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Windows 7 Upgrade Hacks Illegal

Published 11/2/2009 in Windows 7 News by Steve Sinchak with 10,341 views

Microsoft cleared up what was obvious to many already: you can't use the Windows 7 Upgrade version legally if don't qualify for an upgrade.  If a user tricks the upgrade installer to setup Windows 7 on a brand new PC, the install is not licensed properly and thus illegal. Even if Windows activates properly after installation the computer is in violation of the license agreement. In the big picture this affects a small number of users since most buy a computer preloaded with some version of Windows which meets the upgrade legal requirements. The upgrade "hacks" for Windows 7 while illegal for users that don't qualify can be very helpful for users that want to start fresh on their computer with a clean install but encounter activation bugs after upgrading.

Read more on the Microsoft SMB blog

 
Comments
john doe
Windows can be a big problem, when you have the os for longer than your computer warranty, then you upgrade and the upgrade fails, you are stuck with a computer without an operating system. There is no support for this, no one will help, and windows support tells you to contact the computer manufacturer, that doesn't care since your computer is out of warranty, they will sell you a new one, but if you want windows, you have to buy a complete new install, which is probably worth more than the computer that you want to put it on, and the upgrade that probably costs over 100 is worthless. This has happened to me.
300 days ago
Solvation
Bah, You can always download Ubuntu for free as backup OS, who knows maybe you like it more then Win.Se7en.
297 days ago
triplesquarednine
john doe,

you might be better off buying win7 over the upgrade anyway(i assume you are using vista?). upgrading any OS can lead to undesired/unwanted hassles.
i use several OS's including win7, linux, OSX and BSD - all of which can
have issues after a big upgrade(like vista to win7 or ubuntu 8.10 to 9.10). so i would recommend a clean install of win7 instead of an upgrade.

i second Solvation's idea, you might wanna give Ubuntu a try.
dual-boot win7 and ubuntu, then if you are ever in a pinch your bases are covered.
295 days ago
oudou
you can easly try ubuntu (other too) at his maximum performance from windows with this tool : "wubi". Small, select wich linux you want, and it download the latest stable version, then install it in a single iso image file on your drive, very safe! Just reboot and it's working with dual boot... if you don't want it, you can uninstall is like any windows program (and it's working well!)
293 days ago
trm96
Why bother with upgrade hacks? If you are installing on a new machine why not just buy an OEM license? OEM licenses are cheaper than even retail upgrade licenses and it don't violate any ELUAs.

BTW I installed an OEM version of 7 Ultimate on my desktop computer that already had Vista Ultimate (witch meet the upgrade requirements). I never buy an upgrade license.
289 days ago
max
becasue some of us are students and get the upgrade edition from microsoft for £30
and if microsoft say i need to get a ful version ill just go buy a second hand windows xp sp1 disk and keep that and tell them i have the disk so i can do what i like

(i live with my stepdad and he has upto 5 uses on his disk so im coverd
280 days ago
 
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