Windows 7 upgrade from vista

chipp

Just sorted out my dad's computer, it's now back to factory settings (vista) from 2009 plus subsequent microsoft updates, MSE installed, updated, scanned, clean, hooray!!!!

When he bought the machine it came with the option of a free upgrade to Win7 but he never did it, preferring to blunder around with vista, accepting messenger invites to be people's "friends" and downloading spyware galore till windows finally stopped working and he asked for help.

I would like to upgrade it to Win7, is there any way I can do this without spending lots of money? Did anybody reading this avail themselves of the Win7 upgrade back in 2009/10 (offer expired Jan 2010)? If so did it use the same product key? I don't want him running pirate software but if he could have had a free copy of win7 and the only reason he hasn't is that he didn't get round to it, could that be construed as a "grey area" if the software was somehow got hold of and installed now?

I'm sure someone out there has the answer.

HappyMJ

As you say the offer expired in Jan 2010 so he would have to buy it now.

bengalknights

Was the free option over a download or already preinstalled awaiting upgrade?

Check the harddrive partition to see if theres a hidden file, otherwise it sounds more like he would require the oem version of win7 to upgrade.

victor2

I'll second the need to buy, and as I don't suppose he's a student, he'll have to pay the going rate for the upgrade - around £80.
I upgraded from the diabolical Vista to Win 7 in late 2009. The "upgrade" came with a product key and I did an upgrade from XP without a problem onto a new hard drive. I did that just to keep the Vista drive intact should I have the desire to go back to it. I didn't and it's gone now.:)

Incidentally, Win 7 and XP booted and ran with similar looking performance. Vista was noticeably slower than both. All on the same machine.

Jakeandme

chipp wrote: »

Just sorted out my dad's computer, it's now back to factory settings (vista) from 2009 plus subsequent microsoft updates, MSE installed, updated, scanned, clean, hooray!!!!

When he bought the machine it came with the option of a free upgrade to Win7 but he never did it, preferring to blunder around with vista, accepting messenger invites to be people's "friends" and downloading spyware galore till windows finally stopped working and he asked for help.

I would like to upgrade it to Win7, is there any way I can do this without spending lots of money? Did anybody reading this avail themselves of the Win7 upgrade back in 2009/10 (offer expired Jan 2010)? If so did it use the same product key? I don't want him running pirate software but if he could have had a free copy of win7 and the only reason he hasn't is that he didn't get round to it, could that be construed as a "grey area" if the software was somehow got hold of and installed now?

I'm sure someone out there has the answer.

Might be worth downloading a Linux Puppy iso and running it from disc to start with as it's pretty hard to do any real damage, if he gets on with it load it in permanently.
This is what i did when my daughter managed to beat Windows into submission.

[Deleted User]

chipp wrote: »

I would like to upgrade it to Win7, is there any way I can do this without spending lots of money?

You could try talking to the PC manufacturer, not sure how successful you would be though.

If so did it use the same product key? I don't want him running pirate software but if he could have had a free copy of win7 and the only reason he hasn't is that he didn't get round to it, could that be construed as a "grey area" if the software was somehow got hold of and installed now?

The product keys are completely different. A Windows Vista key will not activate Windows 7.

TakeThis

It probably wasn't free anyway. Delivery charges were often up to £30.

If you are a student(or have one in the family), you can get it for that price anyway. Here.

TakeThis

Jakeandme wrote: »

Might be worth downloading a Linux Puppy iso and running it from disc to start with as it's pretty hard to do any real damage, if he gets on with it load it in permanently.
This is what i did when my daughter managed to beat Windows into submission.

Huh? Puppy as an alternative to Windows 7?:D

Jakeandme

Not suggesting it is, but if the posters father has managed to get in such a state with Windows it could be the answer as it runs in RAM.

I suppose it all depends on what the machine is used for, i have had Windows 7 from day one and have used computers for years but still use puppy for web surfing and banking etc.

Hammyman

To the OP, if he managed to make that mess in Vista, he'll do exactly the same in Windows 7. Win7 isn't immune to someone who ignores the security warnings and clicks Yes to everything.