how to upgrade windows 7?

Shaye87 · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:11

hey
i am currently using windows 7 "evaluation copy. build 7100", and want to upgrade it to the latest version.
how do i go from here?
thank you

Nick1881 · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:22

Back-up everything and re-install.

Windows has a built in back-up, not sure how well this works as I have never used it, I was going to give it a try.

Shaye87 · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:52

is there no upgrade option? why would i have to reinstall?

marc2003 · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:57

maybe because it says so here...

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/download.aspx

Remember expiration dates: Please plan ahead for the Beta and RC expiration dates. To avoid interruption, you'll need to rebuild your test machine using a valid version of Windows before the software expires. Windows will notify you that the expiration process is beginning and two weeks later your PC will begin shutting down every two hours. The Beta expires on August 1, 2009, and bi-hourly shutdowns will begin July 1, 2009. The RC will expire June 1, 2010, and the bi-hourly shutdowns will begin on March 1, 2010. In both cases, you'll need to rebuild your test PC to replace the OS and reinstall all your programs and data.

there might be a hack around it but it's not supported.

Daegan · 5 Aug 2009 at 10:59

7100 is the latest version you can obtain legitimately anyway, unless you have access to the Partner Program, volume licensing, MSDN, Technet etc.

Burnsy2023 · 5 Aug 2009 at 11:01

Shaye87 said:
is there no upgrade option? why would i have to reinstall?

It's pre-release software for testing, of course there isn't an upgrade path.

DataCabbitKSW · 5 Aug 2009 at 23:25

While the official stance on it is that there is no in-place upgrade path, by their own admission they include the RC into the allowed OS you can use the upgrade discs with. If you are asking how to make your RC build 7100 into the RTM build (which was just updated too), there isn't a way. You would need a license key and those won't be given out till the 6th of August (for TechNet/MSDN, see this: http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/21/when-will-you-get-windows-7-rtm.aspx ), and the rest of us pretty much have to wait until October 22nd (the retail release date). That said, the RC is really good. It is stable and mostly feature complete. Most feature updates and stability fixes are available through Windows Update, which updates constantly rather than just on Tuesdays.