Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

Nope not looking any different = no os choice expanding windows :/
Possibly I'm supposed to take ownership of the iso first it did say something about needing permissions

I seem to be having the same issue as ThrashZone - although the ei.cfg file has been removed (checked both original ISO downloaded and the modified one using MagicISO) the installer still offers only Home Premium version.

I am trying to repair the Win7 Starter installation on my Samsung N150 Plus netbook in order to get it to update to SP1 in readiness to upgrade to Win10 (it fails with a 80070490 error).

I downloaded the ISO from M$ but had to enter product key to do so. I gave it my retail Home Premium key from my Desktop (M$ won't play ball with OEM Product Keys) and duly downloaded the ISO, ran it over with eicfgremover and burnt both DVD and dropped it onto a flash drive. Followed the instructions given by M$ to solve 'Windows Update error 80070490' but run into a brick wall when it won't 'upgrade' because there's a mismatch of versions (Starter/Home Premium).

Is M$ now tailoring the ISO download to the Product Key they demand (in some other way than the ei.cfg file)?

Cheers, Ron

UPDATE: Ok, I've got a little bit further with this. First, the version eicfgremover I have doesn't sufficiently hide ei.cfg from the setup software, it still gets read and taken notice-of. So, I simply dropped the original ISO onto a flash drive, mounted it, then found the file using windows explorer and deleted it manually. I guess you'd need an ISO editor if you have to burn a DVD. Then I was rewarded with the multi-option choice of version sto install.

The kick in the face soon followed when the installer refused to 'upgrade' the pre-SP1 installation with the new SP1 version. I guess, I'm going to need to find a pre-SP1 ISO and I'm going to bet they're like hen's teeth.

Seems a couple torrent options are here still,
ISO image

You should get the option before the install starts. With the Eicfg remover file, if you click it once, it removes the Eicfg, if you run it a second time it puts it back. I don't recall for sure, but I don't believe the Starter version is one of the options you get.

Steve I have an all in one that has a Starter version I don't remember if it's just a 32-bit or the 64-bit one but it's there. I will start up the VMware and check it out.

Jerry

32-bit has Starter in it.

Jerry

Thanks guys for your input. After, I'd written my last comment it dawned on me that the retail pack I'd bought would be pre-SP1 as it was a pre-release offer. I used ImgBurn to create an ISO from the 32bit disc and then dropped it back onto the flash drive (I use Universal USB Installer) - bingo - setup, offered me the version menu and yes, the Starter version is there. Selected, it started a 'Compatibility' test before the install and got stuck there for half-an-hour. How long it intended to remain there, I don't know but I had to interrupt it.

There is no guarantee that the 'Upgrade/repair' will solve the SP1 update-fail problem anyway - so I might have to rethink this approach and put up with pre-SP1 Win7 or do a clean install. However, this has drifted off-topic, so I'll leave it there. Thanks again guys.
Ron

UPDATE: I re-ran the setup when I had more time and it did eventually complete the compatibility check. Once the two issues were sorted (uninstall iTunes and increase free disc space), the install ran through to completion. 'Activation' wouldn't accept the Product Key from the label on the case but it did take the (different) Product Key previously reported by Belarc Advisor. Yayy! After several failed SP1 update attempts, a second attempt at KB976932 finally worked. Yayyyy! I've only been trying to do this for four years! Now, I wonder if it will let me upgrade to Win10?