my friend is doing a rebuild with new mb and cpu can he use his old os that was upgraded

raknarius

Distinguished
Aug 2, 2006
451
1
18,795
he had vista, he upgraded, to windows 7 premium, he only has the windows 7 upgrade box now with code and 32/64bit disks. can he install this without his old vista cd or code which he lost, I was thinking since he had previoiusly done the upgrade on the vista, it deactivates his vista code and the windows 7 upgrade codes is the only one he needs, however can he use thes disks on a new ssd or does he need a vista disk, will it work without the vista code? last thing, I have a old vista box I had used, 32 bit only, if he needs a vista disk / code can he use mine, with that already used windows 7 upgrade.. darn im confused.
 
Solution
He won't need the Vista product key but he will need his Vista installation disc to prove that he owns a copy of Vista.
When he starts to install Win7 upgrade, it will ask him to temporarily insert the Vista disc to prove ownership.

And no, he cannot use your Vista disc or product key, that would be illegal.

Since your friend knew his Win7 was an upgrade version he should have taken greater care of his Vista disc.
He won't need the Vista product key but he will need his Vista installation disc to prove that he owns a copy of Vista.
When he starts to install Win7 upgrade, it will ask him to temporarily insert the Vista disc to prove ownership.

And no, he cannot use your Vista disc or product key, that would be illegal.

Since your friend knew his Win7 was an upgrade version he should have taken greater care of his Vista disc.
 
Solution