Can you activate a copy of Windows 7 from a retail disk with a product key from Windows 7 Update?
I’m working on a friends computer and hes upgrading to Windows 7 x64 from Windows XP x32. He bought Windows 7 Update. We were wondering if we use a retail disk of Windows 7 that does a complete clean install would we be able to activate it using the Update key?
A detail i should of mentioned was that were were having issues with the download microsoft gave us for the update.
1. Download the downloader
2. Launch Win7-P-Retail-en-us-x64.exe
what this exe does is unpacks setup1.box and setup2.box
Near the end we encounter a problem that it cant create a file. What file i don’t know. So instead of risking it we rather use a full disk.
Side note I tracked down a copy of the disk on Mininova.org (100% legal since i own the product) so im going to be using that to update.
I’ve read of people encountering problems when they mix software and key type. It appears the upgrade keys are indeed a bit different somehow.
HOWEVER, you can clean install just fine with the upgrade discs. Their only difference is they want to see the prior OS to install. Just select “custom install” early on during the installation.
I’d use the disc he purchased. Don’t use a retail disc and try to use an upgrade key. There are high odds you’ll be looking at having to install all over again.
Also keep in mind that a clean install is going to be mandated anyway moving from XP, as well as because he’s going 32-bit to 64-bit.
And since he has the qualifying prior OS, if you run into problems you can use the following tutorial:
HOWTO format and do a clean install Windows 7
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