Solved Cannot install updates

[SIW2]

Now your win7 is SP1 (though not yet activated ), might be a good idea to make a backup image.

 

[originaljgf]

True; was planning a complete backup once all updates applied, but hear i should activate before continuing with updates. And incremental backups certainly would not be amiss.

I still need to know what key do I need - OEM? Retail? something else?

 

[MisterEd]

True; was planning a complete backup once all updates applied, but hear i should activate before continuing with updates. And incremental backups certainly would not be amiss.

I still need to know what key do I need - OEM? Retail? something else?

The key that came with your copy of Windows 7.

 

[originaljgf]

The key that came with your copy of Windows 7.

Lol, it requires perusing this entire thread to see why i ask. As it turns out my original disk is bogus and the key with it is not now accepted; we have created, from that disk and an SP1 iso, a valid trial install ...but I've no idea what key I now need to activate that.

 

[MisterEd]

Lol, it requires perusing this entire thread to see why i ask. As it turns out my original disk is bogus and the key with it is not now accepted; we have created, from that disk and an SP1 iso, a valid trial install ...but I've no idea what key I now need to activate that.

Like I said you have to use the original Product Key that came with the Window 7 purchase. If that doesn't work your only choice is to buy another one. When you make a purchase of Windows 7 what you are buying is the Product Key. The DVD itself not unique and can be used with other purchased keys.

Don't try to use the same Product Key on more than one computer over a short period of time. That will guarantee that activation will fail. If the Product Key is OEM then it will only activate on the first computer installed. All subsequent attempts to activate on another computer will fail.

A year ago someone gave me an old Dell Inspiron 1420 laptop they bought for $0.50. The computer would not work at all. I pulled the hard drive and scanned it for installed software. The result was keys for Windows 7 Home and Office 2007 Standard. The laptop originally came with Windows Vista so I knew Windows 7 was retail. It took some searching online but I found the install files for both and downloaded them. I successfully installed and activated both Windows 7 and Office 2007 using the install files and the salvaged keys. That demonstrated that what was important was the Product Keys.

 

[originaljgf]

I am aware of all that. I am buying a key ...once I know which one to buy. But I am not cognizant of all the numbers and specs to determine from the MGA report what I need.

 

[torchwood]

based on the Mgadiag report you need a Retail or System Builder Ulltimate key

The type of key is determined by your NON OEM computer and the OS installed

note
you do not have to use Ultimate, Home or Pro would actually be better for your system as they require less resources.
it will also likely be easier to get either of those version keys

 

[originaljgf]

based on the Mgadiag report you need a Retail or System Builder Ulltimate key
The type of key is determined by your NON OEM computer and the OS installed
note
you do not have to use Ultimate, Home or Pro would actually be better for your system as they require less resources.
it will also likely be easier to get either of those version keys

Thanks. I didn't select Ultimate, it just happened; think I mentioned it was a yard sale purchase (one of those "end of the day" deals - "how much for all the computer stuff?"). I assumed (and we know what that means) it was a retail disk, but since I did an upgrade install over the OEM Vista on that system I wasn't sure which had precedence. Glad I didn't jump on the OEM key I found. (This whole concept is so convoluted it could have been designed by a government committee.)

Will face this ordeal again when I return to building other desktop (the PS and vid card for it are in this system now); have a "Windows 7 Pro 64bit Anytime Upgrade" disk, which I'm told will do a complete windows install if presented with a blank drive. But I haven't a key for it either, nor any idea what type of key I will need. Will burn that bridge when I get to it.

 

[SIW2]

For anybody that has the dvd:

Put the win7 (inc SP1 ) dvd in the dvd drive.

rt click the dvddrive and select copy

rt click your hard disk select paste.

In a few minutes you will have folder called something like C:\GSP1RMCULXFRER_EN_DVD

OR for anybody that has the iso ( inc SP1) rather than dvd, just extract it using 7-zip.






look inside the sources folder and delete the file called ei.cfg



Now you can create an iso from the C:\GSP1RMCULXFRER_EN_DVD folder
Dism++



All editions are now available:




:ar: 7-Zip

:ar: Dism++10.1.1002.1.zip

OR if you already have a bootable usb with the win7 install media, delete the ei.cfg file from the usb stick sources folder to make all editions available

It can be activated with oem slp activation if bios has slic2.1, or oem ( system builder) key, or full retail key

 

[originaljgf]

Interesting. So a windows install disk contains all variants of that OS but is only configured to install a specific one. MS must have been apoplectic when that became public knowledge.

Though logic tells me (and I long ago determined computers have nothing to do with logic) that even though Pro might be better for this old system than Ultimate, downgrading is not possible, it would require wiping the drive and starting fresh.

"It can be activated with oem slp activation if bios has slic2.1, or oem ( system builder) key, or full retail key"
If you have an install disk for any windows (Vista, 7, 8, etc.), but no knowledge of the source, how can you tell what key it requires?

 

[SIW2]

MS must have been apoplectic when that became public knowledge.

I doubt it. The ei.cfg is to prevent the average user installing the wrong edition by accident, then complaining it doesnt activate with the key .


Much easier for ms to make all the iso files the same, except for that little text file.

 

[originaljgf]

Lol, I was just considering the definite price difference between Home and Ultimate; if this trick were common knowledge why would anyone purchase Ultimate.

(Still searching for Retail key.)

 

[SIW2]

Any edition can be installed. A legit key for that edition is needed to activate.

 

[MisterEd]

Lol, I was just considering the definite price difference between Home and Ultimate; if this trick were common knowledge why would anyone purchase Ultimate.

(Still searching for Retail key.)

You misunderstand. You can install any edition you want but only the edition you paid for can be activated by the Product Key. If you install any other edition Windows 7 activation will fail.

One strange thing that Microsoft does not advertise is that there is no difference between Windows 7 Upgrade and Windows 7 Full versions. Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 does not check for a previous version of Windows. That means you can save money and just buy the Upgrade version even if you are building a new computer. Of course, if you feel guilty you can pay more and buy the full version.

 

[SIW2]

downgrading is not possible,

Yes it is.

To go up an edition is quick and simple.

To go down editions can be done, but it takes a little longer.

- - - Updated - - -

To go down from Ultimate to Professional


change
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]

"EditionID"="Ultimate"
"ProductName"="Windows 7 Ultimate"

TO

"EditionID"="Professional"
"ProductName"="Windows 7 Professional"

From this


To this



Make the same changes in
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]

Now run a upgrade/repair install and you end up with Pro edition

OR

To go down from Ultimate to Home Premium :

change

"EditionID"="Ultimate"
"ProductName"="Windows 7 Ultimate"

TO

"EditionID"="HomePremium"
"ProductName"="Windows 7 HomePremium"

then do upgrade/repair install

 

[originaljgf]

Yes it is.
To go up an edition is quick and simple.....

Very interesting; I have learned so much in this thread. You mentioned that Pro would be better for my old system than Ultimate, do you recommend I do this downgrade? (And then, of course, search for a Pro key instead of an Ultimate key.) If Ultimate were already activated would that activation carry "down" to Pro, or would the system revert to "Windows is not activated"? (From what I've read over the years the added features in XP, Vista, or 7 as you move up the tiers is primarily of use in business/office situations.)

- - - Updated - - -

.....
One strange thing that Microsoft does not advertise is that there is no difference between Windows 7 Upgrade and Windows 7 Full versions. Unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 does not check for a previous version of Windows. .....

That was my understanding when researching before tossing my "Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Anytime Upgrade" disk. I initially thought this was just an upgrade and would require an existing install of a pertinent OS, thus useless to me; but apparently if you boot this to an OS it does an upgrade, but if booted to a blank HD it does a full install. Cool, that's just what i need for my other desktop (I'll still need a blasted key for it).

 

[SIW2]

If Ultimate were already activated would that activation carry "down" to Pro

no . you would need a key for win7 pro. They are probably easier to find.

- - - Updated - - -
originaljgf

You might be interested in the link below

Special Windows 10 offer. Solved - Windows 10 Forums

 

[MisterEd]

That was my understanding when researching before tossing my "Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit Anytime Upgrade" disk. I initially thought this was just an upgrade and would require an existing install of a pertinent OS, thus useless to me; but apparently if you boot this to an OS it does an upgrade, but if booted to a blank HD it does a full install. Cool, that's just what i need for my other desktop (I'll still need a blasted key for it).

I built a new computer the summer of 2009 and planned to install Windows 7 on it. I used Windows 7 Pro Beta until I could get the release version.

When I went to Best Buy to buy Windows 7 all they had was Windows 7 Pro Upgrade and Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade. I only bought Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade because I thought it would be better. I should have saved my money and bought Windows 7 Pro Upgrade. Before I installed Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit I deleted the Windows 7 Pro Beta and did a clean install. I was happy that it didn't asked to prove I had a previous version of Windows. Several years later I pulled out the included 64-bit DVD and replaced Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit with Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

 

[originaljgf]

....
Make the same changes in
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]

....

Nothing to change here in my registry.

Under "CurrentVersion" is a Windows folder containing
"(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)" and
"AppInit_DLLs REG_SZ";
and a Winlogon folder containing
"(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)",
"Shell REG_SZ explorer.exe", and
"Userinit REG_SZ C:\windows\system32\userinit.exe"

 

[SIW2]