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

[Mark F]

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]

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.

 

[R. C. White]

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


"Mark F" wrote in message

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.)

 

[SC Tom]

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.

 

[G. Morgan]

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.

 

[Bob I]

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.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

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.

 

[G. Morgan]

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-partition-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/windows7/products/features/windows-easy-transfer

Nice and clean..

 

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

G. Morgan <[email protected]> écrivait


<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.

 

[Ken Blake]

G. Morgan <[email protected]> ?crivait


<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.

 

[Ken Blake]

Same here (but only two upgrades).

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

Although many people will tell you that formatting and installing
cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
versions of Windows, when doing an upgrade was often a mistake, an
upgrade to Windows XP or later replaces almost everything, and usually
works very well. The only real exception is when you are having
problems; in that situation, an upgrade often worsens problems, rather
than solving them.

My recommendation is to at least try the upgrade, since it's much
easier than a clean installation. You can always change your mind and
reinstall cleanly if problems develop.

However, don't assume that doing an upgrade relieves you of the need
to backup your data, etc. before beginning. Before starting to
upgrade, it's always prudent to recognize that things like a sudden
power loss can occur in the middle of it and cause the loss of
everything. For that reason you should make sure you have backups and
anything else you need to reinstall if the worst happens.

Let me add that I've even upgraded from XP to Windows 7. Yes, I know
that's not possible, but I did it on my netbook in two steps--first XP
to Vista, then Vista to Windows 7. I don't normally recommend it,
since it doubles the risk of problems, but I gave it a try, being
fully prepared to do it over cleanly if problems developed. I've been
running the result successfully for many months now, with no problems
at all.

 

[Bob I]

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

Not really sure what Morgan is blathering on about, it's plain he didn't
read/comprehend what I wrote.

 

[SC Tom]

*** Reply inline

Although many people will tell you that formatting and installing
cleanly is the best way to go, I disagree. Unlike with previous
versions of Windows, when doing an upgrade was often a mistake, an
upgrade to Windows XP or later replaces almost everything, and usually
works very well. The only real exception is when you are having
problems; in that situation, an upgrade often worsens problems, rather
than solving them.

*** Anyone who does an upgrade from OS1 to OS2 while having problems with
OS1 is either a masochist or just likes trying to solve nearly unsolvable
problems

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

*** Anyone who does an upgrade from OS1 to OS2 while having problems with
OS1 is either a masochist or just likes trying to solve nearly unsolvable
problems

Aren't those two choices synonyms?

 

[SC Tom]

Aren't those two choices synonyms?

I guess they (loosely) could be, but not necessarily. A masochist isn't
always a problem solver, but a problem solver could be a masochist (ask
anyone in IT LOL).

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I guess they (loosely) could be, but not necessarily. A masochist isn't
always a problem solver, but a problem solver could be a masochist (ask
anyone in IT LOL).

You have a point. A masochist might be a problem creator

Or at least a seeker...

In support of your theory: my last job before retiring was customer
support - solving software problems in large and complicated machines
used in wafer processing. It did seem to qualify as masochism as much as
IT does.