Thank you so much for this fix. It was a much better alternative to having my computer start shutting down every two hours, or having to reformat and start from scratch. I'm sure you saved many weary geeks with this.
Thanks for the work-around! Very useful, and worked like a charm! Did the "downgrade" on saturday, only took about 2 hours, after about an hour or so of backing up a few things. Super glad that I back up files a few times a month, as this shortened my install time having only to go back and make sure everything and anything I needed/wanted was off the RC box and on my 1TB WD external. Instructions were easy to follow, and these couple quick switches took literally minutes..went safely from Win 7 RC (7100) to Win 7 Pro (Retail). Thanks again guys!
I followed these steps to the "T" but am coming across an issue where after selecting which language to use TWICE on different prompts followed by the install prompt, I get "Windows cannot determine which language to install." I am at a loss here as to how to continue =/
followed above instructions. My issue is that when I start to run the released version of Win7 it appears to completely skip past the Upgrade or Custom install screen. Any ideas?
P.S. M?y release version of Win7 is one that I bought through the Microsoft company store.
AWESOME really saved me
@ Daniel make sure that the version you upgrade to is the same as your RC. E.G. I had a german x86 RC thus I needed a german x86 retail to upgrade. Thx Thrax and rock on
I attempted the above process twice and I keep receiving the notification that the upgrade did not complete and the previous windows installation has been restored. I am upgraded from Windows 7 64 bit Ultimate RC 7100 to OEM Windows 7 64 bit Professional. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Just a note. I ran into the same problem as Jonathan ... not enough space on C: drive because I keep a smaller system partition. I circumvented this issue by copying the contents of the C:\Windows\Installer directory to my D: drive, which freed up enough space to upgrade. After upgrading, make sure you copy them back!
Thanks for the great post Thrax! I downgraded to Home Premium and it is working like a charm, with a ton of software (I am a DBA and developer).
This worked beautifully Robert. I'm glad you had the ProductName example of "Windows 7 Professional" or I wouldn't have known exactly what to call it.
I normally wouldn't hack an upgrade like this, but I just assumed that by installing the RC, it would be upgradeable using my previous XP license. That's fair. I had an upgrade path. It would have taken days to reinstall XP and then set up all my applications and settings without the use of the transfer tool MS normally supplies with upgrades. MS dropped the ball. Thank you for staying on top of it Robert!
This is a simple great document but it failed for me. Now, admitedly I am attempting via a logmein session. Any of you out there with a Mother that is like a virus to a PC will understand why I am attempting this.
The system has been running RC 32-bit for months and is working like a champ. I have copied the contents of the disc to a hard drive, modified the regedit as recommended, started install and selected update. It seemed to run fine and restarted. It never asked for a serial number. When it came back up it still stated Windows 7 Ultimate and not Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM as it should. I attempted the change license and it failed. Any ideas?
Is there a confirmation that I am not seeing on reboot?
When I try to use this method, the process will go as it should, until the computer reboots itself.
I then get a Windows is starting... screen, and then a cmd box with these lines:
I've use the process and it initally seemed to work to have win 7 build 7600 rtm. Now after march first it reboots every 2 hours. When i run winver it says
Microsoft Windows
Version 6.1(Build 7600)
Evaluation copy. Expires 03/01/2010 07:59 PM
Hi there. I have a crashed copy of XP. And I'm currently running on the RC.
I'm wondering if windows 7 would detect XP if I were to try to use the Windows 7 upgrade edition (the one that requires XP or vista already installed) with this trick.
I was concerned about maintaining by dual boot with XP and Windows 7.
Fortunately I found this guide before I wasted too much time and aggravation.
I had 2 computers with XP and RC dual boot--upgraded the RC to Home Premium using two XP upgrade versions of Win7 Home Premium (full version not required, as many anal retentive "that won't work" geeks are saying on the net)--no problem--still got my dual boot and Windows 7 Home Premium is working perfectly, registered and updated fine.
To Mark, I think it will work without problem--there didn't appear to be any process I could see that attempted to detect if XP was installed or asked for an XP cd or reg code like there has been on previous versions of windows.
Hi, I'm wondering if it's possible to carry this out from a 32 bit RC(7100) to a 64 bit retail version of windows 7 home prem, sorry if it's been asked but i can't find it anywhere
Comments
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Windows-Premium-Upgrade-Vista/dp/B002DGS81C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1267474064&sr=8-2
Thanks
P.S. M?y release version of Win7 is one that I bought through the Microsoft company store.
If there was a religion of Windows 7 Updates, you'd be the one true god. All hail the mighty thrax!
(No, seriously, that was one of the best tweaks I've ever used. Worked flawlessly. Thanks so much!)
@ Daniel make sure that the version you upgrade to is the same as your RC. E.G. I had a german x86 RC thus I needed a german x86 retail to upgrade. Thx Thrax and rock on
Thanks for the great post Thrax! I downgraded to Home Premium and it is working like a charm, with a ton of software (I am a DBA and developer).
I normally wouldn't hack an upgrade like this, but I just assumed that by installing the RC, it would be upgradeable using my previous XP license. That's fair. I had an upgrade path. It would have taken days to reinstall XP and then set up all my applications and settings without the use of the transfer tool MS normally supplies with upgrades. MS dropped the ball. Thank you for staying on top of it Robert!
The system has been running RC 32-bit for months and is working like a champ. I have copied the contents of the disc to a hard drive, modified the regedit as recommended, started install and selected update. It seemed to run fine and restarted. It never asked for a serial number. When it came back up it still stated Windows 7 Ultimate and not Windows 7 HOMEPREMIUM as it should. I attempted the change license and it failed. Any ideas?
Is there a confirmation that I am not seeing on reboot?
I then get a Windows is starting... screen, and then a cmd box with these lines:
X:\$WINDOWS. ~BT\WINDOWS\system32>wpeinit_
X:\$WINDOWS. ~BT\WINDOWS\system32>_
What should I do???
Did you find a work around for the no WindowsNT Joel? I have the problem no WindowsNT in the regedit.
Microsoft Windows
Version 6.1(Build 7600)
Evaluation copy. Expires 03/01/2010 07:59 PM
How can i stop the reboots?
I'm wondering if windows 7 would detect XP if I were to try to use the Windows 7 upgrade edition (the one that requires XP or vista already installed) with this trick.
I was concerned about maintaining by dual boot with XP and Windows 7.
Fortunately I found this guide before I wasted too much time and aggravation.
I had 2 computers with XP and RC dual boot--upgraded the RC to Home Premium using two XP upgrade versions of Win7 Home Premium (full version not required, as many anal retentive "that won't work" geeks are saying on the net)--no problem--still got my dual boot and Windows 7 Home Premium is working perfectly, registered and updated fine.