Different versions of 7 in same installer?

[Guest theeldergeek]

I may be completely wrong/misinformed on this, however, maybe someone can confirm whether it is the case or not?

 

When you install Win7, the version you install is dependant on the licence key you have which in turn decides on what features will be unlocked? That is, you can use the same disc to install a basic version of 7 as you could a pro version, but it's whatever licence key you put in which will determine what actually gets installed?

 

I can't remember where I heard/read about this, or whether I have got the wrong end of the stick altogether!

[SYNACK]

Yes this is correct for Vista/2008 and 7/2008r2 If you give it no key you can choose what version to install and it expires after 30-180(slmgr.vbs -rearm) days if you dont activate it. This does not include 32/64 bit though as those are on different media, ie all 32bit on one and all 64bit on another. Edited May 13, 2010 by SYNACK

[Arthur]

That is not quite true. Unless you delete the ei.cfg file from your Windows 7 install disc, you will not be able to select the other editions contained on the same disc.

 

If you want to combine the 32-bit and 64-bit discs, there are some good tutorials on how to do this here and here.

Edited May 13, 2010 by Arthur

[SYNACK]

You are right I should have added a depends to that, VL disks are constrained to the VL products with the above file but retail as far as I know still does all retail SKUs. It did on Vista anyway.

[Arthur]

VL disks are constrained to the VL products with the above file but retail as far as I know still does all retail SKUs. It did on Vista anyway.

Vista does by default, but annoyingly Microsoft changed this behaviour with Windows 7. This applies to any version (Retail, OEM & VL) AFAICT. For example, Windows 7 Professional will not prompt you to select other SKUs by default because they pre-configured the EditionID in the ei.cfg.

Edited May 13, 2010 by Arthur

[SYNACK]

Grrrr, scum bags, how dare they change the rules on me. My VL 2k8 R2 media does give me the option of anything from standard core up to datacenter. There again I guess it is no suprise that MS is playing silly games with their media again. XP disks were only seven or so characters different between OEM, VL and retail Pro CDs and that surely netted them hundreds of thousands in replacement CD orders at $40 a turn. Edited May 14, 2010 by SYNACK