Beta 7 to Registered "Full" 7 - without having to reinstall programs

[Jimpy]

I'm currently on Beta 7, my 'trial' time cacks out on March 1st. I have the Windows 7 ultimate CD (32bit) and the registry code.

When I go into Control Panel, System, at the bottom is a section called Windows Activation. It shows that I am activated, and my current registry code. Next to that is the update option. When I place the update code in I receive a "Not valid code" message (Its typed correctly).

Running the CD from boot appears like its going to wipe what I have on the PC, and I really don't want to risk that. Am I mistaken, am I missing something, is there a simple way of simply updating without any worry of losing computers current contents?

(If I don't have to back things up, it will help out a lot, my music stuff really gets mangled and non-functional when you start moving its files around.)

 

[sqrage]

I don't think there is a way.

Starting on March 1, 2010 your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. Your work will not be saved during the shutdown.

The Windows 7 RC will fully expire on June 1, 2010. Your PC running the Windows 7 RC will continue shutting down every two hours and your files won’t be saved during shutdown. In addition, your wallpaper will change to a solid black background with a persistent message on your desktop. You’ll also get periodic notifications that Windows isn’t genuine. That means your PC may no longer be able to obtain optional updates or downloads requiring genuine Windows validation.

To avoid interruption, please reinstall a prior version of Windows or move to Windows 7. In either case, you’ll need to do a custom (clean) install to replace the RC. As with any clean installation, you’ll need to back up your data then reinstall your applications and restore the data. For more details about replacing the RC, see the Knowledge Base article KB 971767. For more information, visit the Window 7 Forum.

from the Microsoft email.

 

[Slapshot136]

I don't think there is a way.

x2, this was known since the RC came out (well I suppose support for this could have been implemented, but it hasn't)

 

[Rapmaster]

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/3075/how-to-upgrade-the-windows-7-rc-to-rtm/ gives a procedure

Microsoft even has a blog article about it http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2009/04/07/delivering-a-quality-upgrade-experience.aspx

Microsoft doesn't support it but it doesn't sound illegal or anything. You always run the risk of having a configuration that Microsoft hasn't tested against, and some future update might break something. So if you can do the reinstall properly, that's the best idea.

There's more to it than just registering your product key- they have changed all sorts of files so you need to run through a reinstall (or in the case above, an upgrade)

 

[sqrage]

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/3075/how-to-upgrade-the-windows-7-rc-to-rtm/ gives a procedure

Microsoft even has a blog article about it http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2009/04/07/delivering-a-quality-upgrade-experience.aspx

Microsoft doesn't support it but it doesn't sound illegal or anything. You always run the risk of having a configuration that Microsoft hasn't tested against, and some future update might break something. So if you can do the reinstall properly, that's the best idea.

There's more to it than just registering your product key- they have changed all sorts of files so you need to run through a reinstall (or in the case above, an upgrade)

I don't think even that upgrades to the actual release version. I did that a while back and it was still under the beta and I was still warned about the expiration.

Not to mention I had a few problems (with updates and lack of them) after doing that procedure. But I did a fresh format with the release version about a week ago and it runs so much more smoothly than when I did that.

 

[Jimpy]

Did as rapmasters link suggested, on boot up I got like 20ish updates that all worked succesfully, old software did some updates too (Msn/steam/zune) which I would think is a positive sign.

So far everything looks to be on the full version, and no major issues found. Only one so far is that my sound card needs to re-configured with my music software which isn't showing up, but for the time being its not a big issue.

Thanks fellows.

 

[sqrage]

Nice, I must have done something wrong when I did it.