Vista upgrade to 7 no disk help.

[Kawaiipatch]

So my pc was bring really crappy and slow so i decided to reformat it when i accidentally put in my old windows Vista install disc. the problem is I have my Vista cd key at my parents house and i have my Windows 7 key psychically on my computer. Is there anyway i can upgrade from vista to 7 without any disc?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You need installation media of some type--either a DVD or a USB stick.

You could download a legal Windows 7 ISO. But you'd have to get it onto a disc or stick. I'm not aware of any way to install directly from the ISO.

Not sure what you mean by "I have my Windows 7 key physically on my computer". Keys are normally on a sticker or written down somewhere.

Could you write the 25 characters in the Windows 7 Product Key down on a piece of paper right now?

The key is what you pay for. The discs or the ISO are a dime a dozen. Or less.

 

[gregrocker]

You need a Win7 key to reinstall, so why was it not preserved like one would save a $150 valuable, or at least retrieved before beginning the reinstall?

If you didn't actually format the drive yet then we might be able to help you get it started to read the key from within Win7. Exactly what did you do with the Vista disk?

It isn't even necessary to install Vista to upgrade to Win7. Just boot the Win7 disk to do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html deleting all partitions to create and format new at Steps 7 and 8.

The installer will see an OS on the drive to allow use of Upgrade key during install. If not leave the key blank until after install then do the quick Option Three workaround in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[Kawaiipatch]

So i can download the ISO and put it onto a USB drive then when i boot my comp i boot from Flashdrive first?

 

[gregrocker]

Do you have a key to reinstall Win7?

If so download your licensed version of Win7 from STep 1 of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 then use the tool in Step 2 to write to stick.

Boot the installation media to http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html deleting all partitions during Steps 7 and 8.

Look over these steps for a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 for valuable tips and tools for doing a perfect Win7 install, particularly how drivers are handled. Put your network driver in the backup so you can get online quickly if it isn't provided during install to run all Important and Optional Windows Updates.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

So i can download the ISO and put it onto a USB drive then when i boot my comp i boot from Flashdrive first?

Assuming it's a bootable flash drive. I think there's a tutorial on this site on how to do it.

You'd still need the key to activate.