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Windows 7 upgrade help needed

D

damocles

Diamond Member
Hi,

I am currently in China.

I am about to build a new PC. I like XP and I am not a huge fan of Vista. Ultimately I will run Windows 7 though (probably October or November)

I was planning to buy XP and then upgrade to Windows 7 but it seems I will need to reformat/install Windows 7 and pay for two OSs. This isnt a problem but I'd prefer just to do an upgrade if possible (which seems to be the case with Vista but not XP) and also paying 2x for an OS is wrong.

To be honest the upgrade process isnt very clear to me. I really dont want to buy Vista and then have to rebuy Windows 7 in a few months.

There seems to be a Windows 7 upgrade option if I buy a retail copy of Vista and send in my receipt, serial # etc. This may work but according to MS China, this doesnt apply here (not sure if this is true). Also does this apply to Windows Vista Ultimate?

Can anyone suggest what I should do?
 
The RTM has been signed-off on supposely, just waiting official word from Microsoft.

At this point I would build your new machine and run the RC whilst waiting the RTM to show up Officially.
 
Originally posted by: 13Gigatons
At this point I would build your new machine and run the RC whilst waiting the RTM to show up Officially.
Click to expand...

That won't let him do an in-place upgrade.

 
The only in-place upgrade that is supported is Vista --> Windows 7. Everything else, requires a new install. If Ms China will not be offering the Technology Guarantee Upgrade, then you'll have to get Vista now and pay for a separate Windows 7 license in the fall.

...or get the Chinese version of the RC use it to do a new installation in the fall.
 
In-place upgrades are asking for trouble to begin with. Regardless... the suggestion to use the Win7 RC and upgrade later is my choice. You should be able to do a repair install, which would be better than an upgrade install, but not quite as good as a clean install, though it should leave all programs/data in tact.
 
Since the OP specifically said he wanted to do an inplace install, it's rather arrogant to ignore his specific wishes.

Everything we've read about upgrading from the RC has been quite clear -- the installer will do a "custom" install which saves everything on the disk to "Windows.old" and creates a new Windows installation.


 
If you are insistent on starting with XP, then there's no "in-place upgrade" possible to Windows 7. And if MS won't supply free W7 upgrades to China, then it seems that the "free Vista-to-W7" path is blocked, too. That would be your only "in-place upgrade" option, going from Vista H.P. to W7 H.P, from Vista Business to W7 Professional, or from Vista Ultimate to W7 Ultimate.

So there really aren't many options that will give you what you want with a single OS purchase and a single OS install. (Edited) Going from W7 Utlimate RC to W7 Ultimate Upgrade is probably the best choice. And that requires using a "Beta" operating system, which should be done with care if your data is valuable.
 
Thanks all. Most of the stores here are recommending pirated copies of Vista/Xp because of confusion over the upgrade options.

I'll install the RC and then format/install a retail version of W7 in October
 
Originally posted by: Athena
Since the OP specifically said he wanted to do an inplace install, it's rather arrogant to ignore his specific wishes.

Everything we've read about upgrading from the RC has been quite clear -- the installer will do a "custom" install which saves everything on the disk to "Windows.old" and creates a new Windows installation.
Click to expand...

And ignoring an alternative, possibly better solution is ignorant. So now we've both called each other names and the OP has more information so at least this was somewhat productive.
 
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