What happens on a re-install with win 7 Upgrade?

[men8ifr]

I'm considering upgrading to win7 and the upgrade is obviously cheaper than the full retail version, but what happens if I need to install from a blank disk in future? Surely I don't have to install XP to upgrage from that??

 

[PermaChanged]

You just need a valid CD key from XP afaik.

 

[GJ02]

I'm considering upgrading to win7 and the upgrade is obviously cheaper than the full retail version, but what happens if I need to install from a blank disk in future? Surely I don't have to install XP to upgrage from that??

no, the upgrade cd / dvd will work like an OEM version. after 1st installation ( upgrade )
the first time you update from xp/vista or what ever o/s you have, then if you need to reinstall one day, just install as you would normally.

thats what ive done with win7 upgrade dvd, keys work, activation works

 

[SiriusB]

no, the upgrade cd / dvd will work like an OEM version. after 1st installation ( upgrade )
the first time you update from xp/vista or what ever o/s you have, then if you need to reinstall one day, just install as you would normally.

thats what ive done with win7 upgrade dvd, keys work, activation works

The OP is talking about installing to a new HDD, where no previous OS exsists. Installing to this new HDD would throw up a Product Key or Activation error using an Upgrade key.

You do not need to reinstall Vista beforehand. The simplest method is to install Windows 7 to the new HDD but do not enter your Product Key - just click Next [it will moan at you, but just tell it to go away].

Once the install has finished, pop the disc back in and install it again, this time using your Product Key. If you choose the Upgrade option on the second install, it should run quicker. You may be left with a Windows.old folder under C:\ which you can get rid of using Disk Cleanup.

It should be noted that being the legitimate owner of a qualifying version of Windows is all that is needed to legitimately use a Windows 7 upgrade license. Unfortunately, the way the W7 installer works is to detect a previous copy of Windows rather than accepting a valid key [which would be a much better way of doing things... oh well]. It is ludicrous to expect people to install their old OS to a new HDD before installing Windows 7 as most people simply wont have the OS discs any longer!

As an aside, you are no longer allowed to use your copy of Vista anywhere once you have upgraded to Windows 7, and if Vista was OEM, your new Windows 7 install is now OEM.