Solved Win7-Win8 upgrade Licensing

msalton1

Member
Member
Messages
70
I have a test machine with win 7 on it. I also have an Win8 pro upgrade iso (bought just after win 8 RTM).
The copies are older copies, before all the 'OEM only' nonsense.

I need to have win 7 AND win 8.x on this test machine. What I'd like to do is clone the win 7 drive, upgrade to win 8 (and/or 8.1) so that I can switch between the win7 and win8 drives when I need one OS or the other. All in the same machine, no monkey business. I just need to be able to test on both OS's on an ongoing basis. They won't be used at the same time or on any other machines.

Doable?

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7, Win8
It's technically doable, but not legally doable. Upgrade copies of Windows don't contain a license, they simply transfer the existing Windows license to a new version of Windows. So you can't use both Windows 7 and Windows 8 at the same time, legally, since you only have the upgrade version of 8. You'd need to buy a fully licensed copy of Win8 to be on the right side of the law, but from a purely technical standpoint there's no reason you couldn't do what you're describing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
Hi asvent...just thought of this, but since XP is in the upgrade path, that could make it a righteous upgrade (I still have several XP pro licenses, none of which are in service). But also, isn't the Win 8 upgrade the same as Win 7 and Vista upgrades....upgradeable over itself via the old MS sanctioned 'double install'? I understood that the legalise made it possible to buy the upgrade w/o having an upgrade path...no previous OS or product key required.

Of course, since I have a 'legal' upgrade path via XP, this becomes moot to this post.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7, Win8
I have a test machine with win 7 on it. I also have an Win8 pro upgrade iso (bought just after win 8 RTM).
The copies are older copies, before all the 'OEM only' nonsense.

I need to have win 7 AND win 8.x on this test machine. What I'd like to do is clone the win 7 drive, upgrade to win 8 (and/or 8.1) so that I can switch between the win7 and win8 drives when I need one OS or the other. All in the same machine, no monkey business. I just need to be able to test on both OS's on an ongoing basis. They won't be used at the same time or on any other machines.

Doable?

Thanks!

Sounds to me that what you want to do is Dual Boot win7 and Win 8.1.1. Since you have a retail version of Window 8 you should be able to download a Windows 8.1.1 ISO. Then leaving your Win 7 as is Install Win 8.1.1 using your ISO to a separate hard drive best choice or Partition. How you would do this is to use a Generic Key to start the win 8.1.1 install. After installation you would use the key to your legal win 8 RTM Key to activate. At that point on boot up you would get the Win 8 Blue start up screen where you would chose between booting to win 8 default or Win 7. There is a thread that explains how to download the Win 8.1.1 ISO using your RTM Key, Another thread that further expliains Using a Win 8 key to activate Win 8.1.1 Here are the Generic Keys Windows 8.1 Single Language Y9NXP-XT8MV-PT9TG-97CT3-9D6TC
Windows 8.1 Core 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
Windows 8.1 Pro XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB
Search the Tutorials for then guides mention I can't link them for you right now maybe some one else will? Also the Install & Setup section look in the stickies at the top of the forum.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
Sounds to me that what you want to do is Dual Boot win7 and Win 8.1.1. Since you have a retail version of Window 8 you should be able to download a Windows 8.1.1 ISO. Then leaving your Win 7 as is Install Win 8.1.1 using your ISO to a separate hard drive best choice or Partition. How you would do this is to use a Generic Key to start the win 8.1.1 install. After installation you would use the key to your legal win 8 RTM Key to activate. At that point on boot up you would get the Win 8 Blue start up screen where you would chose between booting to win 8 default or Win 7. There is a thread that explains how to download the Win 8.1.1 ISO using your RTM Key, Another thread that further expliains Using a Win 8 key to activate Win 8.1.1 Here are the Generic Keys Windows 8.1 Single Language Y9NXP-XT8MV-PT9TG-97CT3-9D6TC
Windows 8.1 Core 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
Windows 8.1 Pro XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB
Search the Tutorials for then guides mention I can't link them for you right now maybe some one else will? Also the Install & Setup section look in the stickies at the top of the forum.

Thanks for the information, Clintlgm. I will be installing to a separate SSD, but since this is a test machine, and is built into a test bench, I'll just be switching drives as needed.

Thanks for your comments.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7, Win8
Sounds to me that what you want to do is Dual Boot win7 and Win 8.1.1. Since you have a retail version of Window 8 you should be able to download a Windows 8.1.1 ISO. Then leaving your Win 7 as is Install Win 8.1.1 using your ISO to a separate hard drive best choice or Partition. How you would do this is to use a Generic Key to start the win 8.1.1 install. After installation you would use the key to your legal win 8 RTM Key to activate. At that point on boot up you would get the Win 8 Blue start up screen where you would chose between booting to win 8 default or Win 7. There is a thread that explains how to download the Win 8.1.1 ISO using your RTM Key, Another thread that further expliains Using a Win 8 key to activate Win 8.1.1 Here are the Generic Keys Windows 8.1 Single Language Y9NXP-XT8MV-PT9TG-97CT3-9D6TC
Windows 8.1 Core 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT
Windows 8.1 Pro XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB
Search the Tutorials for then guides mention I can't link them for you right now maybe some one else will? Also the Install & Setup section look in the stickies at the top of the forum.

Thanks for the information, Clintlgm. I will be installing to a separate SSD, but since this is a test machine, and is built into a test bench, I'll just be switching drives as needed.

Thanks for your comments.

The path is the same whether you dual boot or just use one hard drive at a time. If you don't want a dual boot just pull your Win 7 disk out and do a clean install of win 8.1.1
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
Hi asvent...just thought of this, but since XP is in the upgrade path, that could make it a righteous upgrade (I still have several XP pro licenses, none of which are in service). But also, isn't the Win 8 upgrade the same as Win 7 and Vista upgrades....upgradeable over itself via the old MS sanctioned 'double install'? I understood that the legalise made it possible to buy the upgrade w/o having an upgrade path...no previous OS or product key required.

Of course, since I have a 'legal' upgrade path via XP, this becomes moot to this post.

All of the usual IANAL disclaimers applying, if you've got valid licenses for XP Pro that are not being used, at worst you'd probably be in kind of a light gray area legally. If Microsoft were so inclined they might sue, but you'd stand a fighting chance of winning by saying you were using one of these unused licenses which is a qualifying product for the upgrade. By conventional standards, which are often a far cry from legal standards, you'd be completely in the clear assuming XP Pro is a valid upgrade product for Win 8. I can't remember if it is or not off the top of my head, but considering how MS wants to get everyone off XP ASAP, it's plausible to even likely that it is.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
All of the usual IANAL disclaimers applying, if you've got valid licenses for XP Pro that are not being used, at worst you'd probably be in kind of a light gray area legally. If Microsoft were so inclined they might sue, but you'd stand a fighting chance of winning by saying you were using one of these unused licenses which is a qualifying product for the upgrade. By conventional standards, which are often a far cry from legal standards, you'd be completely in the clear assuming XP Pro is a valid upgrade product for Win 8. I can't remember if it is or not off the top of my head, but considering how MS wants to get everyone off XP ASAP, it's plausible to even likely that it is.

Odd, but direct info on XP qualifying for a win 8 upgrade was not easy to find. But here on Amazon, the product description states:

"This product key card will upgrade your computer from:

Windows XP, Windows Vista, or a Windows 7."


So I guess that settles that. Good to go. Thanks for your input.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7, Win8
Just wanted to update: I did install win 8.1 using a generic key and activated using the win 8 retail key. All went surprisingly well. I thought my copy of w8p was an upgrade, but since I wasn't required to jump through the 'clean upgrade hoops' I would have expected, I guess it was a full version. I bought this copy through some special in Nov 2012 and never installed it. Thanks to all for the pointers, links, etc...they helped a lot!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7, Win8
Back
Top