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Upgrading to Windows 7

by Parm Mann on 27 July 2009, 16:51

Tags: Windows 7, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)

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Upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7

For users of Windows Vista, the upgrade situation is both simpler and yet somehow more complex, as well.

Microsoft provides Vista users with the option to perform an in-place upgrade, but it is limited to like-for-like editions. For example, you won’t be able to do an in-place upgrade from Windows Vista Home Basic to Windows 7 Ultimate. The only upgrade routes are as follows:

  • Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional
  • Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate

Users running Windows Vista Home Basic are out of luck. The only in-place upgrade path is to Windows 7 Home Basic, and that release is being made available in emerging markets only – meaning it won’t be offered in developed countries such as the UK and the US.

Furthermore, the same applies to 32-bit and 64-bit variants of the software. An in-place upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows Vista can only be carried out with a 32-bit version of Windows 7. The only way to move from 32-bit to 64-bit is with a clean install.

Speaking of clean installs, the same restrictions apply to Windows Vista as they do to Windows XP. Users making use of a Windows 7 Upgrade edition will be required to have a qualifying Windows operating system installed and activated. And yes, that means you’ll need to install and activate a genuine copy of Windows Vista prior to each fresh install of Windows 7 - unless, of course, you purchased a full edition.

The plot’s already thick enough, but what if you’re not using Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows Vista? What if you’re using something newer – say, the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC)?

Upgrading from Windows 7 RC to Windows 7

Surprisingly, users of Windows 7 RC are eligible to purchase an upgrade edition of Windows 7. However, like Windows XP users, it won’t be possible to perform an in-place upgrade. You’ll need to do a clean install, and you’ll need to have the RC activated before hand.

Who’d have thought upgrading to a new operating system could be so complex?


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HEXUS Forums :: 16 Comments

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Posted by kalniel - Mon 27 Jul 2009 17:20
Geez you got me all worried for a moment, but actually the only bit that applies to us over here is the last paragraph pretty much. The rest of the article is great for US readers, but perhaps it could be made clearer at the start that that's the case!
Posted by dfour - Mon 27 Jul 2009 17:31
Me also. Im glad there is no option but a clean install of w7 as a clean install feels so nice and fresh and quick :)
Posted by mercyground - Mon 27 Jul 2009 17:43
TBH if you are going to do an install? You really should just clean install and start from scratch. It saves alot of hassle and you get a nice spring cleaning too.

Keep your mydocuments on a different drive and move your outlook file too and you dont even have to presort your files. Everything on C can be blizted.
Posted by kingpotnoodle - Mon 27 Jul 2009 17:49
dfour
Me also. Im glad there is no option but a clean install of w7 as a clean install feels so nice and fresh and quick :)

IMHO anyone who doesn't do a clean install when upgrading their OS is clearly bonkers… it's the perfect time, and 100% going to have no compatibility issues and old crap floating about. Make the most of your upgrades!!
Posted by LegacyOne - Mon 27 Jul 2009 18:09
Just to make it clear to ALL this is for Windows 7 not Windows 7 E.

Windows 7 E needs a clean install BUT you do not need to have a qualifying Windows operating system installed and activated, you CAN install it on a blank hard drive.

SEE NEWER »