Solved Can I Install Windows 7 Upgrade after oem has been installed & removed

[hazel123]

Can I Install Windows 7 Upgrade after oem has been installed & removed

Have just bought a used Vista laptop on that auction site. It was sold along with a copy of Windows 7 for upgrading it from Vista. I asked the seller if it was a full version and was told no it was an oem version that had been used on the laptop to upgrade it, but in order to sell the laptop he had restored it to factory settings - hence it has Vista back on it.

I already have an upgrade copy of Windows 7 which I can use, so don't really need this oem copy, and also want to be on the safe side in case there is something that isn't genuine about the oem copy.

I don't quite understand how oem works. As I understand it the copy is 'tied' to the motherboard.

So my question is - if an oem windows 7 licence is tied to the computer, can I install my upgrade copy - or is that not possible if the oem licence key etc is in the 'system.

Sorry - bit garbled there. What I mean is - if I do a clean install of Windows 7 with my upgrade copy - is this possible - or will I only be able to use the oem version that was installed before to upgrade vista?

 

[DocBrown]

Welcome hazel123

If you have the COA-Key Code with your upgrade copy that should work the best for you. Can you get us any specs on the laptop, make * model, etc ?

 

[Britton30]

Yes you can use the upgrade for a clean install, either the OEM or the one you have. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[gregrocker]

Hi Hazel -

What I would do is follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 inserting the OEM Product Key during install so as not to waste a valuable OS which was sold as part of the purchase. If it activates then you'll get the full value of the sale and not forfeit $100+ to undue worry.

If it doesn't activate or doesn't hold activation, simply insert the Upgrade product Key at Computer>Properties to replace the OEM key. It should not require any special steps to activate Upgrade since a flag will be passed at install signifying that a qualifying OS was seen during the booted install. Even if it did reject the Upgrade key if its needed later, it can be made to work using Option 3 in Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version.

During the install you'll want to delete all partitions on the HD at Steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7 then either create and format new partition(s) as you wish, or if you have no partition scheme in mind highlight the Unallocated Space you've made and click Next to have the installer do it for you and begin.

Feel free to ask back any questions and we'll help you get and keep a perfect install.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks very much for all those helpful replies. So I can use either the oem that it came with, or the upgrade edition. I still don't really understand the thing about an oem version being tied to the motherboard. Or can I just ignore that - assume it is to stop the disc being used on another computer, rather than to stop another os being used on this computer!

The make and model of the laptop are:

Sony Vaio VGN-CR31S/L
Intel Core 2 duo
2.1Ghz
160GB sata hard drive
2gb ram upgradeable to 4gb

The drivers all seem to be available on the Sony website.

It's a five year old laptop without huge storage space, but in nice condition, and got it for a good price. I gave up on the idea of upgrading our old laptop - just wasn't worth it - it has such a slow processor and the hard drive needed replacing. The one I just bought is a big improvement and save spending more cash on our old one. Just hope it works and arrives in one piece!

 

[hazel123]

Incidentally - is there any way I can tell if the oem disc that comes with the laptop - is genuine?

 

[hazel123]

Incidentally - I know that Sony Vaios come with a lot of pre-installed software - most of which I won't want, but if it has roxio burning software on I might want to reinstall it. And the Vaio control panel enables some shortcut buttons. So - if I make recovery discs, then wipe the recovery partition when installing Windows 7, can I reinstall some of the Sony software from the recovery discs?

 

[theog]

Incidentally - I know that Sony Vaios come with a lot of pre-installed software - most of which I won't want, but if it has roxio burning software on I might want to reinstall it. And the Vaio control panel enables some shortcut buttons. So - if I make recovery discs, then wipe the recovery partition when installing Windows 7, can I reinstall some of the Sony software from the recovery discs?

Most likely NO.
You need to do a full SONY reinstall, than upgrade to Windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

I would not want the Roxio bloatware. What feature that you need is not already in WIn7 or available through lightweight freeware?

The Sony function keys are dealt with in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7
as is how drivers are handled in Win7 which is not at all like XP since it is a driver-complete OS via WIndows Update. Please read the tutorial carefully and then ask back any questions.

Special Note for Sony Vaio Owners:

Software which enables Fkey functions and illumination must be reinstalled from the Sony Support Downloads webpage in the order as shown here: Function keys don't work after clean install - Windows 7 Forums

 

[Britton30]

Incidentally - is there any way I can tell if the oem disc that comes with the laptop - is genuine?

This will help. How to Tell ? Software

 

[SIW2]

Greg

What I would do is follow these same steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 inserting the OEM Product Key during install so as not to waste a valuable OS which was sold as part of the purchase

.

Yes, I would do as Greg says.

can I reinstall some of the Sony software from the recovery discs

Yes, but it is a little fiddly. Thanks to Theog, I found out how.

Greg
I would not want the Roxio bloatware. What feature that you need is not already in Windows 7 or available through lightweight freeware

?

I just had a look at the stuff that comes with Sony machines - I wouldn't want any of it.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks a lot people! Of course, I was forgetting Windows 7 already has dvd burning software on. So basically I don't need any of the software that came with it. I'm actually not bothered if some of the Vaio assist type buttons don't work anyway, but have read the bit about sony function keys now.

Interestingly I am now getting my head round the clean instal/manufacture software thing, after installing W7 onto my Asus netbook (posted about that recently). All I had to find was a driver for the screen resolution and one other, and everything is running beautifully. Only issue is a battery thing where it keeps telling me I need a new battery (I have two and both are fine) and won't charge over 80% and then seems to go right down very quickly. I googled this and found all sorts of fixes, none of which worked. What worked, was installing the Asus utility for the battery from the Asus site for that model.

Thanks for the link about checking if software is genuine. I wrote to the seller of this upgrade software the other day explaining I couldn't leave feedback just yet as wasn't quite ready to install, but I was sure everything would be fine. He wrote back and said I would have no problems, it was genuine and it worked fine the three times he had used it. THREE TIMES! Ooer - does that mean he might have installed it on more than one laptop? His original selling blurb said he had upgraded his laptop with it, laptop now broken and hard drive reformatted and being used as a back up drive. I suppose I have to assume he reinstalled on his laptop three times - but - if people are ignorant of what is allowed, he could well have used it on something else! Oh well - will see what happens.

 

[hazel123]

What worked, was installing the Asus utility for the battery from the Asus site for that model

Although it still keeps telling me I should think about replacing my battery.

 

[gregrocker]

I would use the superior Power Management in Win7, unless there is some feature with the OEM battery software that you prefer or you want to try it after reinstall to compare. If not then uninstall it.

Let's assume your seller is referring to reinstalls. You can reinstall WIn7 as often as you want. If you reinstall it on the PC and it is already tied to other hardware, it will prompt you with the question "Is this copy of Win7 installed on any other PC?" to which you can only answer "No" to activate it. This will deactivate it on any other PC. You have your bill of sale and correspondence to prove it is your OS now, although I've yet to see anyone need to prove it.

Remember to have your network driver in the backup so if it's not provided during install (plug in by wire to increase likelihood) you can install it to get online and run all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates, after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3). After each requested reboot, go right back to Check for Updates again until there are no more. Only then would I import any drivers which are still missing in Device Manager.

We can help you resolve any issues remaining after that.

 

[hazel123]

Thanks, that is really helpful - will let you know how I get on. Laptop arriving tomorrow.

 

[hazel123]

Ok. Laptop has arrived, along with the oem disc for windows 7. I have checked the disc carefully from the 'how can you tell' link and all holograms are correct. The only thing that concerns me slightly, is that the number on the disc is X17 etc but the number on the COA is X16 etc. And its made in Turkey. Does this all sound bona fide?

 

[gregrocker]

The disks are interchangeable and you should use the latest for your licensed version from Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 anyway, so that isn't as much of a concern as the Product Key.

If you have doubt about the Product Key and would rather not change from Vista until you know it is valid, then call MS Customer Service and they will validate the key. Later if there is any problem getting it activated online or via automated phone activation, they will open a Support case to get it done one way or the other as long as it's valid.

Microsoft Support

 

[hazel123]

Thanks. I was impatient! And went ahead using the upgrade version I had instead (mentioned earlier). So - have read all the articles about clean install with upgrade version but still a bit confused about something.

When it got to the formatting section, there were two partitions - one with the recovery section in. I have already made recovery discs, and wanted to reformat the disc and use all of it - but then I didn't want to have problems activating the key, so decided not to format. Now I know you can delete windows old afterwards, but presumably I will still have this recovery partition for Windows Vista, which I don't really need (and seems to be taking up at least 10gb if not 20gb).

So - if I finish all the updates, and manage to successfully activate - can I then reinstall from scratch with the upgrade disc, and this time, format the hard drive? Because the product key is now already linked to my computer after activation? Or - if I format the hard drive on reinstall will I have the same issue with activation? Or will it just not work or something (assume it will already be activated on second install. Thanks!

 

[gregrocker]

Are you following Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7? It explains how to do all of this. I'm not sure why you would ask for help here and then ignore the specific help we gave you to get and keep a perfect install.

Yes, as it says in the tutorial I would boot the installer to use the Drive Options to delete all partitions during steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7, create and format New or just click Next on the Unallocated space to proceed. This has no bearing on activation whatsoever, just on how clean the install is without interference from OEM partitions. You have Vista Recovery disks for backup, but you'd want a Vista clean install if you went back anyway.

Plug in by wire to have a 70% chance of starting connected, otherwise put your network driver in the backup so you can install it if necessary to get online to enable Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3) and then Check for Updates to install all Important and Optional Updates to completion. After requested reboots go right back to Check for more Updates, until there are no more. Only then should you import any drivers still missing in Device Manager from the PC model's Support Downloads webpage.

While Updates are downloading you can activate at Computer>Properties to see how that goes. If you want reassurance then run MGADiag.exe and post results back so we can tell you for sure if its genuine.

 

[hazel123]

Sorry! I did look at the link - I thought I was doing option 2. I might have caused some confusion earlier. An oem disc came with the laptop I bought, but I already had a Windows 7 upgrade disc. I wasn't sure about where the oem disc came from, so decided to use the upgrade disc, and was following the tutorial for clean install with an upgrade disc.

I can see I am doing things a roundabout way though. Option 2 seemed the easiest way to make sure I didn't have problems with activation. But then I thought, if it is activated, then I could do a clean reinstall from scratch again, then format the disc and get rid of the partitions - as presumably I am already activated on this laptop then. Or would it need activating again?

Sorry!