Not sure what Microsoft's angle is on this, but if you purchased a full
version of Win 7, then you probably paid too much for it.
Of course, Mac and Linux users may not qualify, but I suspect that even they
have an old copy of Windows lying around as beverage coaster. The questions
is not so much "do I qualify", but "how do I install the upgrade
version?".
Unlike Vista where you had to install the upgrade version twice on a clean
"new" system, Microsoft has cleverly created a way to bypass this time
consuming effort with a registry hack*. Now you can flip a switch in the
registry, and you're done. Unfortunately, not too many users are comfortable
with editing the registry. Things can go terribly wrong and many support
sites post this long intimidating warning against tampering with it. Yet, if you are
installing Windows 7 for the first time, and you aren't using the upgrade
path from Vista, then what do you have to lose? Go for it!
Clean install of Windows 7 with the upgrade disk:
- Make sure your computer is disconnected from the Internet by unplugging
the LAN cable. This will avoid any unseen communication with the mother ship
(Microsoft). - If you computer is powered down, power it up long enough to insert the
Upgrade disk in your CD/DVD drive. - Power cycle your system and boot from your CD/DVD drive to load the
Windows 7 installer. Follow the instructions to do a "Custom Install" and
wipe your drive of data (you should have already backed-up your data). - When you get prompted to enter your CD/DVD key, click next. Every copy of
Windows 7 has a 120 day trial period, so you'll have plenty of time to enter
your key in later. - After Windows 7 is installed (as a trial), then click on the "Start icon"
in the lower left of your screen. At the bottom of popup, there should be a
search field that you can enter a command. Type "regedit" then enter. A
warning window will popup and ask if you want the program to
execute---again, Microsoft is protecting you from yourself! Just click YES
and move on... - Now it gets a little cryptic. Navigate to the following location:
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/
"HKLM" stands for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE - Change "MediaBootInstall" from "1" to "0", then click YES.
- Now close the registry by X'ing out. No need to close gracefully here.
Once you make a change and click YES, it's done---no turning back. - Open the Start Menu again and type "cmd" to display a shortcut to the
Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose "Run as
administrator." Again, click YES you want to allow the program to make
changes---big brother is watching over you! - In the command line window, type: "slmgr /rearm" (without quotes; yes,
there is a space between slmgr and /). Press ENTER and close the command
prompt window.
DONE! That's it! Now you can, connect your Internet cable, type in the
CD/DVD key and activate Windows 7.
If you don't want to wait for the nag screens, you can goto the Windows
activation screen and enter the number that came with your Upgrade box:
Start | right click Computer | select Properties from the drop-down
Of course, the old way of using the Upgrade disk for a clean install work as
well. Just install twice, and upgrade Windows 7 with Windows 7, but why
subject yourself to this?
Microsoft's upgrade path this time around is pretty simple. If you have
Vista already installed, then you just need to do an in-place upgrade. Any
other earlier version will require a "clean" install (clean meaning you will
need to backup all your critical files and reinstall all your applications).
Of course, this is NOT what I recommend. As with every upgrade path from
Microsoft, I have ALWAYS recommended a clean install when installing a new
OS. The rationale is simple: pay me now or pay me later. You can spend time
troubleshooting your in-place upgrade problems, or just do a clean install
and start from scratch. Either way, you will need to invest the time and/or
money to get it right.
If you are wondering whether you should upgrade or not, I would say probably
not until you buy a new system equipped with Intel's new Core i7 processor.
Of course, if you are running Vista now, then it probably can't hurt either,
but don't follow Microsoft's upgrade path---pay it now.
However, XP users who have a working system that is running fine, leave it
alone. Don't fix it if it isn't broke. If you absolutely need more
performance, then make sure you do the 7&7 (Core i7 with Windows 7) combo.
You will see the biggest performance boost with this combination.
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*Okay, before I continue, I have to comment on this... I use the term
"hack", but you can substitute it with "trick" or "short-cut" if you like.
My question to Microsoft is WHY? Why do we (consumers) need to jump through
these hoops to install your software? And, if so, why did you have to make
it a registry change instead of a simple install option check box? Like the
old tootsie pop commercials on how many licks does it take to get to the
center of a tootsie pop, the world my never know... Although, it probably
relates to cashing in on the fact that many people don't understand, nor
want to spend the time investigating the convoluted licensing terms of this
product release.
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