Windows 7 upgrade

[Baked_bean]

Hiya guys, quick question. I am currently running windows 7 release candidate on my computer however, i have just been told that it will run out in 13 days. Do you know if i can get away with buying the windows 7 upgrade or if i need the full version?
Thanks

[annodomini2]

Upgrade is from XP or Vista with a genuine license.

Not 7 RC

So you could update a genuine vista or xp install.

[Dibby]

The student version upgrade needs a genuine activated copy of XP/ Vista to install off the back of but I've always steered well clear of installing OS's on top of OS's.

So tried installing the 7 upgrade on top of itself and hey-presto! A working copy of Windows for £30, no other software requires, no old versions of files hanging around in the background

[Merry]

Dibby said:

The student version upgrade needs a genuine activated copy of XP/ Vista to install off the back of but I've always steered well clear of installing OS's on top of OS's.

So tried installing the 7 upgrade on top of itself and hey-presto! A working copy of Windows for £30, no other software requires, no old versions of files hanging around in the background

^ That.

I do recall reading somewhere that every copy of 7 sold in the EU would be a full version. I may have imagined that, though.

[Dibby]

It works something like you install Win7 off the 'upgrade' disc, leave the product key blank and don't activate it, install over itself and activate from there. Can't remember exactly how I did it but it'll be on Google somewhere.

GF works in the education system and has a .ac.uk email address to buy the student version through. Bingo! Proper Windows 7 Professional for £30, that's more like the money people would be willing to pay for software.

[annodomini2]

It may work, but technically the license is invalid.

[Dibby]

Pah, technicalities.

If a huge multinational and one of the most profitable companies around are going to leave gaping gaps in their install procedures so someone like me with very limited technical nouse can figure it out and bypass it they deserve to be ripped off, to be honest.

I'm pretty sure they will be too busy shutting down mass piracy factories to worry about someone who still paid for Windows but not the full amount. Windows updates work, Windows genuine certification passes every time and if it gets blocked I'm sure a quick poke on google will take me all of 10 minutes to get back round it.