Windows 7 Conundrum

[maladroit]

I'd love to be brief with this, but I can't

I'm going to law school next year and the exam program my school uses requires that we have a Microsoft Operating system installed VIA BOOTCAMP--they won't let us use virtualization software to install.

So, I figured I'd use my Windows XP 64-bit copy, install it via Bootcamp, then get an educational version (upgrade) of Windows 7 and go that route.

I successfully installed XP64, installed SP2, then tried to put my OSX disc in to pull the drivers off of. It errors out and says that I need Vista or XP SP2 (which I have installed now).

I also tried to run the bootcamp update (3.1), which errors and tells me I need to have 3.0 installed (OSX tells me I'm running 3.01).

My question is sort of two part--
1) Will I be able to take a Win7 64-bit upgrade disc and just blow away the current install of XP?
2) Is there any work around I could take advantage of?

I apologize in advance, I've done some searching for this topic, but none really fits my exact situation.

Thanks

PS--if it helps anymore, I'm running Snow Leopard on a 13 inch MBP.

 

[balamw]

There is no real upgrade from XP to 7, in all cases it is essentially a clean install.

You can install from upgrade media to a blank drive using one of the three processes mentioned here/ http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/clean_install_upgrade_media.asp

Just as long as you feel you are in compliance with the licenses there is nothing technological in your way.

EDIT: I would strongly recommend finding a source of an official ISO image for the version of Windows you plan to get (likely Windows 7 Pro 64) and run it without a product key for up to 120 days until you get your own license, reinstall and input the proper product key.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...hMGXLnAtCyRd0GkDw&sig2=nHbONdOpATvPf_-2vdvInw

http://techpp.com/2009/11/11/download-windows-7-iso-official-direct-download-links/ (I've been told some of the links are stale).

B

 

[maladroit]

Just as long as you feel you are in compliance with the licenses there is nothing technological in your way.

EDIT: I would strongly recommend finding a source of an official ISO image for the version of Windows you plan to get (likely Windows 7 Pro 64) and run it without a product key for up to 120 days until you get your own license, reinstall and input the proper product key.

Alright, I'm going to check this out. I'm in compliance with licensing fully and I'm currently downloading a legal .iso to burn and try this out.

Thanks--
Ryan

UPDATE: Worked perfectly. I was a little worried about updating from an ISO file, but it worked out perfectly. Thanks again!