• University sold me an Upgrade copy of W7
    12 replies, posted
All right, I just built a new computer to use at home while my main desktop is at my dorm. I bought a copy of Windows 7 from my school because somehow Windows XP has gone UP in price, but when I got it home and tried to install it, I was told the product key was invalid numerous times. I took the CD out and noticed it said it was an upgrade copy, and that I would need a previous OS. So, knowing this, what are my options? I have a copy of XP Home, but I've already installed it on my desktop and laptop. Could I install it here just to upgrade to 7, or would that require me to Activate XP? (It was my understanding it's just two licences, am I wrong?) Barring that, is there some way I could install from a Linux installation? As a very last resort, could I somehow run Windows programs in Linux?
You can't upgrade to 7 directly from XP(requires a format), so no. As I see it, your best bet is either to just install it onto a partition(if that'll work), but I could be wrong.
You don't even need to have the copy of XP. Just boot from the Windows 7 disc and install like normal. You won't be able to activate it with an upgrade license key, but you can run the installer again from within the unactivated copy of 7 and "upgrade" it, allowing you to activate it with the upgrade license keys. [editline]07:20PM[/editline] Or any of these methods. [url]http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp[/url]
Well, that's the trouble. When I go to install it, it tells me the key is invalid, which I assumed was because it was an Upgrade copy, but I could be wrong. I have triple checked the key, digit by digit, but it still denies it. I can provide photos of such, if that's not illegal. EDIT: It gets odder. If I change a digit in the key, it IMMEDIATELY tells me it's invalid, but when I enter it as it appears on the case, it takes 10 seconds or so to 'verify' and THEN tells me it's invalid.
Photos would be nice, because I have a feel you're just doing something wrong.
Kay. :D I didn't know you could do that.
Leave the space blank and continue on, that's the problem. You need to put it the key during the upgrade install, not the clean. Also you should probably take the picture off now, you wouldn't want someone stealing the key. :tinfoil: I didn't actually think you'd post the entire key. [editline]07:51PM[/editline] I'm a giant edit whore.
All right, that did the trick, it hasn't prompted me to Activate yet, is it going to do that in 3 days or something?
Click Start > Right Click on Computer > Properties Under the 'Windows Activation' part of the main page, what does it say?
Ah, "30 Days to Activate Windows Now". So now I guess I'll try the "Upgrade" installation.
[QUOTE=FZE;20052953] EDIT: It gets odder. If I change a digit in the key, it IMMEDIATELY tells me it's invalid, but when I enter it as it appears on the case, it takes 10 seconds or so to 'verify' and THEN tells me it's invalid.[/QUOTE] The keys follow a specific algorithm, if it doesn't match, then it immediately knows
[QUOTE=FZE;20052953]Well, that's the trouble. When I go to install it, it tells me the key is invalid, which I assumed was because it was an Upgrade copy, but I could be wrong. I have triple checked the key, digit by digit, but it still denies it. I can provide photos of such, if that's not illegal. EDIT: It gets odder. If I change a digit in the key, it IMMEDIATELY tells me it's invalid, but when I enter it as it appears on the case, it takes 10 seconds or so to 'verify' and THEN tells me it's invalid.[/QUOTE] Don't enter a product ke on install, you can skip it. Once it's installed, put the disc in again and choose to "upgrade". That should do the trick. I've managed to get a student upgrade of Windows 7 Professional to "upgrade" my version 7100 copy of Ultimate.
I'm afraid you were too late.
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