Win 7 upgrade timeline 3810T SU3500

Hi guys

Just got my new notebook and registered successfully for the win 7 upgrade.

I notice that the machine has 4GB RAM so it surely makes more sense to install Win 7 64 bit...? Anyway I have two other copies of the full version of Win 7 on pre-order for our home desktops which come with both 32 and 64 bit versions.

One of our desktops is generally used for office tasks so could I use the Win 7 32 bit upgrade intended for my Acer Timeline for that and do a fresh install of one of my full Win 7 home premiums on my new Acer Timeline?

Basically, is the upgrade locked to the associated Acer laptop?

 

I know replying to your own post is a bit sad but hey, I have no shame..

Anyway here are the relevant quotes from the Win7 upgrade FAQ:

" Will an upgrade from 32-bit Windows Vista® to 64-bit Windows® 7 be supported?
No. For qualifying machines with 32-bit Windows Vista®, only an upgrade to 32-bit Windows® 7 will be supported.

and

" Can I upgrade Windows Vista® to a different edition or language of Windows® 7?
No. Cross language, edition, and architecture are NOT supported. For example, you cannot go from Windows Vista® Home Premium English to Windows® 7 Home Premium Japanese; you cannot go from Windows Vista® Business to Windows® 7 Ultimate; and you cannot go from 32-bit to 64-bit.

But then it goes on to say:

" Can I do only a clean installation for Windows® 7 on my PC with Windows Vista® or I can do only an upgrade installation?
You can do either a clean or upgrade installation of Windows® 7 if your PC was originally loaded with Windows Vista®. Note that only a clean installation of Windows® 7 is allowed if you have downgraded the OS from Windows Vista® to Windows® XP."

So on the one hand it says if you've got Vista 32bit only Win7 32bit UPGRADE is supported but then it says you can do a clean or upgrade installation.

If you have 32bit Vista there doesn't seem to be any problem doing a clean install of 64bit Win7 just they only send out 32bit upgrade discs for 32bit Vista users.

If I'm talking total **** please let me know!!

 

I don't know about the legal and licencing issues. But technically upgrading from 32 to 64 bit is not possible because all the programs are different. You have to do a fresh install if you want to go from 32 to 64 bits. I guess the confusion comes from the meaning of "upgrade". They mean upgrading from a 32 to a 64 bit platform is not possible.

The question that remains is how the licencing will be handled. I assume you get a licence code from Acer that you use to activate Windows 7 after installation. I don't think they will notice if you use the upgrade code on a Desktop or a laptop. What they do notice is whether you are performing an upgrade from another OS or a new installation. I will install Windows 7 64 on my VIsta 32 machine and hope to somehow get an 'upgrade' through.

 

Not possible. The disc that is sent to you by Acer has the necessary drivers for the laptop, so if you would like to use a 64bit version you will need to purchase Win 7 64bit separately and install Acer drivers by yourself. I don't think you could us the other discs from your desktop models either.

I say just stick with 32bit. No point jumping through hoops for the sake of a bit of ram.

 

No way - you can install Windows 7 using a 64 bit install disk without drivers from Acer. I did it. You can install the Acer drivers later if you want, or directly get them from the device manufacturers. My 3810TZ went through an upgrade (64 bit Vista -> 64 bit Windows 7) and then through a fresh install of Win 7 (from a memory stick actually).
64 bit allows you to access all 4GB or RAM and not just 3.5GB. The future is 64 bit.

 

Thanks for the responses.

Personally I doubt the upgrade will be acer specific - my guess it'll be the generic microsoft disc. We'll see when it arrives - it's £12.74 in the uk - probably shipped from somewhere in Europe. A 'free' DVD in jiffy bag should cost around £1 p&p in the UK but I'm sure the carrier justify the additional cost (/irony).

When Vista came out I bought a qualifying OEM XP MCE. They had all sorts of stipulations what I could and couldn't do but when I tried it I was able to do a clean install of Vista using the COA but I was also able to re-activate the original version of MCE.... (It took about 3 months to deliver it tho f f s!)

 

Marstein,

Thanks for the info. It looks like most of the useful applications are available from the Acer Web site, e.g., Webcam, power management, etc. Did you install these after your clean install and, if so, did you run into any issues with these -- or did you just ignore them?