Does this sound crazy?

For people who have student downloads/can't go thru the download without bootable dvd....

can you:

1. get the iso for free windows 7 enterprise trial edition
2. tweak it so that it gives you the option to install any 7 version you want, as described here:
http://windowssecrets.com/2009/08/20/01-Use-any-version-of-Windows-7-free-for-120-days
3. install
4. use the product key after you log on to win 7 (as it seems to be the way to go if people want to clean install w/ format of disk also).

i haven't tried any of it, just curious if the whole process makes sense to people who know more about windows installation than i do.

 

Microsoft told their clients to hack the Windows?
It does sound crazy a bit for me.

 

The enterprise edition of win 7 only comes with 1 version on it. It does not come with pro ultimate and others like the normal iso.

You cannot use a retail key for a enterprise disk installation.

 

I haven't done this but I believe this will work.
What I just did (literally minutes ago) to confirm:

Took an OEM 7 Home Premium DVD.
Used PowerISO to delete the ei.cfg file (I assume this is what you linked, I didn't click it).
Installed, selecting 7 Professional x64.
Entered my key, which I got through the Windows 7 Upgrade offer for students.

I have not tried activating (and won't be trying, as this was just on a test system - not the system I will want to be activating on)
I see no reason it won't activate though - but that doesn't mean it won't.
Give it a shot. I would love to hear your results.

 

ah, ok.

 

All of the disks only "come with one version"
But they're all on there, and you can install other versions by modifying the disk.

 

yeah, exactly that! so there's no ei.cfg in the enterprise iso?

 

I will put it this way:
I have not looked; I am sure that it is there.

 

FYI tried to activate and it said the key was only for upgrades. Unfortunate!
Myself and my co-workers are looking for a work around, one certainly exists.

EDIT:
Found this article this morning.
Going to try it out later this weekend probably.
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp