Okay, This may be a dumb question but here it comes. I have never done an upgrade install before. If and when my 7 upgrade comes, and all goes well with the upgrade install, is my Vista disc (OEM), toast or can I offer it to a family member (college student), or install it on another box that I want to donate to a local charity?

I have no interest in keeping a Vista install up and running, unless I can do some good with it.

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_z36

Toast you void the key upon upgrading.

Not quite true I have my OEM Vista Ultimate on one hard drive and I clean installed W7 Pro upgrade to a different hard drive and both Operating systems are running fine. I use Vista boot pro for my dual boot

Yes but not legally I didn't say it wouldn't work just that according to the eula the key is no longer valid.You wouldn't want him donating a pirated version of windows would you?

If you put it on different box then Yes it is toast.

How ever it is OK in my case because you can only run one OS at a time they are not on different computers just different hard drives in same computer.

Hey maybe it works for me because my Vista Ultimate was an OEM versioh

I believe Microsoft resets their server from your serial every 120 days. After that you could put windows on another computer and as long as the old computer that was using it never goes online the new machine could use this install of windows. Now as stated this is probably against the EULA but can be done.






Dell Studio 540, Windows 7 Ultimate, Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q8200 (2.33GHz, 1333MHz FSB), w/

4MBcache, 4GB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHZ- 4X1GB DIM M, ATI Radeon HD 3650 256MB supporting HDMI

I was online today with Vista and W7 in fact I am currently on W7 and I updated files using the Windows Update function on Vista today with no problems

All I'm saying is just because it is working for whatever reason it is against the EULA because once you upgrade from Vista it becomes part of the Win 7 license and is no longer valid as an independent install.Why it is working with windows update I don't know.I really don't want to sound like I care why it is cause I don't and more power to ya but at some point it may stop.Their system is far from perfect witness WGA etc.

Hey if it quits no big deal. How ever it seems to work so I will continue to dual boot
I met all the following criteria for installing an upgrade version of W7 Pro
In order to install the upgrade version of Windows 7, you must have a qualifying Windows operating system installed and activated. You cannot install an upgrade version of Windows 7 on a blank hard drive. The installation procedure does not ask you to insert a Windows disc in the drive for verification, the actual qualifying operating system must be installed.

If you do not have a qualifying Windows operating system installed with a genuine license activated, then you cannot use the upgrade version of Windows 7 - you would need a "full version" Windows 7 license.

In summary:

1. A qualifying Windows operating system must be installed.
2. The qualifying Windows operating system must have a genuine license (product key) and it must be activated.
3. To upgrade, boot to the qualifying Windows desktop, insert the Windows 7 Upgrade disc in the DVD drive.

Visit the Basement

As far as I am concerned I did if MS did not disable the key for Vista then they are giving a don't ask don't tell approval. May my OEM is considered a full version as it is not indicated on the box as an upgrade

If it doesn't say upgrade on it the it's a full version and the conversation was for naught .This at least clarifies for someone who is actually upgrading.

I knew there had to be a reason

Visit the Basement

No I have Vista OEM Ultimate which does not say Upgrade on the disc or box. My W7 is definitely an Upgrade purchased from Micro Center for 96 dollars including tax

OK, then this whole conversation isn't naught. Whether the Vista was upgrade or full doesn't matter. It's the Windows 7 that matters and you have the upgrade.

And we have confirmed that you are a software pirate.

I absolutely don't give a shit about any of this. I was just trying to provide some clarification...and bust a little balls.

Your setup works because, like I said, Microsoft licensing and activation is lax. It demonizes legitimate customers and lets you operate 2 versions of Windows with no problems, when you shouldn't be.

Visit the Basement

DJ, did you activate your copy or are you still under the 30 day trial? If you did the custom install, you may be in the trial period.

(Meant this reply for #26)

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_z36

Yes my Windows 7 is activated so is my Vista.

I guess I may have to move to the Caribbean and get a Jolly Rodger Flag if I am going to accused of Piracy . 16 men on a dead mans chest. At least MS got their money I did not steal their software is was purchased with my hard earned money. I suppose you would call those that bought Vista Upgrade and did a clean install with it using the known work around pirates also. I do live in Minnesota land of the Vikings so a raider I might be.

Visit the Basement

That was a joke and I don't think anyone here really cares just someone asking a question got the following the EULA answer so they don't unknowingly do something illegal (against the EULA).

I agree I am technically violating the EULA but since you can only run only one OS at a time on a single computer, I will continue to dual boot as I am sure most users would some time in the near future I will wipe out the vista 32 OS an quit dual booting . However I did not steal the software, to be accused of stealing is implying I did not pay for it and that is not true period.

In my case it would be stealing because I only paid for Vista and took advantage of a free upgrade. That's the difference.

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_z36

Yes you are stealing. You don't get to choose the price of two operating systems as you see fit. Microsoft does.

You paid a reduced price for the Win7 upgrade to give up the old operating system, but you didn't do that.

If you wanted to keep both operating systems then you should have purchased Windows 7 at the FULL price not the upgrade price.

You walked into a store, bought a $200 item, but only gave the cashier a $100 bill and walked out.

Get it?

Visit the Basement

Albib go sit on it, you have your opinion I have mine. I hope we all can strive to be as perfect as you seem to think you are.

It's not an opinion. It's fact.

However, again, don't get me wrong, I REALLY don't give a shit. The way I see it, it's Microsoft's fault for not having a system in place to deactivate the old OS.

I'd do it too.

Visit the Basement

What is the difference in License between OEM and Full Version except price neither need a A qualifying piece of software to do clean install of the OS and can only be installed on one computer, if you replace a MB or CPU you have to re-active both and in lot of cases it requires an simple phone call to MS

Actually, OEM versions of Windows can not legally be used as proof for upgrading to a new version of Windows. But we all have done it over the years.

Shelly

Well, Newegg sells them that way. Maybe Microsoft was willing to let them market W7 that way temporarily to help them get it off the ground.

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_z36

When a new OS is about to be released, vendors such as Dell sell their computers with a free upgrade to the new OS when it is released. Those upgrades are both OEM and legal.

Jim.

I know that. It has nothing to do with Microsoft since Dell assumes all responsibility for support,and locks the OS to the Dell Bios, but MS also allows that to prevent an impact upon PC sales because people are wiating for the new OS to be released.

Shelly

I knew you knew that but it's not what you said in reply #45.

Jim.

Visit the Basement

I did a clean install by formatting the drive I wanted it on, it did not ask for a qualifying version of Windows . I am assuming it saw my Vista on the other hard drive. Once I know that Windows 7 is everything it is supposed to be I will quit the dual boot and wipe out the vista drive and delete the dual boot capability but will always keep a image of Vista just in case.

DavyWavy -

"Upgrade the Upgrade" means you clean install Windows 7 with an upgrade disk using the Custom install, then to activate it you upgrade the install you just did by installing Windows again, this time choosing upgrade from the install menu instead of Custom.

This worked with Vista. It means you can buy Windows 7 at the upgrade price and clean install, without needing an earlier version of Windows to upgrade from.

Visit the Basement

Unless you have another qualifying disk lying around, you should consider the Vista OEM disk as part of the Windows 7 Upgrade package. The disk should not be discarded but should not be used on another computer.

I agree I also keep a backup image of Vista for this purpose

I do not know about that specifically but I know I had Vista on one drive and installed W7 on another drive and it did not ask for a previous disk or a pointer toward Vista nor did it wipe out Vista on the other drive. In fact it set up a boot loader so I can choose between my operating systems at boot time. Using MSCONFIG you can select the default boot system. I personally use Vista Boot pro 3.3

Hmm, thanks..maybe that has changed. Obviously it didn't wipe your Vista install if it did see it..could be different as far as XP is concerned though.
Hopefully someone else has tried it...

Whatever reason that it worked and let me be clear here I don't care what you do and I'm not being the software police .This does not follow the upgrade license when you upgrade the install of Vista and the key officially no longer exist.Use it to your hearts content but in the spirit of the op's question that is not legal according to M$.It doesn't matter that it is on the same computer.

I have performed a clean install of Windows 7 Professional Upgrade 64-bit on a new, dual core Celeron E3200 dual core system. I chose Custom Install and unchecked the option to activate online. I also did not enter a product key during installation.

Later I tried entering my product key and that is where the new licensing scheme appeared. I received an alert that my key would not work with a clean install. Obviously, the installer checks early and records the presence or non-existence of a previous operating system.

I am in no rush to finalize an operating system. I'll be doing some reinstalls and will report back later my experiences.

Reinstall again and then enter your key and see if it activates?

The "upgrade-upgrade" is in progress. I am first trying it from within Windows 7. Later I'll try other configurations.

Allyn,

In case you missed it, see the link to Paul Thurrott's article in my reply HERE. He says there are actually 3 ways to do a clean install with an upgrade disk, the last of which is to do the old Vista "upgrade-upgrade" install which you are currently trying.

Jeff
simul iustus et peccator

Jeff, thanks for calling my attention to your post. I did miss it earlier.

So far, the Software Licensing Service message has not appeared as before. I'll try the other installation methods before activating online.

Thanks everybody. I understand the implications and will be hanging on to it as a part of the Win-7 package. That, after all, is how it was purchased.

Now I just need the darn thing to arrive. It's going on 6 days and DHL has turned it over to the USPS in Walpole MA. so it's just a couple hundred miles from here. Maybe I can meet them half way.

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_z36

Not, sure, but I think this information might help answer your question.

I received my windows 7 upgrade discs today to upgrade from Vista on my Hewlett-Packard PC I bought in July.

The instructions state at the very beginning ”To upgrade, your computer must have a qualified Windows Vista operating system that is up to date.”

It also reads, “After the upgrade you cannot start the System Recovery Feature in the Recovery Manager from the Windows Start button. If you ever need to recover the computer operating system, you must perform a System Recovery from the Discs by using the HP Recovery DVDs for Windows Vista, and then repeat the steps to upgrade to Windows 7.”

" Arlene
Life is a journey... not a destination. Enjoy the trip!

Hmm, interesting. Did HP send you the recovery discs or do you just have the recovery partition on the drive?

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_z36

I had to make the Recovery Discs after I bought the computer. (5 of them) These instructions actually walk you through making them before you do the upgrade. But I have already made mine.

" Arlene
Life is a journey... not a destination. Enjoy the trip!

This may be of use to some here: Paul Thurrott\'s SuperSite for Windows: Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media. He says there are actually 3 ways available.

Jeff
simul iustus et peccator

I had seen that, but I'll go legit.

It should go smoothly for me if I ever get the disc. My upgrade has been with the USPS since the wee hours of Sunday morning. At least that was the last time it was scanned.

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_z36

It will be of use to me if it works..

It's just a matter of saving time, nothing (truly illegal) about it.

I have a legal copy of XP pro that I removed from my machine when I installed W7 RC.
I could wipe W7 RC and then install/update Windows XP prior to installing my upgrade version of W7.

But why would I, if it can be avoided?

So, I upgrade Vista w/ a downloaded upgrade W7 program, then 2 years from now I want to do a clean install. The Vista is OEM- I bought it w/ the new pc. How will I perform the future clean W7 install?