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Hitman
10-10-2009, 08:46 PM
Hi, I'm wondering... if I dualboot Vista with Windows 7 and use the legit Vista key, will it work on 7? Or will it not work because it's already on Vista...?

Or, if I were to wipe the OS and install W7 with my Vista key, would it work?

They key's an OEM one, but it's valid/genuine (came with the machine). I've used it to reinstall Vista many times. Had a quirk with it once, had to reactivate it with a text message... fine after that.

Thanks...
paul4wolves
10-10-2009, 09:16 PM
I dont think you can use a vista key with W7???

google it to be sure :P
The Professor
10-10-2009, 11:13 PM
A vista key works with vista, a windows 7 key works with vista, they don't work with each other :P
Hitman
11-10-2009, 08:52 AM
I dont think you can use a vista key with W7???

google it to be sure :PI thought it did 'cos to get the £30 upgrade it says "you must have a geninue Vista key" or whatever.


A vista key works with vista, a windows 7 key works with vista, they don't work with each other :P
OK, so you have to have either one or the other installed at one time, not both?
Stephen!
11-10-2009, 08:55 AM
A vista key will not work with Windows 7.
Hitman
11-10-2009, 08:59 AM
Oh right, ok thanks.
StefanWolves
11-10-2009, 10:57 AM
Can't you upgrade to W7 straight from XP?
Flisker
11-10-2009, 12:43 PM
Can't you upgrade to W7 straight from XP?
I doubt it because too much would have changed.
StefanWolves
11-10-2009, 04:10 PM
just read you can upgrade from winxp home (only clean install though), but not from winxp pro. which is strange. glad i have home and not pro. :P
Recursion
11-10-2009, 04:13 PM
XP Pro can go to the higher end versions like Ultimate.
StefanWolves
11-10-2009, 04:13 PM
XP Home goes up to Win7 Pro hopefully?
Jordy
11-10-2009, 04:15 PM
just read you can upgrade from winxp home (only clean install though), but not from winxp pro. which is strange. glad i have home and not pro. :PThat doesn't make any sense. Upgrading is keeping your documents and preferences when you upgrade your OS. This can only be done from certain Vista versions to certain Windows 7 versions. See here...

http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u69/Windows_7_Upgrade.png

To go from XP to Windows 7 you'll have to do a complete reinstall (Or 'custom install' as Microsoft says).
StefanWolves
11-10-2009, 04:17 PM
That doesn't make any sense. Upgrading is keeping your documents and preferences when you upgrade your OS. This can only be done from certain Vista versions to certain Windows 7 versions. See here...

http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u69/Windows_7_Upgrade.png

To go from XP to Windows 7 you'll have to do a complete reinstall (Or 'custom install' as Microsoft says).

yeh that's what i said? :P better than nothing i suppose.

hopefully, what i'm trying to say is, when i buy the upgrade download for £30, it will work on my xp, but it'll do a complete install instead of the upgrade.
Jordy
11-10-2009, 04:18 PM
yeh that's what i said? :P better than nothing i suppose.

hopefully, what i'm trying to say is, when i buy the upgrade download for £30, it will work on my xp, but it'll do a complete install instead of the upgrade.Regardless of the XP version, you have to do a complete reinstall to go to Windows 7.
StefanWolves
11-10-2009, 04:19 PM
Regardless of the XP version you have to do a complete reinstall to go to Windows 7.

yh but if i buy an upgrade disc and use it with xp installed, what will happen? will the disc just act as a total reformat disc? or won't it work like that?
Recursion
11-10-2009, 06:14 PM
You can install Windows 7 upgrade as a clean install without a CD key, then just run the installer again from inside the unactivated Windows 7 and this time put a key in, it will accept it and think it is updating.
StefanWolves
11-10-2009, 06:26 PM
You can install Windows 7 upgrade as a clean install without a CD key, then just run the installer again from inside the unactivated Windows 7 and this time put a key in, it will accept it and think it is updating.

So I can ''upgraded'' to Windows 7, with that £30 offer that Microsoft are doing? but it will be a clean install, yes?
Recursion
11-10-2009, 06:29 PM
So I can ''upgraded'' to Windows 7, with that £30 offer that Microsoft are doing? but it will be a clean install, yes?

Yeah, just format it during install, don't put a key in, let it install your version, then when you are at the desktop put the disk back in again, run the setup from within Windows, put the key in, let it install and your good to go!
StefanWolves
11-10-2009, 08:49 PM
Sorted! :)

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