Win7 upgrade question...

[Destructo-Bot]

Here is what is going down:

There is a Dell computer with the OEM Vista license key stuck to the top.
The hard drive when kaput.
Installed an SSD, installed Win7 ultimate fresh without entering a key to put it in trial mode.

Can I get the upgrade version of Win7 Home Premium or do I need the full version? When I go to enter the key, I assume I put the Win7 upgrade key in, will it then ask for a previous Vista key... and will an OEM key work?

 

[Operational]

It won't ask you for your Vista key. An upgrade copy of Win7 should be fine, if not check out this link (its a bit long winded, but describes in detail what you can do if activation fails).

 

[No Limit]

You will have to first install Vista OEM then upgrade from there. If you installed the trial mode of Ultimate your entire installation will have to be redone as there is no way of downgrading the version of windows 7 you have. Atleast this is how it worked with Vista, I am assuming its the same case with win 7.

Since your HD crapped out you will have to contact your computer manufacturer to send you the recovery CDs if you don't already have them or you can look around for a ISO of Vista.

 

[Barney Fife]

Do all of the above.

 

[Operational]

You will have to first install Vista OEM then upgrade from there.

No he won't. Clean installs from upgrade media are possible, check out the link in my previous post.

 

[No Limit]

No he won't. Clean installs from upgrade media are possible, check out the link in my previous post.

Sorry I didn't see that, but that isn't officially supported by microsoft and the article clearly states it might not actually work. If he has the Vista media it might be a lot easier to take 20 minutes to install vista then perform upgrade from there. I would hate having to hack my operating system installation if not needed.

 

[Operational]

Sorry I didn't see that, but that isn't officially supported by microsoft and the article clearly states it might not actually work. If he has the Vista media it might be a lot easier to take 20 minutes to install vista then perform upgrade from there. I would hate having to hack my operating system installation if not needed.

Method #3
...
This workaround is fully supported by Microsoft.

5char

 

[No Limit]

Touche.

 

[Destructo-Bot]

Got it all sorted out.