Can I do an upgrade with using the full Windows 7 Ultimate retail package?

My system is currently running:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

I'd also like to be able to install Windows 7 Ultimate
from scratch at an unknown time in the future.

I don't have the OEM (Dell) version of Windows XP (32-bit) that was
originally, but I do have the media and keys from the
Vista Upgrade media that was used to upgrade from Windows XP to
Vista Ultimate 64-bit.

Can I do the upgrade with a full Windows 7 Ultimate package?

This is what I want to use:
GLC-00182 Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (32- or 64-bit)

This is what would normally be used for the upgrade:
GLC-00184 Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (32- or 64-bit)
(Upgrade from XP or Vista),
but Microsoft has assured me that I won't be able to
do the installation to a new disk more than 5 years from
now because the OEM key, etc., from the original Windows XP
will not be supported.

I have to do an Upgrade, not an install from scratch at
this time. I don't feel like buying a GLC-00182 that
won't be able to "activate", or whatever now, and won't
be able to "activate" in the future when I might need to
use it.

(I can spend the US$100 extra for the full version with no
problem, but I don't feel like paying US$280 extra for
a full version that I won't be able to use on off
chance that I need to use.)

Mark F wrote:

>My system is currently running:
> Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
>
>I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

Upgrading a system to Windows 7 is problematic and is not recommended.
It's much better to do a from-scratch "new" installation.

It will let you install w/o a product key for 30 days. You can
dual-boot in that time and transfer your settings and programs while
you're digging up the $$ for a legit key.

Hi, Mark.

The "full retail" and the "upgrade" packages for Win7 Ultimate are identical
EXCEPT that the upgrade disk will look for an already-installed version of
Windows. Once over that hurdle, you can do either a new or an upgrade
installation with either product disk.

As I'm sure you know, you cannot install 64-bit while running a 32-bit
Windows - and vice versa. Hardware differences require that you BOOT from
64-bit media to install Win x64. You can boot into Win x64 or Vista x64 or
Win7 x64, then insert the Win7 x64 DVD and run its Setup.exe. Or you can
boot from the Win7 x64 DVD and let Setup.exe run automatically. Either way,
you will be booted into the 64-bit environment.

But I'm glossing over the OEM aspect because I've never had a computer with
Windows pre-installed. I've upgraded only a few times; I usually prefer to
do a clean install,

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1


"Mark F" wrote in message
news:...

My system is currently running:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit

I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

I'd also like to be able to install Windows 7 Ultimate
from scratch at an unknown time in the future.

I don't have the OEM (Dell) version of Windows XP (32-bit) that was
originally, but I do have the media and keys from the
Vista Upgrade media that was used to upgrade from Windows XP to
Vista Ultimate 64-bit.

Can I do the upgrade with a full Windows 7 Ultimate package?

This is what I want to use:
GLC-00182 Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (32- or 64-bit)

This is what would normally be used for the upgrade:
GLC-00184 Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (32- or 64-bit)
(Upgrade from XP or Vista),
but Microsoft has assured me that I won't be able to
do the installation to a new disk more than 5 years from
now because the OEM key, etc., from the original Windows XP
will not be supported.

I have to do an Upgrade, not an install from scratch at
this time. I don't feel like buying a GLC-00182 that
won't be able to "activate", or whatever now, and won't
be able to "activate" in the future when I might need to
use it.

(I can spend the US$100 extra for the full version with no
problem, but I don't feel like paying US$280 extra for
a full version that I won't be able to use on off
chance that I need to use.)

"G. Morgan" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Mark F wrote:
>
>>My system is currently running:
>> Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
>>
>>I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.
>
> Upgrading a system to Windows 7 is problematic and is not recommended.
> It's much better to do a from-scratch "new" installation.

Not necessarily true. I've done a number of upgrades, and have had no
problems accomplishing it, nor with the finished product.
--
SC Tom

>
> It will let you install w/o a product key for 30 days. You can
> dual-boot in that time and transfer your settings and programs while
> you're digging up the $$ for a legit key.
>
>
>
>
>

SC Tom wrote:

>"G. Morgan" <> wrote in message
>news:...
>> Mark F wrote:
>>
>>>My system is currently running:
>>> Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
>>>
>>>I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.
>>
>> Upgrading a system to Windows 7 is problematic and is not recommended.
>> It's much better to do a from-scratch "new" installation.
>
>Not necessarily true. I've done a number of upgrades, and have had no
>problems accomplishing it, nor with the finished product.

YMMV, but best practice dictates a clean installation.

On 8/4/2011 19:15, G. Morgan wrote:
> SC Tom wrote:
>
>> "G. Morgan"<> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Mark F wrote:
>>>
>>>> My system is currently running:
>>>> Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
>>>>
>>>> I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.
>>>
>>> Upgrading a system to Windows 7 is problematic and is not recommended.
>>> It's much better to do a from-scratch "new" installation.
>>
>> Not necessarily true. I've done a number of upgrades, and have had no
>> problems accomplishing it, nor with the finished product.
>
> YMMV, but best practice dictates a clean installation.

NOT, upgrading was only problematic going from a "DOS based Windows" to
a "NT based Windows". And of course you can't do a direct upgrade from
before Vista to Windows 7.

On Thu, 4 Aug 2011 19:08:01 -0500, SC Tom wrote:

> "G. Morgan" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Mark F wrote:
>>
>>>My system is currently running:
>>> Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
>>>
>>>I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.
>>
>> Upgrading a system to Windows 7 is problematic and is not recommended.
>> It's much better to do a from-scratch "new" installation.
>
> Not necessarily true. I've done a number of upgrades, and have had no
> problems accomplishing it, nor with the finished product.

Same here (but only two upgrades).

A bit of work, but not hard and no oddities.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

Bob I wrote:

>
>
>On 8/4/2011 19:15, G. Morgan wrote:
>> SC Tom wrote:
>>
>>> "G. Morgan"<> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> Mark F wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> My system is currently running:
>>>>> Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit
>>>>>
>>>>> I'd like to move to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.
>>>>
>>>> Upgrading a system to Windows 7 is problematic and is not recommended.
>>>> It's much better to do a from-scratch "new" installation.
>>>
>>> Not necessarily true. I've done a number of upgrades, and have had no
>>> problems accomplishing it, nor with the finished product.
>>
>> YMMV, but best practice dictates a clean installation.
>
>NOT, upgrading was only problematic going from a "DOS based Windows" to
>a "NT based Windows". And of course you can't do a direct upgrade from
>before Vista to Windows 7.

Upgrading from XP to 7 is a nightmare. Not only does it take forever,
but you're left with a bloated and outdated/error filled registry.

It is so much easier and safer just to repartition ahead of time (I like
http://www.extend-partition.com/free...n-manager.html ).


Windows 7 setup will setup dual-boot by itself, then use EasyBCD to
tweak.

From there, grab your licence keys and re-install programs. All your
documents/installers should be on a separate partition/disk anyway. And
using the "Windows Easy Transfer", you won't have to re-do your
customized settings.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...-easy-transfer

Nice and clean.. :-)

"Dominique" <> wrote in message
news:XnF9F3871FD08041doumdomainnet@88.198.244.100...
> G. Morgan <> écrivait
> news::
>
> <snip>
>>
>> Upgrading from XP to 7 is a nightmare. Not only does it take
>> forever,
>> but you're left with a bloated and outdated/error filled registry.
>>
> <snip>
>
> I thought it wasn't possible to go from XP to 7. Seven would
> recognize XP
> as a valid OS for upgrading, creates a "Windows.old" folder and then
> proceed with a clean installation.
>
>

Indeed, it does. So, no more of a "nightmare" than a from-scratch
install of Windows 7 since, really, that's what it is.

--
Zaphod

Vell, Zaphod's just zis guy, ya know? - Gag Halfrunt

On Fri, 5 Aug 2011 15:11:32 +0000 (UTC), Dominique <>
wrote:

> G. Morgan <> ?crivait
> news::
>
> <snip>
> >
> > Upgrading from XP to 7 is a nightmare. Not only does it take forever,
> > but you're left with a bloated and outdated/error filled registry.
> >
> <snip>
>
> I thought it wasn't possible to go from XP to 7. Seven would recognize XP
> as a valid OS for upgrading, creates a "Windows.old" folder and then
> proceed with a clean installation.



That's correct. An upgrade from XP to Windows 7 is not possible.