Can I install the windows 7 upgrade on a blank HDD even if I have a valid Vista key?
I recently ordered the windows 7 upgrade for vista when MS was having their promotion. I want to replace my HD on my notebook for a larger one and figured I would just install Windows 7 on the new HDD. I've been reading on other forums and I'm still getting mixed responses. Its either:
1) All you need is to enter a valid Vista key
2) Vista needs to be installed and activated on the HDD
I would rather not purchase the full version of Win7 since I'd be spending another $150.
One more question, if I decide to make a ghost copy of my HDD with vista on it onto the new HDD, would there be any problems verifying my Vista key on the new HDD?
I think I'm just gonna get the full Windows 7 Professional from MSDNAA through ACM.
good many problems, i'm afraid....
as for installing to the blank drive, the upgrade disk is not bootable (last i knew), so you must have a windows os to run the installation from.
(do not know if vista must be activated)
second, as for ghost copying the vista partition, i've never had success with that. microsoft has become paranoid about people doing just that, and made the bootloader so that would cause the os to quit working.
there's no harm in trying, but if you have the original install disk, i would use that. yes, that would mean re-installing your drivers & software, but you'll have a faster computer, anyway.
if you could, it would be easier to just add the larger hard drive, and keep the one you have in there as the operating system drive. store all extra data (photos, music, docs, games, etc) on the larger drive, and reserve the os drive for the windows & related programs. (if you need to, you can re-map the 'my documents' to the new drive)
although possibly unnoticeable, the system would run a little faster.
not many notebooks can hold two hard drives, though. i'm assuming that your's may not
yet another reason i prefer Ubuntu.
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