Is there a way for me to upgrade to Windows 7 legally?

[mwmorph]

Hi all,

I bought the Windows 7 Upgrade for my PC from the student discount page. I chose the download version to upgrade my WinXP install.

Unfortunately, unlike other download versions, namely like on Microsoft store, it seems like I can only download the installer and not the .iso file for a custom install.

I would go back and pay the $13 for a backup disc, but there is no way to go back and order just the backup disc additionally without ordering the entire package again, which probably also wouldn't work due to the 1 copy per person limit.

Is there any way to LEGALLY get a .iso image of Windows 7 64bit Professional so I can custom install and upgrade from Windows XP? As of right now, I have a valid CD key... and what seems like no ability to use it.

Can anyone help me? Does Microsoft keep a Win 7 64 bit iso download somewhere for people in my situation? Is there a legal torrent just containing the Win 7 Pro 64bit disk so I can burn it and custom install?

Thanks in advance

 

[mechBgon]

Why not just use the installer that you have?

 

[UsandThem]

When you click the installer it will combine the downloaded files.

Read this thread and follow TheSlamma's advice (I did and it worked perfect) It involves downloading a small utitlity and using the command prompt:

Link

Just be sure to burn a couple ISO discs, as the first one I burned didn't work (even after I had the freeware IMGBURN program verifty it). The ISO disc I burned with Roxio worked great.

 

[KeypoX]

theres gotta be a way to make an iso or usb drive from that exe. It must extract before isntall you just gotta get the contents of the extraction.

Worst case scenario. Install win 7 RC and then install from there.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Why not just use the installer that you have?

Installers don't work, cant upgrade from XP, to upgrade, it requires a partition format and clean install.

Originally posted by: KeypoX
theres gotta be a way to make an iso or usb drive from that exe. It must extract before isntall you just gotta get the contents of the extraction.

Worst case scenario. Install win 7 RC and then install from there.

I did try that too since I tested Win 7 beta and RC. I'm typing this from a fresh RC install, still a no go. (Might have something to do with the RC being Ultimate and the student version being professional)

Originally posted by: UsandThem
When you click the installer it will combine the downloaded files.

Read this thread and follow TheSlamma's advice (I did and it worked perfect) It involves downloading a small utitlity and using the command prompt:

Link

Just be sure to burn a couple ISO discs, as the first one I burned didn't work (even after I had the freeware IMGBURN program verifty it). The ISO disc I burned with Roxio worked great.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Hope I do it right though, haven't used a command line since my Windows 3.1 days back when I was 5 or 6.

 

[UsandThem]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Hope I do it right though, haven't used a command line since my Windows 3.1 days back when I was 5 or 6.

Yeah it took me a few attempts with the command prompt as I haven't used it for years.

I couldn't for the life of me remember how to get into a different directory

Just look at both of TheSlamma's posts and you will get it done. Good luck.

 

[jlee]

The exe doesn't install 7 - it unpacks the compressed files.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: JLee
The exe doesn't install 7 - it unpacks the compressed files.

It unpacks but then runs setup,.exe from your HDD preventing a proper format and install.

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Hope I do it right though, haven't used a command line since my Windows 3.1 days back when I was 5 or 6.

Yeah it took me a few attempts with the command prompt as I haven't used it for years.

I couldn't for the life of me remember how to get into a different directory

Just look at both of TheSlamma's posts and you will get it done. Good luck.

Thanks man, took a couple tried but finally got Win 7 up and running now. Since the files provided in the download package are identical to the iso, just not in a bootable form, why Digital River/MS doesn't release just the iso is beyond me.

I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem since the only way to use the HDD update to Win 7 Pro 64bit is if you are upgrading from Vista Business 64bit so the majority of guys would be like me, stuck without a way to upgrade.

 

[jlee]

Ahh. I didn't get that far without an error. I'll try making an ISO out of it and see if I have any luck. I do have 7 RC on a bootable thumbdrive...can I just copy the files over to that?

 

[alohapc]

yup, win 7 will install off a usb stick just like the rc
as long as the usb is already rc bootable, just copy the files over, and it will work

works on a sandisk cruzer and a cheap pny, both 4 gb usb sticks

i searched google 'install win 7 from usb'
and one of the first 5 websites worked
the one with the diskpart utility procedure
and don't forget bootsect on the win 7 cd

--------------------------------------------------------

for win 7 ms gave me 4 download options:
32 bit .exe
32 bit .iso
64 bit .exe
64 bit .iso

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: alohapc
yup, win 7 will install off a usb stick just like the rc
as long as the usb is already rc bootable, just copy the files over, and it will work

works on a sandisk cruzer and a cheap pny, both 4 gb usb sticks

i searched google 'install win 7 from usb'
and one of the first 5 websites worked
the one with the diskpart utility procedure
and don't forget bootsect on the win 7 cd

--------------------------------------------------------

for win 7 ms gave me 4 download options:
32 bit .exe
32 bit .iso
64 bit .exe
64 bit .iso

Unfortunately, the Digital River download doesn't give you a choice. I wonder if I can order another student copy through MS..?

 

[mwmorph]

I actually called MS and they just referred me back to Digital River. I've heard of 1 person having success from MS so your mileage may vary, but from my experience, it points to no.

You could just use the OSCDIMG utility to convert your files into a bootable disc.
http://technet.microsoft.com/e...y/cc749036(WS.10).aspx

In this case,
1. run your Win7-P-Retail-en-us-x64.exe program to unpack the Windows 7 installer files.
2. ind where they were unpacked, for me it was D:\win7\expandedSetup
3. Run CMD in admin mode(C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe)
4. Go to the folder you have OSCDIMG.exe and type with the following syntax:
Oscdimg.exe ?u2 ?b<drive and folder>\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com ?h <drive and folder>\expandedSetup <drive and folder>\Win7.iso

For example for me, it was
Oscdimg.exe ?u2 ?bD:\win7\expandedSetup\boot\etfsboot.com ?h D:\win7\expandedSetup D:\win7\Win7.iso

And in a few minutes you should have a burnable, bootable win7 iso setup disc. I burned it with imgburn and then disc verified with Nero Discspeed 5 to make sure it was a good burn.