Windows 7 Upgrade Paths - FAQ

[Infoman]

Hi, Greg!

You're welcome!

The Win 7 Ultimate (7100) to Win 7 Home Premium 7600 downgrade installed successfully is running superbly!

Thanks again!

Andy

 

[vraider]

Hi! Guys

Id like some help here ..
Im currently trying to down grade from RC to home premium but cant find the registry entries that have to be modified,EditionID and ProductName @hklm . Ive attached a screenshot of my registry .
Id like to know -
a whether these entries are hidden OR are just missing?
b) wat could i do to install home premium asap, (as it has to be done in a couple of days else I' m fired! :shock

Expecting help

 

[gregrocker]

Go back to the link Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to any retail version Icrontic Tech and follow the exact path shown: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version.

In your screenshot above, you have not yet opened Microsoft key, or it's subfolder Windows NT, which is where you will find Current Version.

Be sure to set a restore point first and check your work as regediting can be very unforgiving of imprecision.

 

[vraider]

Go back to the link Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to any retail version Icrontic Tech and follow the exact path shown: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version.

In your screenshot above, you have not yet opened Microsoft key, or it's subfolder Windows NT, which is where you will find Current Version.

Be sure to set a restore point first and check your work as regediting can be very unforgiving of imprecision.

Gee, guess i was just blind for a while .Anyways

THANKS a TON,Greg!

I'll be doing the downgrade over the week and will post as soon as im done !!

 

[iknownothing]

Q.: I am running the RC, can I upgrade that to the commercial version with an upgrade disc?
A.: No. The RC is a free evaluation version and does not qualify as a valid license for upgrade.

Thanks, Wally. This is the first time I have seen these words in print.

There was some confusion over MS allowing millions of beta testers to Upgrade via clean install from the RC.

This was merely a convenience and not an exception to the EULA that a qualifying XP/Vista license must be on hand to use an Upgrade version.

Question as I installed the RC on one of my office computers: Is it possible for me to reset the computer to factory defaults and get Vista back on there? That way I can use my valid Vista license to do an upgrade?

EDIT:
After reading some of the other posts, I have this question: Another post said Vista does not need to be installed, so long as I have a license, correct? I have a license as this computer had Vista before I put RC on there. Will the Windows 7 Upgrade CD recognize this or do I need to dig up a license number from somewhere? I'm not even sure where I would look for that as Vista came pre-installed on the laptop.

 

[derekimo]

Q.: I am running the RC, can I upgrade that to the commercial version with an upgrade disc?
A.: No. The RC is a free evaluation version and does not qualify as a valid license for upgrade.

Thanks, Wally. This is the first time I have seen these words in print.

There was some confusion over MS allowing millions of beta testers to Upgrade via clean install from the RC.

This was merely a convenience and not an exception to the EULA that a qualifying XP/Vista license must be on hand to use an Upgrade version.

Question as I installed the RC on one of my office computers: Is it possible for me to reset the computer to factory defaults and get Vista back on there? That way I can use my valid Vista license to do an upgrade?

EDIT:
After reading some of the other posts, I have this question: Another post said Vista does not need to be installed, so long as I have a license, correct? I have a license as this computer had Vista before I put RC on there. Will the Windows 7 Upgrade CD recognize this or do I need to dig up a license number from somewhere? I'm not even sure where I would look for that as Vista came pre-installed on the laptop.

I don't think you'll need your vista key if you use the method gregrocker was pointing out in the post above yours. Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to any retail version Icrontic Tech

 

[gregrocker]

Question as I installed the RC on one of my office computers: Is it possible for me to reset the computer to factory defaults and get Vista back on there? That way I can use my valid Vista license to do an upgrade?

EDIT:
After reading some of the other posts, I have this question: Another post said Vista does not need to be installed, so long as I have a license, correct? I have a license as this computer had Vista before I put RC on there. Will the Windows 7 Upgrade CD recognize this or do I need to dig up a license number from somewhere? I'm not even sure where I would look for that as Vista came pre-installed on the laptop.

You don't need to have Vista on the computer to use the Win7 Upgrade version. In fact, MS extended this courtesy exactly for your situation so millions of beta testers running the RC don't have to be inconvenienced to reinstall Vista or XP.

Whether you boot the DVD or run it from the RC, it will scan the HD to see an OS and allow the Upgrade key. More information is here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

Many have even succeeded in doing an in-place Upgrade from the RC using this popular workaround: Upgrade the Windows 7 RC to any retail version Icrontic Tech

 

[wallyinnc]

Thanks Greg. I updated the original post to better clarify this. The way it was written, it meant it was not technically possible to do so, not that it is a licensing issue, and was misleading.

 

[vraider]

Hey Greg! and thanks a ton!
The in place downgrade form RC to Home premium worked perfectly.no issues AT ALL!!

 

[gregrocker]

Glad to hear it.

 

[deanoids]

Rejected Win 7 disks

I have loaded an run Vista 32 on my Mac Pro it runs and is a clean install but I cannot upgrade to Win 7 either 32 or 64 disks just keep getting rejected and spit out, anyone know why ?

 

[MisterActorMan]

Hi, I have a couple of questions about upgrading--please redirect me to the appropriate forum area if this one is not right.

I have a Desktop and a Laptop. The Laptop came (bought used) with Win7 Ultimate RC (32bit), and expires in about two weeks.

On my desktop I'm running a Win7 Pro (32bit), that I bought really inexpensively through Microsoft's Digital River Ultimate Steal program for students (yay student discounts!).

I have recently decided that I want my desktop to run 64bit if possible, which it is. So, since I can still get a great deal as a student on Win 7 Pro (64bit), what I'd like to do is this:

Buy another version of Win 7 Pro (64bit). Install the Win 7 Pro (64bit) on my desktop. Install my other Win 7 Pro (32bit) on my laptop.
Is this legal? Is it plausible?

I read above that if you buy the retail version than it's fine to install it on another computer, the other computer with it on it (desktop) will just not use it anymore. Fine, since I'll have bought the 64bit and that'll be what it (desktop) runs from here on.

So...I guess, how do I tell if I bought the "full retail" versus the "full OEM" version? And how should I work this out with MS reps; I mean, I did buy two copies of the software, etc.

Thank you!

 

[Kari]

Hi, I have a couple of questions about upgrading--please redirect me to the appropriate forum area if this one is not right.

...

This is quite common situation when you have two or more computers, and you want to re-install already activated Windows on another machine.

The best answer I know is to do as you have planned, and if activation fails after installing the 32-bit on laptop, do a phone activation. Our own Brink has made an easy to follow tutorial about phone activation: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18715-activate-windows-7-phone.html

Digital River downloaded Windows 7 is a retail version.

Kari

 

[wallyinnc]

Buy another version of Win 7 Pro (64bit). Install the Win 7 Pro (64bit) on my desktop. Install my other Win 7 Pro (32bit) on my laptop.
Is this legal? Is it plausible?

Mister, the key is in this sentence: if you have two retail licenses, you can install in 2 different computers, no questions asked. If you had an upgrade license, the EULA requires you to have a previous valid copy of either Vista or XP. The RC didn't qualify as a previous license, although it allows you to install an upgrade version of windows 7.

 

[MisterActorMan]

Hoooraay! Digital Rivers in Retail! I'll have two install files and two activation codes! you have made me so happpyyy! Thanks y'all

 

[wallyinnc]

Another satisfied customer! I am glad to know it will work for you
Let us know if you hit any snag during installation

 

[pebbly]

Another satisfied customer! I am glad to know it will help for you
Let us know if you hit any snag during installation

OT happy birthday wallyinnc

 

[wallyinnc]

Tks pebbly. And I feel the weight of the age, I just saw my post doesn't make a lot of sense. Editing it now...

 

[Rockfella]

I never upgrade, it is a clean install or me always.

 

[jasin]

Back in the day you could buy the upgrade version of windows and install it like a full OS. A lot of people did that to save some extra money.