Can you just insert the Windows 7 upgrade disc to do a clean install with a WinXP disc?

[Golgatha]

I had done a clean install of Windows 7 Beta on my laptop, so I don't know about the upgrade installation route. Here is my dilemna.

I have Vista 64bit Ultimate on my main machine and run WinXP Pro in VMware for the odd application that won't play nice with Vista 64bit.

I am thinking about using my WinXP Pro license as the basis to upgrade to the Win 7 Pro Upgrade I just pre-ordered on the cheap and sell off my copy of Vista Ultimate (full retail kit). Either way I need to do a clean install.

My main questions are do I have to reinstall XP and validate with WGA, and then run the Win7 upgrade to reformat the drive yet again to get the clean Win7 install? Or, can I just boot the Win7 upgrade disc and then let the installer check for my WinXP disc, so I only have to do one reformat/installation? Also, I assume there isn't a problem doing a clean install upgrading from WinXP 32bit to Win7 64bit right?

It would be a huge hassle to have to reinstall WinXP, validate with WGA, run upgrade, and reformat again just to get Win7 Pro on there, but if I have to do this route then so be it.

 

[Jray]

I have this same basic question also. I've been living off of my XP upgrade disc since the day it came out in 2001. I have an old copy of Windows ME and 2000 that I usually put in the drive when XP asks to see an old version. But I never had to install one of those old versions during any of my frequent reformats.

If I buy the W7 upgrade, do I now have to install XP every time I want to reformat? Will it accept an XP upgrade disc as having XP? I could see this process getting complicated.

 

[CrimsonWolf]

I'm wondering this too. I remember it used to be a disk check (e.g. Win 98SE to Win 2000).

I remember hearing with Vista that a clean install of the upgrade version could only be done off an already installed and activated version of Windows. Never looked into it enough to figure out if it was true. If it is, that's a royal pain in the ass.

 

[imported_Shaq]

Do you really think it needs to be activated before you can upgrade it? In one of the other threads it says you can upgrade with only a restore point on a removable drive. If you have to activate XP you will be activating two OS's in one day if you reformat. I imagine you just have to activate Windows 7, but I could be wrong.

 

[Cannyone]

Originally posted by: Shaq
Do you really think it needs to be activated before you can upgrade it? In one of the other threads it says you can upgrade with only a restore point on a removable drive. If you have to activate XP you will be activating two OS's in one day if you reformat. I imagine you just have to activate Windows 7, but I could be wrong.

Two Questions: How does one get a "restore point" on a removable drive? And how might this work for more than one computer? I have 3 computers. All have legit Vista licenses. (Though 2 of those are currently running Windows 7 RC...) I'd prefer to not have to reinstall Vista on both initially, then "upgrade" to Windows 7. That just makes no sense to me.

____________________________________________________

I decided since I'm going to need Valid Vista partitions for this "upgrade" I might as well install Vista now. And I'm going to order the Professional version upgrade because I want XP mode and the backup facilities it has...

 

[Athena]

Originally posted by: Golgatha
IIt would be a huge hassle to have to reinstall WinXP, validate with WGA, run upgrade, and reformat again just to get Win7 Pro on there, but if I have to do this route then so be it.

That's what you'll have to do -- the Win7 installer will look for the XP partition and that's what it will wipe then install. If there's no XP partition...no upgrade.

 

[imported_Shaq]

Originally posted by: Cannyone

Originally posted by: Shaq
Do you really think it needs to be activated before you can upgrade it? In one of the other threads it says you can upgrade with only a restore point on a removable drive. If you have to activate XP you will be activating two OS's in one day if you reformat. I imagine you just have to activate Windows 7, but I could be wrong.

Two Questions: How does one get a "restore point" on a removable drive? And how might this work for more than one computer? I have 3 computers. All have legit Vista licenses. (Though 2 of those are currently running Windows 7 RC...) I'd prefer to not have to reinstall Vista on both initially, then "upgrade" to Windows 7. That just makes no sense to me.

____________________________________________________

I decided since I'm going to need Valid Vista partitions for this "upgrade" I might as well install Vista now. And I'm going to order the Professional version upgrade because I want XP mode and the backup facilities it has...

Hook up the removable drive and go into system restore and press backup and install it to the removable drive instead of the regular OS drive. Or you can do a clean install to another drive from within XP/Vista. If you have 3 computers you have to buy 3 upgrades. But you could install all 3 from within the one that has Vista and do a clean install of 7 on the other two drives first and then the one with Vista last and enter your 3 keys in each one. And of course you can leave the same DVD in the drive to install all 3. You just need the keys out of the other 2 boxes. This way you won't have to reinstall Vista first. That should work-someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Cannyone]

One more question: If I do this (the Restore Point) from a 64-bit copy of Vista will it mean that it will install the 64-bit version of Windows 7? Or will I have a choice?

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Shaq
Hook up the removable drive and go into system restore and press backup and install it to the removable drive instead of the regular OS drive.

I don't see an option in Vista Business to save a Restore Point elsewhere. In Vista, "System Restore" is only for "restoring". MAKING a Restore Point is done in "System Protection". But there's no option to relocate the storage locationn there, either. I just tried it.

 

[zigzag03]

and are we thinking that both 32 bit and 64 bit versions will be available on the upgrade cd? i havnt seen a choice offered for that so far...

 

[Cannyone]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Shaq
Hook up the removable drive and go into system restore and press backup and install it to the removable drive instead of the regular OS drive.

I don't see an option in Vista Business to save a Restore Point elsewhere. In Vista, "System Restore" is only for "restoring". MAKING a Restore Point is done in "System Protection". But there's no option to relocate the storage locationn there, either. I just tried it.

You're right, for a Restore Point you have to go under "system protection". Then you would have to configure that Removable Drive as "Protected". And finally you would have to Create a Restore Point from that System Properties page. But I think Shaq was referring to making a backup to the Removable Drive, which should work as well.

Normally I don't have Windows try to "protect" all my drives (I usually install 3). But in this case it's fairly convenient to simply set one of those other drives as protected. So when I install Windows 7 it will see them. But I think I'll also make a backup on a removable drive, and set that so it gets a Restore Point. Just for insurance!

 

[Cannyone]

Originally posted by: zigzag03
and are we thinking that both 32 bit and 64 bit versions will be available on the upgrade cd? i havnt seen a choice offered for that so far...

I did some digging around.... one of the rumors is that the "Upgrades" will be distributed digitally. So you can choose to download one, or the other - and PID codes will be sent for your copies. Alternatively, they may ship you a copy of the 32-bit client and include instructions for where you can download the 64-bit version. But this is rumor... so if anyone knows for sure please let us know!

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Cannyone

Originally posted by: zigzag03
and are we thinking that both 32 bit and 64 bit versions will be available on the upgrade cd? i havnt seen a choice offered for that so far...

I did some digging around.... one of the rumors is that the "Upgrades" will be distributed digitally. So you can choose to download one, or the other - and PID codes will be sent for your copies. Alternatively, they may ship you a copy of the 32-bit client and include instructions for where you can download the 64-bit version. But this is rumor... so if anyone knows for sure please let us know!

nm

 

[imported_Shaq]

Yes both 32 and 64 bit are included in the upgrades. I read that on Microsoft's webpage. The next Windows after 7 won't have a 32 bit version. If you get it digitally you can download one or the other.

Yes you have to go into system protection and protect the drive and then create a restore point.