't have links for upgrade disc ISO files

I was under the impression they were both Microsoft-owned resources.

Besides, why look for an upgrade disc anyway? Download your version and platform, do a clean install, and once you are satisfied with it, pop in your legit key and activate.

 

[tom982]

I would never download an ISO from MDL, I would only download them from DigitalRiver - which is where I got the ISO that I'm currently using. MDL doesn't have links for upgrade disc ISO files

I was under the impression they were both Microsoft-owned resources.

Besides, why look for an upgrade disc anyway? Download your version and platform, do a clean install, and once you are satisfied with it, pop in your legit key and activate.

I highly doubt MDL is owned by Microsoft, it's home to the most common activation exploits.

Because a retail disc won't accept an upgrade key. I needed an upgrade disc to use my key with. But the registry fix suggested by Colin worked like a treat.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Because a retail disc won't accept an upgrade key. I needed an upgrade disc to use my key with. But the registry fix suggested by Colin worked like a treat.

With XP, yes, but with Vista and 7, no...a key is a key is a key, especially when you enter it after the install (which should be done anyway, regardless).

My discs, and USB drives, are only created from retail discs, yet I use them to install and active keys of every kind, from OEM, to upgrade, to MAK, and other retail keys.

 

[gregrocker]

Tom, I don't believe you're clear yet on the fact that the disks for Win7 are all the same, with some versions hidden by the ei.cfg file in Sources.

It is only the key which determines which version will activate, not the disk. You do not need an Upgrade disk to activate Upgrade version only an Upgrade version key.

The disks are the same, retail or OEM, Full or Upgrade.

 

[tom982]

With XP, yes, but with Vista and 7, no...a key is a key is a key, especially when you enter it after the install (which should be done anyway, regardless).

My discs, and USB drives, are only created from retail discs, yet I use them to install and active keys of every kind, from OEM, to upgrade, to MAK, and other retail keys.

Tom, I don't believe you're clear yet on the fact that the disks for Win7 are all the same, with some versions hidden by the ei.cfg file in Sources.

It is only the key which determines which version will activate, not the disk. You do not need an Upgrade disk to activate Upgrade version only an Upgrade version key.

The disks are the same, retail or OEM, Full or Upgrade.

Thanks for clearing this up guys.

I knew that all the discs are the same, I just thought that there would be stricter enforcement on using an upgrade key with a retail disc. Due to the huge price difference, I thought MS would've locked it down a lot more than just a simple registry value. I've already stripped the ei.cfg file from my disc