is it possible to use $29 upgrade key to install Windows 7 retail ISO via Boot Camp?

[arrowtree]

Back in 2010(?), I purchased two upgrade keys for $29 each. The
pricing was offered to my girlfriend who was college faculty member
at the time.

I recently used one of the keys to do a clean install on an old PC with
a brand new SSD. Windows 7 didn't care that it was an upgrade key
and the PC had nothing on the SSD. The installing went smoothly.


The Windows 7 ISO was downloaded directly from Microsoft's official
website:

"Windows 7 Home Premium x64 ISO 64-bit"
http://www.nextofwindows.com/download-retail-windows-7-iso-from-official-website/

Since I have one more key, I was wondering if it's possible to do the
same on a Macbook Air 11 (2013) via Boot Camp?

Thanks!

 

[Quackers]

You could just try it and see how it goes

 

[costabunny]

I have used mine this way many times. You will nedd to change the registry before it will let you activate, but its fine.

I dont have the key to hand but if you google for install clean windows 7 with upgrade - you should find instructions.

 

[clukas]

Yes just make sure you have boot camp drivers for windows 8. Apple for example only supported my MBP until windows 7 with driver updates. I managed to get Windows 8 installed fresh on both my macs with no activation problems using keys from the same offer you had.

 

[arrowtree]

Yes just make sure you have boot camp drivers for windows 8. Apple for example only supported my MBP until windows 7 with driver updates. I managed to get Windows 8 installed fresh on both my macs with no activation problems using keys from the same offer you had.

wait... are you saying that you installed Windows 8 using a Windows 7 key?

 

[clukas]

wait... are you saying that you installed Windows 8 using a Windows 7 key?

No. I purchased a windows 8 key when Microsoft still did the cheap upgrade offer. According to the license you are only allowed to upgrade another version of windows with that key, however I managed to do a clean install without any issues. So I performed a clean installation of windows 8 and activated that using the windows 8 upgrade key.

 

[KdParker]

Should be fine.

 

[arrowtree]

No. I purchased a windows 8 key when Microsoft still did the cheap upgrade offer. According to the license you are only allowed to upgrade another version of windows with that key, however I managed to do a clean install without any issues. So I performed a clean installation of windows 8 and activated that using the windows 8 upgrade key.

Thanks! That's how I did the clean Windows 7 install on the upgrade key.

I was just wondering if that can be done using Boot Camp on the Macbook.
I have the retail Windows 7 ISO and I assume it will not know that it's
being installed on a Mac.

 

[costabunny]

Thanks! That's how I did the clean Windows 7 install on the upgrade key.

I was just wondering if that can be done using Boot Camp on the Macbook.
I have the retail Windows 7 ISO and I assume it will not know that it's
being installed on a Mac.

it will work - I have used my Win7 upgrade to clean install on bootcamp before

 

[arrowtree]

it will work - I have used my Win7 upgrade to clean install on bootcamp before

I just wish Macbook Air & Boot Camp allows Windows XP installation.

My PC laptop cam with Windows 8 and I wiped it off to install Windows XP.
It only required 4.2GB of space on the 250GB hard drive and ran much
better for my uses.

Oh well... at least Windows 7 isn't as bad as Windows 8.

 

[costabunny]

Oh well... at least Windows 7 isn't as bad as Windows 8.

I am finding Windows 8 not to be that bad (as windows goes) - finally they've done away with that awful transparent nicey lookie interface.

Seems to run very snappy on my mac too (better 8.1 now the almost-start button is back).

 

[Richdmoore]

The nice thing about windows 7 is that it allows the "double install method" to be used to install an upgrade key onto a new hard drive. My understanding is that windows 8 does not work using this method.