Win 7 -> upgrade with full version

Ergates

Ergates

Ergates

Associate
Joined
24 Jun 2005
Posts
264
Probably a stupid question, but:

If you get the full version of Windows 7, can you use it up upgrade a Vista installation, or will it force you to do a full install.

This time round I want upgrade from Vista. But if, in future, I want to do a fresh install, I'd rather not have to install Vista first.

Being able to upgrade from Vista this time around is more important though.
 
You can upgrade your existing OS with any Windows 7 installation. If you have a Retail copy of Windows 7 you can freely install the OS without Vista being there. If you have an Upgrade copy, you need to have a qualifying OS [though there are ways to install Upgrade editions without installing a previous OS first. You still need to own a previous OS though.]
 
SiriusB said:
You can upgrade your existing OS with any Windows 7 installation. If you have a Retail copy of Windows 7 you can freely install the OS without Vista being there. If you have an Upgrade copy, you need to have a qualifying OS [though there are ways to install Upgrade editions without installing a previous OS first. You still need to own a previous OS though.]
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. If you perform a clean install with an upgrade version (leaving the product key blank), this then counts as the "previous version", and can be upgraded with the same disk! :confused: (This is apparently Microsoft approved, although I haven't checked this). :rolleyes:

It does mean installing twice, but could save a few beer tokens. Worked perfectly for me with Win7x64 Ultimate. :cool:
 
DennisMenace said:
Not necessarily.
Click to expand...

The terms of the Upgrade license says you must have a qualifying OS. There are ways around installing without a previous OS being installed - as I said in my post which you seemed to have missed - but to be license legal you still need to own a previous OS, which was my point.

Being able to install Upgrade editions onto clean hardware is for convenience, as many people are likely to not have their old media, or do not have time to install two OSs. It is not a means for circumventing licensing conditions.
 
SiriusB said:
The terms of the Upgrade license says you must have a qualifying OS. There are ways around installing without a previous OS being installed - but to be license legal you still need to own a previous OS, which was my point.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I have a home premium W7 upgrade disc. I have a new (old) system that requires 64bit version, but on my (W7 HP) disc it clearly states 32bit. On the Microsoft website it says that all versions of windows 7 except home basic have 32 & 64 bit versions on the disc.
Would I be able to use this upgrade disc to do a clean 64bit install on the new sysyem (and if yes, do you have a link to how I would go about that?) I qualify under your description as I have Vista, XP, etc from previous systems - just pre-installed stuff, not hard copies of the Windows discs.

Cheers
Dave
 
Retail Editions of Windows 7 all have two DVDs. One 32-bit, the other 64-bit. Upgrade editions tend to have just the one disc.

However, you may be able to use a Retail 64-bit DVD with an Upgrade Product Key. This works with the Student Upgrades, but I suspect they're just Retail keys underneath all the Student fluff.
 
SiriusB said:
Retail Editions of Windows 7 all have two DVDs. One 32-bit, the other 64-bit. Upgrade editions tend to have just the one disc.
Click to expand...
So, my upgrade disc will only be 32bit then?

SiriusB said:
However, you may be able to use a Retail 64-bit DVD with an Upgrade Product Key. This works with the Student Upgrades, but I suspect they're just Retail keys underneath all the Student fluff.
Click to expand...

So, is that any retail 64 bit DVD with my upgrade product key? I thought that was, y'know, illegal.

Dave
 
Why would it be illegal?

As long as you have a valid Product Key and a previous OS license to qualify for the Upgrade it does not matter one bit what media you use to install. When I used my Student Upgrade license on my brother's PC, I also got him a new HDD. I used a Retail DVD for the install. Meaning I didn't have to spend 2 hours installing XP or waste time with a double-install.

As for whether any Retail DVD will work I don't know. I do know it works with Student Upgrade Product Keys, but they are, I suspect, just Retail keys. Normal Upgrade keys may be distinct.
 
SiriusB said:
Why would it be illegal?
Click to expand...

I think perhaps, I am not picking up what you are meaning correctly. What I meant was, if I borrowed my friends full 64bit copy of Home premium, and used the license key from my upgrade disc on it, it would work? Wouldn't that kinda defeat the point of license keys? I thought each disc was encoded with the license key that came with it. Forgive the possible stupidity of missing the obvious on my part here.

SiriusB said:
As long as you have a valid Product Key and a previous OS license to qualify for the Upgrade it does not matter one bit what media you use to install.
Click to expand...

So, are you saying that my license key will work with my friends home premium 64-bit full product disc?
 
The Product Key is not tied to a specific DVD. There would be almost zero benefit to MS in doing that. The Product Key is, however, tied to a particular type of DVD. OEM Product Keys only work with OEM DVDs, Retail Keys only with Retail DVDs. If you have a Retail Product Key, it will work with any Retail DVD.

The grey area is with Upgrade Keys. I know for a fact that Student Upgrade Keys work with Retail DVDs. I do not know if the normal Upgrade Keys will also work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom