Win 7 CD - Full or Upgrade ?

I just bought a factory sealed Windows 7 Ultimate Disc from craigslist for $40, thinking it was a full install DVD.

But it says on cover 'Upgrade designed for Windows Vista'.

I think this means it only installs over an existing copy of XP or Vista i.e. not a clean install on a new PC. Correct ?

From COA under cover :

Code:

X16-73756
Win 7 Ult English
VUP US Only DVD

$40 for ultimate, hopefully you didn't throw your money away.

Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version

You can do a clean install with that, just to be on the safe side after installing, you can follow these directions,

Windows Genuine and Activation Issue Posting Instructions

Oh.. that link says :

Remember that you need to legally own a valid qualifying previous version of Windows to use a Upgrade Windows 7

But I don't have a previous Windows installed, it's a new PC.

You know, after the warnings in your other thread about an obvious scam on craigslist, I'm surprised you still went back there...

No, it's not the same place.

This is a factory sealed copy in original box.. probably a honest mistake that both seller and me didn't know that this was a upgrade-only DVD

It may be a different place, but it is still from craigslist.

And $40 for ultimate?

Look at the price from a reputable retailer,

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade - Newegg.com

I just returned it for money back.

It is definitely legit, seller just didn't want the CD.

That was a good move, returning it.

As for being legit...

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Sounds like that was the Win7 Upgrade kit which was shipped to those who bought Vista PC's just before Win7 was released and signed up for one.

Most of these were retail OEM without any branding or SLP activation. To participate in the program MS had required OEM's to provide a clean copy installer of Win7 without anything added at all. It seemed at that moment they realized they were going to need to pro-actively protect Win7 against the OEM crapware.

Since then it has fallen to us here to do that as MS lost all interest in Win7 after its release and don't even realize it's the best OS ever even though it keeps them afloat.