Windows 7 Upgrade Hack

http://neildeadman.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-paul-thurrott-has-the-answer/

Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media: Paul Thurrott has the AnswerUntil Windows Vista, it had been possible to install a clean copy of Windows without a previous version being installed. During the installation, it would ask you to insert the disk of the previous version and voila… it worked.

Microsoft changed things slightly with Vista (but I never actually upgraded so this didn’t affect me). With Windows 7 things are the same, except Paul Thurrott of the SuperSite for Windows website has a solution, with the help of some others. The solution can be found here:

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/10/23/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-the-answer.aspx

Thanks to Kevin Fisher and a bit of testing, I have a simple workaround that does work.

After performing the clean install, ensure that there are no Windows Updates pending that would require a system reboot. (You’ll see an orange shield icon next to Shutdown in the Start Menu if this is the case).

Then, open regedit.exe with Start Menu Search and navigate to:

HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/

Change MediaBootInstall from "1" to "0".

Open the Start Menu again and type cmd to display a shortcut to the Command Line utility. Right-click this shortcut and choose "Run as administrator." Handle the UAC prompt.

In the command line window, type: slmgr /rearm

Then tap ENTER, close the command line window and reboot. When Windows 7 reboots, run the Activate Windows utility, type in your product key and activate windows.

Voila!

Just tested it and verified it. Works like a champ. No need for someone to buy a full version of window 7 just get the upgrade and enjoy.

Wait, what?

By buying only the upgrade, you DON'T need to buy a full install, if you do this bit of trickery? Or did I get lost back there?

Thats exectly what it means comrade :)

Neat. Why would they include the entire full install for a mere upgrade, and then charge you LESS for what is basically the SAME thing? Are the guys who made the upgrade really that lazy?

Reminds me of when the fisrt-gen Firebirds had the exact same engine as the GTO, a Pontiac-designed 400 cubic-inch motor that made awesome torque and real good power. The Firebird version was rated for 25 less horsepower. Reason: A metal tab on the carb linkage prevented the throttle from opening to the full amount. Grab some pliers, and bend back the tab. Bam, instant 25 horsepower increase, for FREE.

So yeah, I guess that sort of half-bakery happens often...

Ambush can you move this forum to hacking section?

::snaps fingers::

Wondering if this is still a valid trick. You would think they would've patched this by now...

It still works