Is it possible to de-activate Windows 7?

[Narsil]

...He's a show-off, though and will probably want Ultimate.

Windows Anytime Upgrade: Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate - Buy from Microsoft Store

Pricing here in the UK means that me keeping my licence + him buying ultimate retail = £169. Me giving him my licence + Ultimate Anytime Upgrade + New Home Premium licence for me = £205.

Nice idea though.

 

[Bill2]

Who says?

You mean it's possible to update a non-activated installation? I'd just assumed you couldn't because you had to validate it first. Go on, I'm all ears :shock:

Trial modes are fully functional versions.

 

[Narsil]

Who says?

You mean it's possible to update a non-activated installation? I'd just assumed you couldn't because you had to validate it first. Go on, I'm all ears :shock:

Trial modes are fully functional versions.

Ahh, OK. I thought you meant that I could install my home premium, leave it un-activated and still have it update. Sorry, my bad. Using the Enterprise trial version for testing definitely seems the way to go.

Cheers!

 

[Bill2]

I thought you meant that I could install my home premium, leave it un-activated and still have it update.Cheers!

I meant exactly that.

 

[Narsil]

I meant exactly that.

Eureka! I think something in my brain has dropped into place. Finally.

New system, clean install. Of course.

Cheers, Bill!

 

[gregrocker]

You want to follow Bill's advice and use the unactivated retail Win7 Premium for trial.

This way your friend can extend activation up to 120 days while he tries it out, and if satisfied can just insert a Home Premium Product Key bought at legit merchant (not Ebay!) at his convenience.

There is no way to continue use of the 90 day Enterprise edition even with the in-place upgrade/downgrade workaround as it uses a different licensing scheme, so he would be stuck with it with no ability to simply insert a Product key and keep his install.

 

[Narsil]

You want to follow Bill's advice and use the unactivated retail Win7 Premium for trial.

This way your friend can extend activation up to 120 days while he tries it out, and if satisfied can just insert a Home Premium Product Key bought at legit merchant (not Ebay!) at his convenience.

There is no way to continue use of the 90 day Enterprise edition even with the in-place upgrade/downgrade workaround as it uses a different licensing scheme, so he would be stuck with it with no ability to simply insert a Product key and keep his install.

Yes indeed, and thanks! He'll most likely use home premium eventually so I agree, it makes sense to use it in trial mode.
This is all really useful info for me, because I personally also have a second PC running on XP that is basically made out of old parts I had lying about. It's connected to my TV and is just used for streaming live football (or 'soccer' as the colonies call it) matches, web surfing, youtube and the like. I can now try out windows 7 on that as well.

Again, thanks everyone.

EDIT: Oh, you have good taste in music Greg. Although I'm more of an Interpol man myself

 

[blad444]

reactivate my windows 7

I bought a new loptop and I was working on Office programs normally but after a while
I get this message

I have tried to enter the product number which is in the bottom of the device but I get it not right

i need advice my windows is Genuine but i cannot use anything

 

[gregrocker]

Since you don't say, we have no idea whether you paid for Office on your new laptop, are buying the trial version, or have installed another Office which you own.

It's possible it is a trial version of Office as most new consumer laptops have those preinstalled.

You may need to uninstall and reinstall your licensed Office version.

 

[jimbo45]

Who says?

You mean it's possible to update a non-activated installation? I'd just assumed you couldn't because you had to validate it first. Go on, I'm all ears :shock:

Hi there

usually SECURITY updates will activate - MS has a policy of allowing these even on some "dubious sourced" Windows since it will try and prevent transmission of Viruses etc.

However for things like IE9 etc and other software upgrades Windows will need to not only be activated but it will also have to pass the "Genuine Windows Validation test".

Your retail copy shouldn't have any problems with this BTW.

Note if you want to install MS's fairly decent security package MSE then your Windows will also need to be activated and be Genuine.

No probs as others have suggested in installing Windows on another computer to test that it works --BUT DON'T ACTIVATE.

I think bog standard retail is valid for 30 days before activation.

Technically you shouldn't run the same copy of Windows on more than one machine at the same time but as you are only TESTING in PRIVATE to see if W7 works on the hardware and you (or the other person) intends to get a licence no COURT is going to give you a hard time on this even if in purely "Lawyers speak" this is technically breaking the EULA.

I'm sure anybody who builds computers or often changes\the hardware around has done this loads of times.

I don't believe MS would have ANY problem with this especially after your testing ANOTHER copy of W7 is sold.

Cheers
jimbo