Win7 Install problems, scotjimland are you there?

[Bailey58]

Mentioned in Gooneys Seagate thread, I installed a new 1TB hard drive into the laptop recently, I said at the time it didn't accept the Product Key and I had 30 days to register etc. My wireless printer after working initially is now telling me it won't run on this OS. After another attempt to register MS are saying this OS cannot be used for a clean install, which is what I did, but for an upgrade only. Now I remember why the 7 disk was cheap at the time.

So question is, if I can find the original disk with the Vista OS will it re-install and enable me to then upgrade with the 7 over that? Or am I better off buying a 7 disk with code and clean install off ebay for £35?

 

[Wildman]

a £35 disk off eBay will be a copy and the first time Microsoft tries an up date it could well flag it as such and switch it off. Effectively locking your machine. Do be careful.

 

[Bailey58]

Thanks for that Roger, the original 7 was a students upgrade bought through our school hence the price and the restrictions (upgrade only).

Broken Link Removed looks genuine enough and given 8 has been out, what, a couple of years, should be enough to pay for 7?

• This item is an Original DELL Branded OEM Microsoft operating system installation DVD disc containing the full 32-bit version of Windows 7 Professional.
• This is NOT an upgrade version and you will not be able to upgrade from Windows XP or Vista straight to this Windows 7. This is clean install version only.
• The software DVD is new and has never been installed on any computer.
• The software is supplied with a genuine product key from a decommisioned machine which will only activate 1 PC. This is not a multi licence key. The key may show signs of wear
• The software will install on any PC desktop or laptop/notebook computer which is capable of installing and running 32bit Windows 7. (Please check your system is capable of running 32bit version)
• The software will install on self/custom built and other non-branded machines.
• Will install on new machines or machines that have a new hard drive and/or no operating system.
• Once installed and activated you will be able to receive full updates and support for your operating system.

 

[hilldweller]

I did the same recently, no problem with the install but all sorts of problems with 7. Because of extra security one of my must have programs would not run, just copying files can be a massive pain in the bum and you can't even click on a folder and expect it to open ( will with a fix applied ), you get "windows does not know how to open this type of file".

I got there in the end thanks to the internet.

 

[BwB]

If it's an upgrade only package and you still have the full install of the previous OS then I would think that would be your best route. Stick Vista on and go straight into an upgrade for Win7.

Job done.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bailey58]

Was going to try that now my desks clear but friends have now suggested a New Year cruise so my mind is on other things.

 

[Steve]

If you are wanting to use win 7 then buy a full copy very soon as ms are pulling win7 & win8 from sale very soon the ony one on salewill be win 8.1 untill the new win 10 comes out end of next year.

 

[BwB]

Yes! That sounds a much better pastime than mucking about with MSWindows

You could install Cruise Med 15 and ifyou don't get on with that, you could upgrade to Cruise Caribbean 16

 

[scotjimland]

Agree with BwB

Stick Vista on and go straight into an upgrade for Win7.

 

[Bailey58]

How did you know it was the Caribbean?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[wivvy's dad]

I'm confused by the second sentence...

"This is not a multi licence key. The key may show signs of wear"

?????

 

[Bailey58]

I'm confused by the second sentence...
"This is not a multi licence key. [you]The key may show signs of wear"[/you]?????

I imagine as it's a decommissioned machine that never reached the shelves after Win 8 appeared the disk will go back in it's case that shows signs of shelf life.

Anyway after mucking about for a couple of days on and off and not finding my Vista disk I finally got the pc to accept the product code. This website gave me a hack to do a clean install with upgrade disk. Not something that many of us will do often but may be a cheaper option in future where upgrades are cheaper than the full monty. Not for the faint hearted if you're not happy playing with the registry.

I'm still struggling with the printer but at least it installs now, just need to get it to talk to the desktop.