Windows 7 Upgrade

I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with Windows 7
a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his copy of Windows 7
is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate retail version of
Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

Can I just pop in the disc, and let it install on top of the current
version? My primary concern is to make sure all programs and data are
intact. I'd really like to avoid having to back up everything, start from
scratch and then reinstall all his programs. Obviously, I will do that if
it's necessary, but hopefully it won't be.

All input is appreciated. Thanks!

On 24/09/2013 19:25, Dell Christopher wrote:
I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with
Windows 7 a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his
copy of Windows 7 is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate
retail version of Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

If the Windows version he purchased is the same as the Windows version
installed, there is no need.

Can I just pop in the disc, and let it install on top of the current
version?

No

My primary concern is to make sure all programs and data are
intact. I'd really like to avoid having to back up everything, start
from scratch and then reinstall all his programs. Obviously, I will do
that if it's necessary, but hopefully it won't be.

All input is appreciated. Thanks!

If the Windows version he purchased is exactly the same as the Windows
on his pc you can activate it using the serial numbers of the purchased
version. If those versions differ, I'm afraid you'll have to backup all
your data, format the C: drive and install the new Windows version from
scratch.

Fokke

On Tue, 24 Sep 2013 10:25:42 -0700, Dell Christopher wrote:

I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with Windows 7
a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his copy of Windows 7
is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate retail version of
Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

Can I just pop in the disc, and let it install on top of the current
version? My primary concern is to make sure all programs and data are
intact. I'd really like to avoid having to back up everything, start from
scratch and then reinstall all his programs. Obviously, I will do that if
it's necessary, but hopefully it won't be.

All input is appreciated. Thanks!

I have always done a fresh from scratch install.
That way, you are less likely to get the popups and won't have any residue
left over from the other version.

On 24/09/2013 18:25, Dell Christopher wrote:
I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with
Windows 7 a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his
copy of Windows 7 is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate
retail version of Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

I used to be a translator in my younger days.You should have told him
not to get any updates if he had a pirated copy of Windows. Anyway, with
the price of laptops these days it is probably cheaper to buy a brand
new laptop rather than a retail version of Windows.


Can I just pop in the disc, and let it install on top of the current
version? My primary concern is to make sure all programs and data are
intact. I'd really like to avoid having to back up everything, start
from scratch and then reinstall all his programs. Obviously, I will do
that if it's necessary, but hopefully it won't be.

All input is appreciated. Thanks!

"Dell Christopher" wrote in message
m...
I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with Windows
7 a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his copy of
Windows 7 is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate retail
version of Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

Can I just pop in the disc, and let it install on top of the current
version? My primary concern is to make sure all programs and data are
intact. I'd really like to avoid having to back up everything, start from
scratch and then reinstall all his programs. Obviously, I will do that if
it's necessary, but hopefully it won't be.

All input is appreciated. Thanks!

Theoretically, it can be done:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I have not tried it, so have no first-hand experience with it (although I
have done it many times on WinXP, but that's totally different).

Be sure to read all of the Notes, Tips, and Warnings before proceeding, and
decide then whether or not it'll be worth it. If it works, great. If not,
then you'll have wasted the time to try it (which will probably be at least
as long as a fresh installation), and still have to do a clean installation.

Before proceeding, you might want to get a copy of a backup program such as
Macrium or Acronis True Image that will allow you to boot from CD/DVD and
create a disk image to an external drive. That way, if things go horribly
wrong, you can restore that image and be no worse off than you were before
attempting it.
--
SC Tom

So if he currently has Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) installed, and that's
the exact same version he just purchased, I can try activating with the
product key from the new version and that would be that?


"Fokke Nauta" wrote in message ...

On 24/09/2013 19:25, Dell Christopher wrote:
I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with
Windows 7 a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his
copy of Windows 7 is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate
retail version of Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

If the Windows version he purchased is exactly the same as the Windows
on his pc you can activate it using the serial numbers of the purchased
version. If those versions differ, I'm afraid you'll have to backup all
your data, format the C: drive and install the new Windows version from
scratch.

Fokke

In message , Dell
Christopher writes:
So if he currently has Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) installed, and
that's the exact same version he just purchased, I can try activating
with the product key from the new version and that would be that?
[]
What's the worst that can happen if this is tried?
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

On the internet, no-one knows I'm a slob! - Martin Clark in UMRA, 2012-5-7

On 24/09/2013 22:26, Dell Christopher wrote:
So if he currently has Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) installed, and
that's the exact same version he just purchased, I can try activating
with the product key from the new version and that would be that?


Yes, you can. This should work. There is only one catch and that is when
the current version is an OEM version and the version that he purchased
is a retail version. I'm not sure as to whether you can activate an OEM
version with a retail key.



"Fokke Nauta" wrote in message ...

On 24/09/2013 19:25, Dell Christopher wrote:
I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with
Windows 7 a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his
copy of Windows 7 is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate
retail version of Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

If the Windows version he purchased is exactly the same as the Windows
on his pc you can activate it using the serial numbers of the purchased
version. If those versions differ, I'm afraid you'll have to backup all
your data, format the C: drive and install the new Windows version from
scratch.

Fokke

On 9/25/2013 1:58 AM, Fokke Nauta wrote:
On 24/09/2013 22:26, Dell Christopher wrote:
So if he currently has Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) installed, and
that's the exact same version he just purchased, I can try activating
with the product key from the new version and that would be that?


Yes, you can. This should work. There is only one catch and that is when
the current version is an OEM version and the version that he purchased
is a retail version. I'm not sure as to whether you can activate an OEM
version with a retail key.


Isn't it the "key" that determines the OEM vs retail?

I'm happy to report that just using the "Upgrade" option on the Windows 7
DVD worked perfectly. Thanks for all the suggestions. Very much
appreciated!


"Dell Christopher" wrote in message
m...

I'm trying to help out a friend, who bought a clone computer with Windows 7
a few years ago. He is now getting pop-ups suggesting his copy of Windows 7
is not legitimate. He has since ordered a legitimate retail version of
Windows 7 from Amazon, and wants to install it.

Can I just pop in the disc, and let it install on top of the current
version? My primary concern is to make sure all programs and data are
intact. I'd really like to avoid having to back up everything, start from
scratch and then reinstall all his programs. Obviously, I will do that if
it's necessary, but hopefully it won't be.

All input is appreciated. Thanks!

On 26/09/2013 01:59, Wolf K wrote:
On 2013-09-25 7:46 PM, Bob I wrote:


On 9/25/2013 1:58 AM, Fokke Nauta wrote:
On 24/09/2013 22:26, Dell Christopher wrote:
So if he currently has Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) installed, and
that's the exact same version he just purchased, I can try activating
with the product key from the new version and that would be that?


Yes, you can. This should work. There is only one catch and that is when
the current version is an OEM version and the version that he purchased
is a retail version. I'm not sure as to whether you can activate an OEM
version with a retail key.


Isn't it the "key" that determines the OEM vs retail?

Yes. There are two OEM versions of Windows, a generic sold to system
builders (which includes you and me, if we build our own, which will
activate on any motherboard; and a product-specific one, which will
activate only on the motherboard to which it was originally linked.


But is the dvd the same? Can you install an OEM version and activate
that with a retail key?

Fokke

Fokke Nauta wrote:
On 26/09/2013 01:59, Wolf K wrote:
On 2013-09-25 7:46 PM, Bob I wrote:


On 9/25/2013 1:58 AM, Fokke Nauta wrote:
On 24/09/2013 22:26, Dell Christopher wrote:
So if he currently has Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) installed, and
that's the exact same version he just purchased, I can try activating
with the product key from the new version and that would be that?


Yes, you can. This should work. There is only one catch and that is
when
the current version is an OEM version and the version that he purchased
is a retail version. I'm not sure as to whether you can activate an OEM
version with a retail key.


Isn't it the "key" that determines the OEM vs retail?

Yes. There are two OEM versions of Windows, a generic sold to system
builders (which includes you and me, if we build our own, which will
activate on any motherboard; and a product-specific one, which will
activate only on the motherboard to which it was originally linked.


But is the dvd the same? Can you install an OEM version and activate
that with a retail key?

Fokke

If you're finding it doesn't work, Google for "ei.cfg" file,
which controls the version installed. There might even be a
tool out there, to remaster the ISO in one step for all I know.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3564

"ei.cfg Removal Utility (Windows 7 Universal) – Repair Tool of the Week"
http://www.technibble.com/ei-cfg-rem...l-of-the-week/

The key to this, is something you notice in install.wim.
If you open install.wim file with 7-ZIP, there are multiple folders.
I don't expect the folders are really separate - the folders link
files as appropriate. One .wim I was looking at had seven folders.
I suspect the folders correspond to OS versions, so that one
DVD can support the installation of more than one version. The
ei.cfg controls which one the installer selects by default.
Something like that.

Paul

On 26/09/2013 17:11, Paul wrote:
Fokke Nauta wrote:
On 26/09/2013 01:59, Wolf K wrote:
On 2013-09-25 7:46 PM, Bob I wrote:


On 9/25/2013 1:58 AM, Fokke Nauta wrote:
On 24/09/2013 22:26, Dell Christopher wrote:
So if he currently has Windows 7 Home Premium (32 bit) installed, and
that's the exact same version he just purchased, I can try activating
with the product key from the new version and that would be that?


Yes, you can. This should work. There is only one catch and that is
when
the current version is an OEM version and the version that he
purchased
is a retail version. I'm not sure as to whether you can activate an
OEM
version with a retail key.


Isn't it the "key" that determines the OEM vs retail?

Yes. There are two OEM versions of Windows, a generic sold to system
builders (which includes you and me, if we build our own, which will
activate on any motherboard; and a product-specific one, which will
activate only on the motherboard to which it was originally linked.


But is the dvd the same? Can you install an OEM version and activate
that with a retail key?

Fokke

If you're finding it doesn't work, Google for "ei.cfg" file,
which controls the version installed. There might even be a
tool out there, to remaster the ISO in one step for all I know.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/3564

"ei.cfg Removal Utility (Windows 7 Universal) – Repair Tool of the Week"
http://www.technibble.com/ei-cfg-rem...l-of-the-week/

The key to this, is something you notice in install.wim.
If you open install.wim file with 7-ZIP, there are multiple folders.
I don't expect the folders are really separate - the folders link
files as appropriate. One .wim I was looking at had seven folders.
I suspect the folders correspond to OS versions, so that one
DVD can support the installation of more than one version. The
ei.cfg controls which one the installer selects by default.
Something like that.

Paul

Thanks, Paul. This is interesting. I'll have a look at my ISO file.

Fokke