Windows 7 family upgrade

thenewoc · 11 May 2012 at 09:23

If I buy W7 family pack. The microsoft site states it comes with 32 and 64 bit versions but also says " you can choose one or the other for all three PCs.". Does that mean all 3 have to have the 32bit version for instance, or that each pc can have either? To me it seems like the former otherwise why mention that but it seems an odd limitation if true?

Also if one pc has pre installed vista on, does that mean a clean install is not possible, only an upgrade over the top?

Other pc has xp, is there a way to relinguish the licence on that pc so I can use that xp as the upgrade source for my new pc?

Meatball · 11 May 2012 at 09:40

You can use either or in any combination you want. As for clean installs yes this is possible, google

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thenewoc · 11 May 2012 at 10:54

Thanks meatball.

Also, just came across the following, regarding MS's upgrade program prior to an OS release. Do they usually also include standalone purchases of the existing OS in the run up to a new release for qualifying for a free or heavily discounted upgrade?

http://m.cnet.com/news/57432023

thenewoc · 11 May 2012 at 13:47

Done lots of googling

With my new build being 64 bit and the family pack being upgrade media I think I need to install XP 32bit to the new system first and activate, then use the W7 64bit media to do a custom install where I can then tell it to format the OS partition and in effect replace XP 32 bit with W7 64 bit?

I checked my XP install earlier from the old pc using WGAdiag and it reports that it's Product ID Type "5 - Retail", so I figure I should be ok to reinstall on completely new hardware. The old PC will then be retired so I assume somehow MS eventually realise the licence is only being used on one machine?