should i upgrade or do clean install
- Thread starter hank775
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2009
- Messages
- 5,062
- Reaction score
- 1,185
Hello hank775 - Welcome to w7forums
You can do a upgrade or clean install with the upgrade disk. You only need proof that you previously have an OS. Either insalled already or a previous windows disk. The full version are for users without a previous OS.
when looking at purchasing win 7 ultimate, the ad says that it is an upgrade but if upgrading from XP i would have to do a clean install. i don't want to wipe out my XP yet but use this to inslall win7 on a partition on my hard drive where XP also resides. or i put it on another hard drive too. can i do this without wipeing out XP? i want XP for awhile until i get win7 to do all that i need it to do so i may have to switch between them for awhile.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2009
- Messages
- 5,062
- Reaction score
- 1,185
You cannot have Windows XP and Windows 7 installed to the same partition. If you decide to dual boot Windows XP and Windows 7. You will need to create a new partition for Windows 7.
Please make sure your hardware is adequate to run Windows 7. One thing that I have learned while running Windows 7 and reading the forums. If you have a graphics adapter that is over four years old Windows 7 aero features may not function properly.
sorry, i meant that i have a large hard drive and have two partitions and want XP on one partition and win7 on the other. can i do that with a win7 upgade disc or do i need a win7 clean inslall disc (whatever MS would call that). also i want to go from xp 32 bit to win7 64 bit. will that make any difference when doing a clean install?
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2009
- Messages
- 5,062
- Reaction score
- 1,185
You can clean install with the upgrade disk to a separate partition. However I don't know if the license would permit the use of the old OS with the upgraded OS installed. Perhaps someone else will know if a new license is needed in a dual boot situation.
A clean install is the only way to go
- from Windows XP to Windows 7.
- from 32-Bit to 64-Bit.
Assuming the poster has a valid XP license and had just bought W7 then there is no conflict. Each OS will hold a valid licence, the key is not shared.
Clifford this raises a question.
If you did a clean install with an upgrade disk and wipe the hard drive clean in the process, you wouldn't be able to go back later and do a full recovery if need be, because you couldn't prove a previous OS, is that accurate?
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2009
- Messages
- 5,062
- Reaction score
- 1,185
Thats true.
However with the upgrade you still need the install key for the previous OS. With the key for the previous OS, all you need is the install media for the previous OS, then you can install and activate.
There is also programs that will extract the key from the OS if you do not know the key. Usually the key is labeled on the side of the case for name brand PC's.
However with the upgrade you still need the install key for the previous OS. With the key for the previous OS, all you need is the install media for the previous OS, then you can install and activate.
There is also programs that will extract the key from the OS if you do not know the key. Usually the key is labeled on the side of the case for name brand PC's.
Seems like it'd be worth it to just buy the full version rather than the upgrade disk, and avoid all the other problems/conditions. At least you'd have it for future use if you need to do a full recovery. Would that be a fair statement?
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2009
- Messages
- 5,062
- Reaction score
- 1,185
It would definitely be less headache to maintain, if you didn't need to worry about the previous OS. I've created a Disk Image of my drive. Now all I need to do is keep up with the image and I will never need to do the install again.
Ahh, thanks clifford that answers my question.
When I bought mine I got the full version, but I've seen the question raised enough times about the upgrade version/clean install thing that I was curious as to the details.
Id go for a clean install and besides it will only let you upgrade the same version to the same version. For example you cannot upgrade Vista Home Premium to Vista Ultimate
And you dont want to end up working with this problem
http://www.ghacks.net/2009/10/26/endless-reboot-vista-to-windows-7-upgrade-problems/
And you dont want to end up working with this problem
http://www.ghacks.net/2009/10/26/endless-reboot-vista-to-windows-7-upgrade-problems/
Nibiru2012
Quick Scotty, beam me up!
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2009
- Messages
- 4,955
- Reaction score
- 1,302
I see no reason to purchase the full retail when you can do a clean full install with the upgrade media. Even M$ has acknowledged that people are doing it with no issues.
See the tutorial:
Clean Install Windows 7 With Windows 7 Upgrades
There you have it. An easy way to do a clean install of Windows 7 using an upgrade DVD. This is obviously only legal if you own a previous Microsoft operating system that’s supported by the Windows 7 Update program.
I have installed 4 Windows 7 systems using "Upgrade" discs as clean installs and had no problems at all. Didn't even have to do any extra tweaks.
See the tutorial:
Clean Install Windows 7 With Windows 7 Upgrades
There you have it. An easy way to do a clean install of Windows 7 using an upgrade DVD. This is obviously only legal if you own a previous Microsoft operating system that’s supported by the Windows 7 Update program.
I have installed 4 Windows 7 systems using "Upgrade" discs as clean installs and had no problems at all. Didn't even have to do any extra tweaks.
Last edited:
