Question

windows 7 upgrade VLK disc is not bootable

Asked by: Kurt4949

We purchased some Windows 7 upgrade VLK licenses.  I downloaded the Win7 upgrade iso from eopen and burned it to disc.  I would like to do a fresh install but I cannot boot off of the disc.  The stupid thing is that when I choose custom install, it says something like " if you want to make changes to the partitions then boot off the disc"  That really pisses me off since it's not bootable, they lie to me.

I already have XP installed on this machine but I want to boot off the disc and do a fresh install plus delete some partitions.  Is there a way to boot off this disc?  Or can I download the full install iso, boot off that and use my upgrade key?  This is ridiculous.  

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Asked On
2009-11-06 at 14:54:54ID24879568
Tags

windows 7

,

volume license key

,

vlk

,

upgrade

Topic

Windows 7

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
14

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Answers

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-11-06 at 15:02:45ID: 25763844

I think you need the full license key if you wish to download the full install .iso and install fresh. Otherwise, with what you purchased, I think you need to install from an already installed OS. I have only ever used full license VLK's and this was one of the reasons. ... Thinkpads_User

 

by: Kurt4949Posted on 2009-11-06 at 15:05:40ID: 25763867

Why is the retail upgrade cd bootable and the VLK upgrade disc not bootable.  That doesn't make any sense.  With the retail disc you can boot off it and as long as it can see your XP or Vista installation, you can upgrade from there but this disc isn't even bootable.

If they are going to do crap like this why don't they make it clear in the product description instead of pissing people off.

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-11-06 at 15:12:02ID: 25763915

I have used retail upgrades as well, and I know they are bootable. I cannot say what reasoning Microsoft is using; however, at the time I did one of these upgrades via VLK, it was clear to me. Perhpas it was the selling vendor (a Microsoft partner) who made it clear. ... Thinkpads_User

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-11-06 at 15:14:42ID: 25763923

My memory is slowly returning (it was some years ago). I think the concern is that you could buy 100 upgrade licenses and then use the same one original OS CD to validate the upgrade. At the retail level that is likely to happen (one upgrade - one full older OS CD). ... Thinkpads_User

 

by: davorinPosted on 2009-11-06 at 15:36:59ID: 25764037

Upgrade key has nothing to do with it.
Also media - all it should be bootable - upgrade or full version.
(Well known practice in windows 7 - also vista is to install windows without the key first and then do the upgrade.
Please check the settings in your bios if cd rom has the precedence in boot order.

 

by: centervPosted on 2009-11-06 at 18:43:33ID: 25764758

You downloaded an iso and burned to disc. Perhaps the boot option failed in the burn.
try using gBurner, you can download a 30 day version, no restrictions.
Also, if your iso is not bootable and you have a pc with win7 installed, make a repair disc from that pc.
Basically, win7 lets you burn a repair disc that is essentially a win7 disc without the install files.
Use that disc to boot and install from your disc or you can try extracting the boot files using gBurner
and use them to make your iso bootable.
Hope that helps you.
Good luck

 

by: Kurt4949Posted on 2009-11-10 at 12:14:35ID: 25789290

I tried the disc on two PC's and it's not bootable.  I burned it with two different programs.  I ended up installing it then deleting all the files left over since there was no way to do a fresh install.  After that, I used disk manager to resize my partitions.

The repair disc is a good idea, I didn't know about that.  Did anyone else find this iso to not be bootable?

 

by: davorinPosted on 2009-11-10 at 12:50:55ID: 25789683

There are a lot of poeple syaing that VLK upgrade media is not bootable.
http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2009/10/23/106348.aspx
On link are posted couple of solutions.
One is like canterv said - make iso bootable.
Other one is to boot from Win7 RC version, when you prepare partitions change the CD and countionue to install from upgrade media. It might work. Not tested.

 

by: centervPosted on 2009-11-10 at 16:16:52ID: 25791413

The only real problem I've seen with iso and is common, is that if burned at too fast a speed it
will most likely fail.
Does the iso have the boot files in it when you open it or does it just not boot when burned?

 

by: Kurt4949Posted on 2009-11-11 at 11:56:34ID: 25798383

It's not bootable.  I downloaded gburner and burned it at 8x and it still didn't work.  When I open the iso image file with gburner, it says NOT Bootable in the bottom corner.  If I open up the full win7 iso (non-upgrade iso), it says bootable!

That means it's impossible to upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit with this disc.  MSFT really screwed people over.  When you put the 64 bit VLK upgrade disc in a 32bit vista install, it gives you an error message saying that you need to boot off the disc which isn't even possible, complete BS.

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-11-11 at 12:06:56ID: 25798504

When you started this post, you did not mention that you were upgrading from 32-bit to 64-bit. That is not a physical upgrade but a fresh install only and it may be that Microsoft is not allowing that kind of upgrade. BS or not, since it is Eopen, have you call Microsoft to discuss this last post (64-bit) and how you might proceed?   ... Thinkpads_User

 

by: Kurt4949Posted on 2009-11-11 at 12:29:26ID: 25798685

Not being able to install 64bit is a consequence of the disc not being bootable which the post was about.  Regardless if I want to install 32 or 64, the disc isn't bootable either way so there is no way to do a clean install.  I'll contact MSFT and see what they say.

 

by: Kurt4949Posted on 2009-11-11 at 12:55:02ID: 25798915

Problem solved I guess.  Instead of using the upgrade media, I used the Full 64bit disc and my VLK upgrade key worked fine and activated.  

 

by: thinkpads_userPosted on 2009-11-11 at 12:57:35ID: 25798945

That is great. I think that is more or less where I was coming from at the beginning. Pleased that you got is solved this way. 64-Bit is great! You will find it much faster, and the full install will give you a clean starting point. Good luck. ... Thinkpads_User

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