Windows 7 Home Trial Period

My friend is running Windows Vista Home on his Vaio. He wants to install Windows 7 Home Premium on it and wanted my help, along with finding the cheapest way possible.

After talking to him today, I mentioned he can install Windows 7 over it without having to format/do a fresh install. I also mentioned it can be done without the activation key, for a grace period of 30 days. After that, he obviously would have to enter a key that he purachases, but in the mean time, he can experience Windows 7 and see if he likes it.

Can this be done with the upgrade advisor? Can he upgrade [without having to do a fresh install] to Windows 7, and do it for free for 30 days? Or is this option only available for fresh installs?

 

He can upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium and test it without entering a licence key.
It's also possible to increase the test time with a so called "rearm". Google for it.
The upgrade advisor only checks if his hardware and the installed programs are compatible with Windows 7.

 

Thanks for your responses.

We're still undecided whether he should buy off the web/download it or buy the DVD's through the mail. The web seems to offer many exciting deals, but I also think he would benefit from having the physical DVD for later in case of a reinstall.

If we did a student discount buying from a website, would we be able to save the ISO from the download and burn it to DVD/make it bootable for future formats? Or are upgrades only available to install OVER existing windows installations?

Windows 7 Student Discount

I'm talking about this ^.

ALSO, how many computers is the product key good for?

 

You can use the product key on one computer.
You should be able to save and subsequently burn the ISO.
It's an Upgrade Version, but you should be able to do a clean install, look for further information on website
Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Clean Install Windows 7 with Upgrade Media