Windows 7 Upgrade Media and Boot Camp Install

Hey all,

Before I go ahead and order the $30 Win7 Pro (student offer).. Just want to make sure if it'll work for me or not.

I understand the upgrade version requires a previous version of Windows installed. But given the way Boot Camp works, I don't think its possible to have Windows installed if I want to install Windows 7 (or any new copy of Windows) to my Macbook.

I also know that there is a registry workaround should I encounter problems w/ the Win7 Setup program not accepting my key.

Anyway, my main question is will this upgrade media work for me if I decide to install it via Boot Camp?

Thanks!

 

bootcamp just helps install.... if you have Vista installed, you should be able to upgrade it to Win7 fine.. theoretically.

That said, MS has never had an Upgrade OS that had to have a previous version installed before in order to use it. Often it just asks you to insert a previous Windows version install disc or something else just to check and see if you have it, then still installs fine. It really shouldn't be a problem. Upgrades don't just upgrade your installed OS, they are Upgrades for cost/license reasons... you get a discount for having a previous version you are replacing.

 

ok.. maybe I'm wrong.. unlike all past versions of Windows, MS decided Win7 upgrade can't check disks to see if you owned them. Windows 7 upgrade key cannot be used unless you really installed it on top of an already installed version of Windows Xp or Vista....

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Windows-7-activation-error-invalid-product-key

 

install windows 7 without a key (there is an option to do this)

then install windows 7 again, as an upgrade.

 

Works like a charm..

 

Registry hack works better, no need to install a 2nd time.

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

 

i used a windows 7 upgrade disk that came with my alienware laptop to install windows on my mac through boot camp!

 

i just used the 29.99 student purchase upgrade of Win7 Pro as an install through Bootcamp, and did the "registry hack" method and was able to activate Windows just fine.

ON that note.. when you can choose either Win7 Home Premium, or Win7 Professional... either upgrade for the same exact price, why does anyone get Home Premium?

 

To OP:

FYI when you download it from the student site, it will not be an iso.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...6d-15f3-4284-9123-679830d629f2&displaylang=en

 

you have the option of downloading the .exe upgrader, or the ISO downloader. I suggest getting the ISO.... it used to be an EXE upgrader only, but they've added the ISO option.

the upgrader will only work if your going from the same 32 bit to 32 bit or 64 bit to 64 bit....

the ISO will make a full normal disc like you'd have bought in a box... I burnt the ISO from Disk Utility.app and it worked fine.... booted up off it, did a fresh install, then did the registry hack and command line command thingy and was able to activate it with the upgrade license.

I'm not technically hacking it to break the EULA. I have a licensed copy of Vista 64, and was going to try to install it to do the upgrade (only have it in VMware at the moment)... but I can't find drivers for my external DVD drive that Vista can use, so I cannot get it installed.... Windows 7 had no problems with my external drive. Its the default "free" external drive thing from MCE that comes with an OptiBay.

 

Also, if a previous version of windows is detected on the drive, by the Windows 7 DVD, you'll be able to install, either via upgrade or custom. Not sure that it'll help the OP if he didn't use windows on there before, but just wanted to throw that fact out there.