Will This Really Work?

[pop pop]

I have received my Win 7 Upgrade. I have a machine I built that has been running the RC. Will this really work?

Section 1: Installing Windows Seven

1. Insert your Windows Seven Upgrade DVD into your DVD Drive, and reboot into the DVD. If you do not know how to do this, read THIS tutorial (by Brink).
2. After the preliminary Loading screen, click on the “Install Now” button to start the Windows Seven Installation Setup.
3. In the first screen that comes up, it will ask for your Product (CD) Key. DO NOT ENTER IT! Deselect the “Activate Windows When I'm Online” as well.
4. In the next screen, you will be asked which version of Windows you would like to install. Make sure you select the version you purchased! Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) to verify that is the version you purchased.
5. Now, Setup will install the version of Windows Seven you purchased. Let it do its thing. It will reboot multiple times, just let it sit and don't mess with it until the next window comes up to ask for input.
6. The last step here is to enter in all of your information such as user name, location (date and time), and password.
7. Let it reboot one last time and test itself. At the end, you will be presented with the log in screen, and an unactivated Windows OS. Section 2 Deals with the activation process, which is a little tougher for a clean upgrade install. I do not believe there is a way around this, and nothing I found suggested that there is (most denied it out right).

Section 2: Activating the Upgrade

1. The install you just did is TEMPORARY. In 30 days, it will expire to limited function, until you enter your Key. If you enter and Activate the key you have (the upgrade one), it WILL NOT WORK! This is how you fix that!
2. Now, since you installed Windows Seven, we are going to Upgrade you from there, to Windows Seven! (I swear it makes sense!)
3. Open up computer and click on the Windows Seven Upgrade Media in your DVD drive to bring up the setup window. Click on Setup (again, I know. Just go with it; it works.) and run it,
4. Choose “Install Now” and deselect “Get Latest Updates for Installation”.
5. Now, you may enter your Product Key. You may choose to Activate Windows or not, its your choice,
6. Accept the EULA, and hit NEXT.
7. Select the UPGRADE option this time, and start the installation over the one you just did (no, it won't overwrite anything). This may take longer, but it will work just fine.
8. It will reboot a few times, then bring you directly to the Log In screen. Log in, and you are FINISHED!!!! Provided you activate Windows.

Hope that answers a lot of questions, and is easy to understand and follow. Enjoy Windows Seven!

 

[sup3rsprt]

It sounds like the old vista upgrade trick. I heard it still works in 7, which was a surprise to me.

There are also new tricks to clean install with the upgrade version. You can refer to the stickies and tutorials for more help on this subject.

 

[Saltgrass]

I have received my Win 7 Upgrade. I have a machine I built that has been running the RC. Will this really work?

The activated RC is a qualifying OS for an Upgrade DVD. It should install normally and activate normally.

 

[sup3rsprt]

Good point Saltgrass.

That trick is probably only necessary if you are doing a clean install without any prior qualifying operating system installed.

 

[sevicetech]

I have received my Win 7 Upgrade. I have a machine I built that has been running the RC. Will this really work?

The activated RC is a qualifying OS for an Upgrade DVD. It should install normally and activate normally.

Worked for me. I just did a clean install with the RC as previous OS. Put my ser# in and activated.