Using Family Upgrade pack on different computers...

[skiltrip]

I plan on upgrading three computers to Win7 with the Family Home Premium 3-pack upgrade.

My question is regarding the XP versions they will be replacing.

2 of these licenses are a multi-license serial key from a former job that has since shut down. Myself, and 2 other IT guys have been using the serial ever since on our personal computers. It was a 100-license serial key or something like that. At this point, maybe 3-5 licenses are actually being used between us.

The 3rd of these computers is an Acer Desktop that had WinXP already installed on it.

Is there any reason I can't use the three copies of Win7 upgrade on these three machines? My main questions are about the multi-user serial, if that would cause any problems, and also that 2 are one serial number, and the other is a 3rd unrelated one.

 

[DocBrown]

The upgrade versions do not check for XP serial key codes

Have a look at this tutorial

:ar:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[skiltrip]

The upgrade versions do not check for XP serial key codes

Have a look at this tutorial

:ar:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Very helpful information. So it's basically on the "honor system" correct?

This kind of puts my fears of complication to rest.

 

[DocBrown]

The upgrade versions do not check for XP serial key codes

Have a look at this tutorial

:ar:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Very helpful information. So it's basically on the "honor system" correct?

This kind of puts my fears of complication to rest.

Yes, basically they want you to say you are a fomer user of a previous valid version & not just a first time user of Windows.

 

[skiltrip]

The upgrade versions do not check for XP serial key codes

Have a look at this tutorial

:ar:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Very helpful information. So it's basically on the "honor system" correct?

This kind of puts my fears of complication to rest.

Yes, basically they want you to say you are a fomer user of a previous valid version & not just a first time user of Windows.

Excellent. All I'm interested in is doing a clean 64bit installation. Looks like I can just boot from the 64bit install disk and do the deed. Thanks again for the quick response. This is my first thread (and my first posts) but might become a regular pretty quickly!

 

[DocBrown]

On your first install do NOT enter the Serial Key Code & activate. Because you may have to do a second install overtop of the first one because of the upgrade check.

 

[skiltrip]

On your first install do NOT enter the Serial Key Code & activate. Because you may have to do a second install overtop of the first one because of the upgrade check.

Is this referring to this part of the link you posted?..

"1. Do a clean install at boot without checking the Automatically activate Windows when I'm online box during the installation process.

2. When the installation is finished, then manually activate Windows 7 with your product key number."

If so, got it!

 

[DocBrown]

Have you bought the 3 pack yet ?

On Sale at TigerDirect $149.99

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...k-xp-32-bit-windows-7-64-bit.html#post1082001

 

[skiltrip]

Have you bought the 3 pack yet ?

On Sale at TigerDirect $149.99

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...k-xp-32-bit-windows-7-64-bit.html#post1082001

Actually just got it from newegg.com for $129.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116775

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello skiltrip, welcome to Seven Forums!



Here is something that has come up lately as a work-around, instead of a second install, after the first install has completed; in an elevated command window type ...

slmgr -upk

then slmgr.vbs -ipk leave a space and enter the product key and hit <enter>

then slmgr.vbs -ato <enter>

click to enlarge


​

 

[DocBrown]

Thanks, BFK,


another great tip for the upgrade installations

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Thanks, BFK,


another great tip for the upgrade installations

Thanks Doc but I have to give the credit to Bill2 it was his idea.

 

[skiltrip]

Thanks, BFK,


another great tip for the upgrade installations

But i can avoid this by doing as you suggested correct?

 

[gregrocker]

Anytime you install an upgrade version to a wiped or new HD, you need to do one of the workarounds to activate it.

This is because the installer searches the HD at bootup to see if there is any OS, to allow Upgrade version key upfront - even if you then go on to use Custom>Drive Options to delete, repartition and format.

If necessary because no OS is on the HD to be read by installer, you can wait until after install and use one of the standard workarounds, or try the new slmgr one introduced by Bill2.

Standard workarounds: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[skiltrip]

I assume either of these methods also require me to start with an already formatted hard-drive? (it currently has XP Pro 32bit on it). If so, what's the best tool to use to format it? Can I just use the XP CD to do the format but not install WinXP? Or is there a different
tool I should use?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again.



Doing a clean install of Windows 7 you can use the method out-lined in Step One of this tutorial at the link below to get the best possible space to install Windows to, Step Two doesn't have to be done if you want to format using the installer; just be sure to have backups of anything you don't want to lose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation



Just to be sure, do not enter a key here, leave it blank.

click to enlarge

​

 

[skiltrip]

I definitely will make sure I have any program installers copied from my C: drive. If I happen to have any files on there I'll copy those too. I have a 3 other internal drives I keep all my files on to make reformatting and re-installing quick and painless.


I'm a little unclear if I can follow these tutorials with XP 32bit already installed on my CD drive.

With my current situation, am I able to just insert the Win7 64bit disk, reboot and reboot from the disk, reformat my C: drive (there is only one single partition), install Win7, skipping the enter key part. Then do one of the workarounds (the manual activation or elevated command line method)?

Do I have this right? I just wanted sure If when I booted from the Win7 upgrade disk if it would cause a problem if it already saw WinXP on there.

 

[gregrocker]

The point of my earlier post is that if you boot the Win7 DVD with XP on one of the HD's, it will scan the HD's to see it and allow use the Upgrade version Product Key up front, and you won't have to do one of the workarounds. You can even use Custom>Drive tools to delete, repartition and format since installer will already have passed a flag allowing Upgrade version key.

Since you have several HD's, the best arrangement if you'd want to keep XP is to put Win7 on a separate HD booted via BIOS. If you decide you'd like to have this dual-boot arrangement, unplug XP drive during install, set Win7 HD as first to boot in BIOS setup, boot the DVD to wipe the HD and install Win7. You'll need to do one of the workarounds after install as XP will not be seen when installer when it boots.

After install, plug back in XP HD and boot it using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on the first boot screen - every computer has one. This keeps both HD's independent to come and go as you please.

 

[dajogejr]

I'm trying to figure out how a volume license key that was used and belonged to a company that is no longer around is valid for you to use on the personal computers you and friends own.

Did your company release or transfer rights/ownership of those licenses to you and friends when it went out of business?

If not, using the upgrade is illegal.

If they are truly in your name, that's a different story.

Just because the company that owned them is no longer around doesn't mean you "get" them by default.
Microsoft doesn't operate like your local lost and found....