Getting Windows 7 on the Cheap - The Upgrade

As system builders we often are presented with the challenges of software licensing and figuring out what type of software license we need for every situation. In the case of Windows 7 the agreement states that you are required to purchase a full license if you do not own a previous copy of Windows. For systems you are selling on the open market this is the proper way to go, and frankly the only legal option available to you. The question is, how do you use an upgrade copy of Windows 7 when you are upgrading from Windows XP, and what are the limitations?

Over the holiday I was tasked with building a few systems for family members and I was presented with the problem of what edition of Windows 7 to buy, 32-bit, 64-bit, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, full or upgrade. As I mentioned, these were for family members so I took the cheap route and picked up a copy of x64 Home Premium. (I figured they can fend for themselves if they wanted more.) Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade currently sells for about a buck twenty and seems quite affordable for the average user, especially when you're buying it for someone else.

After the systems were built, tuned and buttoned up I sat down to install Windows. Normally when I do this on the test bench I opt to use the 30 day trial of Windows 7 Ultimate which allows me to use the full version of Windows 7 without assigning my product key to any particular system. My only limitation is I must conclude my system testing within the 30 day window else I need to reinstall or deal with the WGA nagware.

Pro tip: make sure you check your system clock BEFORE you install Windows 7 and ensure it is correct, the installation will use the current date as the beginning of time for when WGA will trigger.

Based on my experiences I know you are allowed to skip the product key step during the initial installation, which is how you go into 30 day trial mode. If you enter a valid product key during the 30 day trial you can enable the full product and are allowed full access. What is not always clear is that you can only do this if you own a full product key. As it would turn out when you are installing upgrades you must enter the key during the initial installation and is where I ran into some trouble.

Every time I have done a Windows install (upgrade or otherwise) I have opted for what they call a "clean install" meaning that I backup my important data, format the drive and do a fresh Windows installation. This is the only way to ensure that everything from your old system is gone and happens to be the only way to "upgrade" from Windows XP to Windows 7. Albeit on purpose or accident when installing Windows 7 with an upgrade key you are not required to submit proof of ownership making the install process a little different from before and much easier for those of you who are worried about your upgrade path.

I think you know what I mean.