Installing a different version of Windows 7 without formatting?

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I allowed a friend to install W7 on my upgraded computer, which had been running XP. He installed a version of Enterprise, 7601 I believe, and I have found that it is not genuine. I was about to go online and buy a product key to make it genuine, but found I can’t; Enterprise is apparently for business use in workstations.
My question is: can I buy a full copy of say Home Premium, and install it on top of Enterprise, without having to format and reinstall everything? I have made system images, but of course with the W7 Enterprise, so I suppose they would be useless. I understand from one of Fred Langa’s articles, that the anytime upgrade cannot be used if the copy already on the computer is not genuine.
I’m quite annoyed; I paid for the upgrade without checking the details of what i was paying for. So I am annoyed with myself. Should have realised it was too cheap…

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I allowed a friend to install W7 on my upgraded computer, which had been running XP. He installed a version of Enterprise, 7601 I believe, and I have found that it is not genuine.

Aravis,
Hello… Do you have the original “XP” Installation Disk, or perhaps an Image of your previous OS? :cheers:Regards Fred

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Aravis,
Hello… Do you have the original “XP” Installation Disk, or perhaps an Image of your previous OS? :cheers:Regards Fred

Sadly, no. I didn’t even think I might need them, and since i was moving house I threw out lots of stuff, including the XP disc. No image either!
Does this mean you think I cannot install a different version over the top of Enterprise?

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I believe you will have to do the entire reinstallation. I would not format however (the reinstallation will handle this chore for you) Simply point to the present directory and install over the present installation. When you do this a folder will be created in the root directory (C Drive) called windows.old. This folder can be opened as any other folder and will hold the entire old OS. You can grab your documents, contacts, favorites, etc and drag them to the appropriate areas of your legal OS. Once done you might consider deleting this folder since it is quite large.

Sadly, I believe you will need to reinstall all apps as well. Remember that windows.old folder should hold all data for your apps as well.

Once you have everything working , installed, activated and customized, consider Imaging as a great alternative to back up your entire OS, including all apps. With an Up To Date image, you can restore in about 10 minutes or less. The older the Image, the longer the restoration (if your image is say 6 months old, how many updates, installed/uninstalled apps, etc have you done in those 6 months) I recreate an Up To Date image each time I make any changes to my OS or apps.

Data should be backed up separately from the OS/apps as data tends to change very frequently, so keep this in mind.

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I believe you will have to do the entire reinstallation. I would not format however (the reinstallation will handle this chore for you) Simply point to the present directory and install over the present installation. When you do this a folder will be created in the root directory (C Drive) called windows.old. This folder can be opened as any other folder and will hold the entire old OS. You can grab your documents, contacts, favorites, etc and drag them to the appropriate areas of your legal OS. Once done you might consider deleting this folder since it is quite large.

Sadly, I believe you will need to reinstall all apps as well. Remember that windows.old folder should hold all data for your apps as well.

Once you have everything working , installed, activated and customized, consider Imaging as a great alternative to back up your entire OS, including all apps. With an Up To Date image, you can restore in about 10 minutes or less. The older the Image, the longer the restoration (if your image is say 6 months old, how many updates, installed/uninstalled apps, etc have you done in those 6 months) I recreate an Up To Date image each time I make any changes to my OS or apps.

Data should be backed up separately from the OS/apps as data tends to change very frequently, so keep this in mind.

Thanks very much, Ted; very useful info. I will do this in the enar future – when I get some time back! And will be much more careful of n’helpful’ people in future!

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Nonetheless, you DON’T have to buy a full copy to install; just buy an upgrade copy.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/win7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media

Zig

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Nonetheless, you DON’T have to buy a full copy to install; just buy an upgrade copy.

http://www.winsupersite.com/article/win7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media

Zig

Truly? That’s good news! Even though the copy I have on the computer is not legal?

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Truly? That’s good news! Even though the copy I have on the computer is not legal?

You had a legitimate XP version, right? That gives you legal upgrading rights to a Windows 7 edition.

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You had a legitimate XP version, right? That gives you legal upgrading rights to a Windows 7 edition.

I did, but when I moved house, and got this “upgraded” computer, I must have thrown it out; I vaguely remember doing it, and it isn’t here now :-((

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You could contact Microsoft’s support to see if you could have any Anytime Upgrade options that would allow you to keep what you have. Many times Windows 7 Ultimate is presented as the top Windows 7 version, so that could be a possibility, even if a costly one. Probably only MS can confirm whether it is a possibility or not.

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You could contact Microsoft’s support to see if you could have any Anytime Upgrade options that would allow you to keep what you have. Many times Windows 7 Ultimate is presented as the top Windows 7 version, so that could be a possibility, even if a costly one. Probably only MS can confirm whether it is a possibility or not.

Might try that; thanks.

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As I understand, Enterprise is technically the same as Ultimate, so you could even check with MS if a Ultimate key would work.

After backing up what you have (imaging is recommended), you can even feel bold and try this: http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-installation-upgrade/20669-downgrade-change-windows-7-ultimate-home-premium-professional.html

If you did, then chaging the registry to make windows think it had your desired version, you could then buy a legitimate key.

This latter path is, of course, riskier.

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As I understand, Enterprise is technically the same as Ultimate, so you could even check with MS if a Ultimate key would work.

After backing up what you have (imaging is recommended), you can even feel bold and try this: http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-installation-upgrade/20669-downgrade-change-windows-7-ultimate-home-premium-professional.html

If you did, then chaging the registry to make windows think it had your desired version, you could then buy a legitimate key.

This latter path is, of course, riskier.

OK. I think I might try MS support first! But thanks for the good advice.

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Sorry for the multiple posts. Was doing a bit of researching, since I could almost think that, with a bit of testing, you can find a solution. I would probably try the registry thing, after backup and then buy a legitimate key. You’d then have a legal Windows version, without the need for a full reinstall.

Of course, a first point of call could be MS support. I understand they were at some point encouraging users who were tricked into buying pirate copies, to go the legitimate way, so they can have a ready made solution for you, too.

One final thought, even if a negative one, but I have to mention it – it is possible that pirate windows versions have embedded malware. You need to ponder that as well.

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Sorry for the multiple posts. Was doing a bit of researching, since I could almost think that, with a bit of testing, you can find a solution. I would probably try the registry thing, after backup and then buy a legitimate key. You’d then have a legal Windows version, without the need for a full reinstall.

Of course, a first point of call could be MS support. I understand they were at some point encouraging users who were tricked into buying pirate copies, to go the legitimate way, so they can have a ready made solution for you, too.

One final thought, even if a negative one, but I have to mention it – it is possible that pirate windows versions have embedded malware. You need to ponder that as well.

Urgh! That’s another thought!

But I do appreciate your advice, at least to try! Thanks so much for all the help. You guys are just the best!

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Just so we’re clear –
You can install Win 7 from an upgrade disc even if you DON’T have a prior legal copy of XP (R.M. Nixon: “Yes, we could do that, but it would be wrong.” [They did it, anyway] ). You’ll have to do a clean install, but you would have to do so anyway under the other scenarios, except for the “Call Microsoft & get a legal key” one. If you’re worried about malware, save your data & files to reinstall your programs, format the whole thing and start from scratch. It might be a good idea to image the (otherwise-fully-updated) installation BEFORE installing SP1, then again afterwards.

Zig

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Just so we’re clear –
You can install Win 7 from an upgrade disc even if you DON’T have a prior legal copy of XP (R.M. Nixon: “Yes, we could do that, but it would be wrong.” [They did it, anyway] ). You’ll have to do a clean install, but you would have to do so anyway under the other scenarios, except for the “Call Microsoft & get a legal key” one. If you’re worried about malware, save your data & files to reinstall your programs, format the whole thing and start from scratch. It might be a good idea to image the (otherwise-fully-updated) installation BEFORE installing SP1, then again afterwards.

Zig

Thanks Zig; actually, I have just found a legal copy of XP that I had for my laptop; I guess i could install that and get the upgrade option from that? Do you think that might be the best option?

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NOT NECESSARY; IIRC even for the “legal” upgrade install. The Windows upgrade install disk, if it doesn’t find a legal Windows install, will ask you to insert the disc into your CD-drive (not install it).

Zig

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Ah thanks! All should be well then! Many thanks to all..

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You definitely won’t need to have a legitimate XP copy installed prior to the upgrade, to be elligible for a Windows 7 upgrade license. I think we are talking legally and from a legal sense, you had a valid XP license, so that’s all you need. Technically, that is true too, you can even use an upgrade DVD to install 7 on a disk with no OS at all.

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This definitely goes into that area, “Whatever it’s worth”.

But for the guy/gal who likes to play around with different OS’s, it’s very
advantageous to have each OS on a different hard drive.
Then you (or I) never have to worry about one OS conflicting with another.

That’s pretty easy on a desktop computer, but not quite so easy on a Laptop.

JFWIW

Doc

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