How do I determine which edition will be installed?

[curtj]

Is there a way I can determine which edition will be installed just by looking at the files on the install DVD?

 

[zigzag3143]

Is there a way I can determine which edition will be installed just by looking at the files on the install DVD?

What key do you have?

 

[Brink]

A legal Windows 7 installation disc will have what edition (ex: Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, etc..) it is written on the disc.

 

[Dwarf]

To further clarify this. All editions of Windows 7 are on the same disk and it is the product key that you enter during setup that determines which of the editions gets installed. As Shawn mentioned, legitimate W7 disks will have the edition written on the label. One of the benefits of this is that it allows you to try out the other editions without actually having to buy them by simply installing without entering a product key. You will have 30 days to evaluate, and, if you want more time then you can further extend the period by following this Tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/875-activation-trial-period-extend-up-120-days.html. A side benefit of this, and one that was introduced with Vista, is the idea of anytime upgrades. With this, you supply your details to Microsoft and they then issue you with a product key that you can use on your existing media to upgrade to a higher edition. There is a charge for this, but it is considerably less than it would be to buy the media as well.

 

[curtj]

I'm sure that there are people who visit these forums and naively post blatant questions pertaining to copyright infringement, software piracy and generally illegal activities and now seeing the replies to my question I should have anticipated this prior to posting my question.

I'm assuming that my question isn't being answered not because the answers will open up Windows 7 to global duplication and piracy, but because I look like one of the naive fools I've outlined above, and therefore should be frowned upon.

I can assure you I am not one of those people.

I'll explain, but without going into too much detail - enough to get an answer to my question, hopefully. If not, fair enough - I'll still get this install done, but will probably have to waste some time, and that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid.

I work for a company in Ireland (I'd rather not say who at this point). Our main office is based in Dublin but I'm currently in the UK Midlands for the rest of the week. I have two days to kill and have asked IT if I can upgrade my lappy to W7 Pro. The tech guy I spoke to (on Sat) uploaded a W7 iso to our server, which I downloaded overnight. I've burnt it to disk this morning and am ready to install it and asked him to email me the license key.
He's now said that he doesn't know if it's enterprise or professional and I'll have to install it and wait until it gets to a point where I know which version it is before he'll send me the license key. This is fine, but he's the only tech in IT until midweek, and isn't always immediately available, meaning that I can back up my stuff to the second HD, install over the existing OS, then call him - and potentially have to wait for a day until I hear from him and basically have no laptop to work on until that point and I really don't want to do this as I have to access my emails throughout the next two days in prep for My meeting on Wednesday. So if I knew what I was looking for I could scan through the files in the ISO to see if it is enterprise or professional, then let him know what it is by email, and I can continue to use the lappy until he emails the key through to me - thus avoiding being without a machine for X hours.

This is the reason I don't know which version I have in my possession, and I hope you can see why I need to know.

If nobody can help me, or wants to help me then I understand. I'll just have to bite the bullet and hope that I can get in touch with him.

I'd like to install it asap, as I do enjoy setting up a new OS, and a bored out of my mind in this place.

 

[curtj]

Doh!

I've just read (properly) Dwarf's post.

So, I can install this without entering a key, and then enter the key later on?

If it installs the correct version (enterprise for example) when the key is entered, what version is installed if the key isn't entered as Dwarf suggests? Home basic or something?

If it does do this (I can't think how else it would work) does this also mean that when I come to enter the proper key, I'll have to put the disk back in to get the additional components to bring it up to the version determined by the key?

Also, just so nobody associates me with illegal activities, are you correct in what you say Brink? Even though I am using a legitimate license, if I make a disk from this ISO it is considered illegal? I obviously don't wish to break any laws at all! It's just an OS and I can wait if that's the case.
Makes me think though - W7 is made so it can be installed from a USB drive, meaning that at some point it will have to be copied from an original DVD onto the USB drive. That being a legitimate act, what's the difference between doing that and burning it to an ISO and back to DVD for distribution purposes as in my case? Just a thought, not saying you're wrong or course - looking at your post count you're obviously an authority here.

Appreciate all of your replies, thanks guys.

 

[Brink]

Cutj,

As long as you have a legal product key license number, then you are fine.

You can try installing it with the product key number entered to see what edition you have during it. If it gives you a invalid key number, then just install it without entering the key and get one from the IT for the installed edition.

If it installs with your key, then you can activate it afterwards. If not, then you can just enter the key later and activate it then. You have a 30 grace period to activate that can be extended up to 120 days if needed.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[woebetide]

Hi curtj, hope this helps

Is there an ei.cfg in your (dvd):\sources dir?
If so, open with notepad, should be something like:

[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0

So Ultimate will install as default if you don't enter a key.

To check which versions are on the DVD:
In CMD window:
DISM.exe /Get-WimInfo /WimFile:K:\sources\install.wim
K: is the DVD drive here ( so /Wimfilepath to install.wim)

Result should be something like:

Index : 1
Name : Windows 7 HOMEBASIC
Description : Windows 7 HOMEBASIC
Size : 11.500.789.302 bytes

Index : 2
Name : Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM
Description : Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM
Size : 12.012.660.212 bytes

Index : 3
Name : Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL
Description : Windows 7 PROFESSIONAL
Size : 11.910.752.928 bytes

Index : 4
Name : Windows 7 ULTIMATE
Description : Windows 7 ULTIMATE
Size : 12.070.211.908 bytes

Hope this is off any help.

 

[curtj]

Thanks for the info Shawn.

Woebetide - that's perfect. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.