Can't decide.. help with Vista or Windows 7

[zinsae]

I'm building a HTPC and I would like to install Windows 7 on when it comes out. In a mean time, I will install XP on it since I don't have Vista. Newegg sent me an email that witin 24 hrs, if I buy Vista (I'm planning on getting the home edition) for $109, I will get a free upgrade of Windows 7 when it comes out but if I pre order Windows 7, it's only $49.

My question is can I clean install Windows 7 if I format my HD or is Windows 7 is for upgrade only and require to have Vista installed first? If I can install Windows 7 without the need of Vista, then that would save me $59, but if Vista is needed then I will order the Vista today.

This is my new HTPC (still putting it together..)

-ASRock A780GXH/128M AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
-AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor
-GIGABYTE GV-R467ZL-1GI Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
-CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel
-Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS 1TB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Might hold back on the Video Card until I'm ready to upgrade to Windows 7 since the Mobo has HDMI for my plasma.

 

[Mem]

Why not preorder $49 version of Win7 and download Win7 RC now until Oct release date?


Link.

 

[zinsae]

Sorry, I'm clueless.... So, I don't need Vista then? You're saying that I can download Win7 RC and then upgrade it with the real version later?

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: zinsae
Sorry, I'm clueless.... So, I don't need Vista then? You're saying that I can download Win7 RC and then upgrade it with the real version later?

Win7 RC is free to use(keys from same link too) and install ,does not expire until next year,I would just get a cheap Win7 version in Oct when its released and do a clean install,all done then.

So you don't need Vista to your question,use Win7 RC now then later buy Win7 when its released or sometime after before RC expires and remember to do a clean install.

 

[zinsae]

So I DON'T need to have Vista installed in order to get Win7? I thought that I need to have Vista to get Win7. I can just clean install the Win7 then... wow great. I will d/l Win7 RC in the mean time and pre-order Win7 64bit then. Thanks

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: zinsae
So I DON'T need to have Vista installed in order to get Win7? I thought that I need to have Vista to get Win7. I can just clean install the Win7 then... wow great. I will d/l Win7 RC in the mean time and pre-order Win7 64bit then. Thanks

I installed Win7 RC on my old XP PC so no you don't need Vista.

 

[Athena]

Windows 7 Beta is free. If you want the real thing, you either have to buy the full version when it is released or have a valid license for a previous version on the machine to use with an upgrade.

My advice to you would be to purchase Vista Home Premium now to be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it's released. Vista at Newegg.