Windows 7 upgrade

[Katlan]

I'm currently using windows vista home premium, can I upgrade that to 7 ultimate or do I need to buy the full version? I heard I could do this if I do a clean install, but was from a friend and not sure how much he knows lol. Thanks!

[ClassicRed]

Clean install is better in the long run for most people anyway (in my experience) -- Just do a clean install and any files you may need/are afraid to loose will be in a windows.old folder that you have access to after the format to Win7~

[Deadgye]

Clean install is better in the long run for most people anyway (in my experience) -- Just do a clean install and any files you may need/are afraid to loose will be in a windows.old folder that you have access to after the format to Win7~

Erm.. It's the upgrade that gives you the windows.old folder. A clean install should imply formatting.

[Katlan]

Erm.. It's the upgrade that gives you the windows.old folder. A clean install should imply formatting.

I don't mind reformatting and just backing up my old folders ( I need to do that anyways since installing it onto a new HD), just glad to hear that I can go upgrade from vista home premium to windows 7 w/o needing to buy the full version.

[Stromgarde]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...8WS.10%29.aspx

Sorry, looks like you're out of luck :/

[Katlan]

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...8WS.10%29.aspx

Sorry, looks like you're out of luck :/

Unless I missed something, that link makes it look like the upgrade path is supported:

Supported upgrade paths from Vista (SP1 & SP2)

Windows Vista > Windows 7

Home Premium > Home Premium / Ultimate

also just found this:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...a-to-windows-7

[Stromgarde]

You're right, I must have been looking at it in a hurry and misread.

[Katlan]

thanks for the help though, wanted to make sure before i opened the Ultimate box and was unable to return it

[ClassicRed]

Erm.. It's the upgrade that gives you the windows.old folder. A clean install should imply formatting.

Are you sure? I have yet to click upgrade and the copy of Win7 I have has had the windows.old folder their every time ~

You get the upgrade/custom options ~ Click which drive and install -or- upgrade/custom options -> click drive -> advance -> format drive -> install ~ The custom w/o formatting does a clean install of the operating system not an upgrade ~ Atleast I assume its a clean install as NONE of my programs/settings/etc have been there and all I've ever done was copy any documents I needed from windows.old then deleted that folder ;o

[Tomasello]

I have done both.

When I did the clean install, it put all my stuff in the windows.old folder

When I did the upgrade install, it left all my programs accessible where they were.

[fishstix]

Yes, a "clean install" will put stuff into windows.old without upgrading the old programs available for use. Whether or not it formats the drive clean, is up to you. The term isn't really technical and people use it to mean different things.

Like people become afraid that they'll lose all their files if they have winxp and want to install 7, but hear they'll need to do a clean install since they cant upgrade. They'll only lose files if they hit the format button.