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The Full On Windows 7 Upgrade **Matrix**

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8. What's the deal with the Free Enterprise Edition?

The enterprise edition will work for 90 days (and perhaps 450 days), and then requires you to do a re-install even if you buy a license key. The License key however is NOT available to the general public.
 
Yeah, the 90-day Enterprise Edition is kinda' worthless to most, since you can only use it with a Volume-License Key and a Key Server. For most of us, it's only useful if we need a 90-day trial and are willing to erase it afterwards.
 
Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
Upgrade media is NOT boot-able according to some user reports.
Click to expand...
More likely, it'll boot (for recovery purpose), but won't allow an Install from outside of Windows.
 
Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
Upgrade media is NOT boot-able according to some user reports.
Click to expand...
More likely, it'll boot (for recovery purposes), but won't allow an install from outside of Windows. That's how Vista Upgrade-only DVDs worked.
 
Originally posted by: 13Gigatons


7. Is the upgrade media bootable?

Upgrade media is NOT boot-able according to some user reports and requires that a previous version of Windows be present and activated.
[/L]
Click to expand...

Download some xlite program, or MS AIK + make it so?
 
So can I go from Windows Vista 32-bit home premium, to Windows 7 64-bit Pro (with the $30 student upgrade)? Clean install?

Secondly, I hear bad things about how upgrading ends up using more hard drive space than is necessary. Is this true with just the "file upgrade", or does it also affect the "clean install" on top of a previous OS like my situation?
 
Originally posted by: jaydee
So can I go from Windows Vista 32-bit home premium, to Windows 7 64-bit Pro (with the $30 student upgrade)? Clean install?

Secondly, I hear bad things about how upgrading ends up using more hard drive space than is necessary. Is this true with just the "file upgrade", or does it also affect the "clean install" on top of a previous OS like my situation?
Click to expand...

Yes 32-bit home premium to Windows 7 64-bit Pro requires a clean install.

After doing the clean install windows.old, program files.old, etc can be deleted at your discretion.
 
Originally posted by: Comdrpopnfresh
Originally posted by: 13Gigatons


7. Is the upgrade media bootable?

Upgrade media is NOT boot-able according to some user reports and requires that a previous version of Windows be present and activated.
[/L]
Click to expand...

Download some xlite program, or MS AIK + make it so?
Click to expand...

It won't install 7 though, it will stop and tell you to start the upgrade media from inside an already installed version of windows.
 
So if I've got both the 32-bit and 64-bit install DVDs and have installed the 32-bit version. Now I want to switch over to the 64-bit version - can I use the same product key since the hardware isn't changing?
 
Originally posted by: brarob
So if I've got both the 32-bit and 64-bit install DVDs and have installed the 32-bit version. Now I want to switch over to the 64-bit version - can I use the same product key since the hardware isn't changing?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
That's good to know. I am going to try that now. How many keys can you use at a time?

I booted off of my upgrade disc. Are you sure it isnt possible? I started to upgrade from within XP but then changed my mind and booted off the DVD so I could format the drive before I installed and it worked fine. It could have written some files before it got to the install screen though. Either that or it saw that I have 3 system disks (XP, 7 X86 RC, 7 x64 RC) and that was enough to validate the install.
 
Yep. Just installed 64 bit from a cold boot and currently dual booting 32 and 64 bit Win 7. Both copies activated with the same key no problem. Not bad for $50.
 
Originally posted by: Shaq
And there's this.

http://www.winsupersite.com/wi...tall_upgrade_media.asp

But if you already have an activated Windows on another hard drive you can boot off the upgrade disc and install it. I couldn't use the 64 bit upgrade from within activated 32 bit Win 7 but it let me boot from the disc. And I believe it is because I had a Win 7 x86 RC and x64 RC-both activated- on other hard drives.
Click to expand...

Maybe there is a little subtle kickback for people who tested the RC. More or less giving them a break for downloading and using the RC. Anyway, I decided to image my XP install, which was already my secondary system, and install the RC 64 bit on this drive. I'll give this combo a try first.
 
I have a desktop and a laptop both running Win7 Home Premium. The desktop has a full retail version. The laptop was elligable for the free upgrade to Win 7 from Vista as it was bought within the free upgrade Window. However, Acer only sent out 32bit media.

I hear that OEM discs are different from retail ones, and it seems to be the case - the key that came with my free upgrade wouldn't work with the retail 64bit media. Is there any way around this, or would I have to find 64bit oem media?

Update: Wowie, the below actually worked =D Installed and activated with the OEM key just fine. I get to use an extra gig of ram that my laptop came with that never worked before. Thankyou much <<geeky-happy-dance>>
 
Last edited:
WildW said:
I have a desktop and a laptop both running Win7 Home Premium. The desktop has a full retail version. The laptop was elligable for the free upgrade to Win 7 from Vista as it was bought within the free upgrade Window. However, Acer only sent out 32bit media.

I hear that OEM discs are different from retail ones, and it seems to be the case - the key that came with my free upgrade wouldn't work with the retail 64bit media. Is there any way around this, or would I have to find 64bit oem media?
Click to expand...

The only difference between a Windows 7 RTM retail ISO and Windows 7 RTM OEM ISO is at source/ei.cfg file [Channel] heading, which specifies either Retail or OEM channel.

ei.cfg of Windows 7 RTM retail ISO:
[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
Retail
[VL]
0


ei.cfg of Windows 7 RTM OEM ISO:
[EditionID]
Ultimate
[Channel]
OEM
[VL]
0


You need to copy the files from the 64-bit version to the hard drive and make changes to the file there and then either install from there, make a new DVD or create a Flash drive.



I recommend just deleting the ei.cfg file and creating an AIO image to a DVD or Flash drive.
 
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