Microsoft confirms Windows 7 install trick is legal

Microsoft today confirmed that users can apply a workaround trick to do a clean install of Windows 7 on a blank hard drive as long as they toe the licensing line.

In a blog post earlier this week, Eric Ligman, who works in Microsoft's worldwide partner group, took exception to stories that showed people how to use the less-expensive Windows 7 upgrade editions to install the new operating system on blank drives. Computerworld covered the upgrade install trick -- first reported by noted Windows blogger Paul Thurrott -- last Friday.

"Over the past several days there have been various posts, etc. across a variety of social media engines stating that some 'hack' (be it a person or a procedure) shows that a Windows 7 Upgrade disc can perform a 'clean' installation of Windows 7 on a blank drive from a technical perspective," said Ligman.

"They often forgot to mention a very basic, yet very important piece of information," said Ligman about Thurrott's blog post and the resulting reports by others. "'Technically possible' does not always mean legal," Ligman said.

In order to use upgrade media to install Windows 7 on a blank hard drive, users must abide by the operating system's EULA, or end-user licensing agreement (download PDF). "To use upgrade software, you must first be licensed for the software that is eligible for the upgrade. After you upgrade, you may no longer use the software you upgraded from," the EULA states.

That, said Ligman, means users must either have a "full" retail license of Windows XP or Vista, or assuming the Windows 7 upgrade is applied to an existing PC, that the upgrade is done on that same machine, which has a so-called "OEM" license attached to it.

:story: Full story: Computerworld

yes! and since that clause is in the eula, it should not be called a "TRICK"! This gives IT Pro's a bad name cos the public thinks that they some how cheat the retail market.

I've reccommended many people to purchase upgrade versions, lol, we even educated the hardly normal (shop name) people! He was quite adamant, almost not selling it! saying "NO! the upgrade can't be used to upgrade XP, only Vista!" ...lol, we said, "OK, still want to buy it."... he gets the back, with a smirk on his face, thinking "stupid users"... then he started reading the back of the packaging... he triumphatly states, Upgrade can only be done on Vista!... lol, then his face dropped when continued reading ALOUD, that XP can be upgraded using the clean install process.... LOL!!

Thank you M$