Is it possible to de-activate Windows 7?

Thorsen said:

You could possibly install the Enterprise 90 Day trial. If that works, Home and Pro will work: Windows 7 Enterprise | Trial, Evaluation, Test, Download

Excellent! Probably the workaround I was looking for! I didn't realise there was a trial version of any kind of Windows 7 available, other than the old 7100 RC build. Will this trial version update though? Actually, I can check it out myself. I'm lazy, but not THAT lazy.

Thanks

Just be real careful if you are using your own copy. Activation is automatic by default. Don't want to accidentally activate on the new machine which would then invalidate your original machine.

Personally I might go fo rthe explicit 90 day trial key thorsen mentoined just to be safe :)

fseal said:

Just be real careful if you are using your own copy. Activation is automatic by default. Don't want to accidentally activate on the new machine which would then invalidate your original machine.

Personally I might go fo rthe explicit 90 day trial key thorsen mentoined just to be safe :)

lol...you need to actually enter the key to make it activate online by default or by accident. Just dont enter the key and uncheck the box "Activate automatically when I go online", that'll make sure.

Bill2 said:

Just install your copy of win7 on the friend's PC but DONT ACTIVATE. You can continue in this unactivated state for 120 days max after which you need to get a genuine copy. That should give you sufficient time to try out drivers etc. on the friend's machine.

I don't think you can get windows updates on a non-activated copy though, can you? To be honest, that is exactly what I was planning to do, but if something needs a windows update to work, then I'd have to be prepared to activate/validate/update it to see if it fixed it. Otherwise, I'd end up getting numerous "The screen's gone all blue again" calls if I let him try and sort it himself. Wish I'd kept my mouth shut about the spare board now.

Thanks, anyway

Narsil said:

Bill2 said:

Just install your copy of win7 on the friend's PC but DONT ACTIVATE. You can continue in this unactivated state for 120 days max after which you need to get a genuine copy. That should give you sufficient time to try out drivers etc. on the friend's machine.

I don't think you can get windows updates on a non-activated copy though, can you? To be honest, that is exactly what I was planning to do, but if something needs a windows update to work, then I'd have to be prepared to activate/validate/update it to see if it fixed it. Otherwise, I'd end up getting numerous "The screen's gone all blue again" calls if I let him try and sort it himself. Wish I'd kept my mouth shut about the spare board now.

Thanks, anyway

Who says?

Cheers, fellas.

I've repped everyone who replied (I think!). I'll start with the Enterprise trial, I didn't even know it existed. Potentially saved me a load of grief, that.

Narsil said:

...He's a show-off, though and will probably want Ultimate.

Windows Anytime Upgrade: Windows 7 Home Premium to Ultimate - Buy from Microsoft Store

Bill2 said:

Who says?

You mean it's possible to update a non-activated installation? I'd just assumed you couldn't because you had to validate it first. Go on, I'm all ears