Is it true that the Retail Upgrade disk can do a clean reformat clean install?

I just wanted to verify this so when I get my disk on Sat I know what I can do.

its kinda cool that I think Microsoft is letting you do a Complete clean reformat installation of Windows 7 using the Upgrade disk. You don't need your old XP Disk or your old Vista disk

can this be confirmed ???

 

Yes.

I've already done it 4 times. Sometimes it does require that you install it first without the key and then reinstall with the key.

 

As long as an activated copy of XP, Vista or Windows 7 is detected you can clean install or in place upgrade with an upgrade disk. The exception for inplace upgrade is if you are upgrading from 32 bit to 64 in which case you must do a clean install.

 

then what the point of the FULL Version, I guess for PC's with no OS at all.

Because if I have the Upgrade version, I can do a Complete reformat clean install.

I know the Upgrade only works over top of Vista and I hear it works great.

But wow this is awesome a Complete Operating system for $50 bucks as long as you don't mind backing up your files first then doing a full install.

 

I'm guessing Microsoft took the Snow Leopard route. I've actually used the upgrade on a PC with no OS at all, and it worked fine. I just had to install the trial version of 7 first, and than enter the key on a second installation.

 

I did not do a clean install the first time around because I thought I couldn't because it was an upgrade media after all. I am wondering do I need to reinstall Vista and then boot up my DVD in Vista and do a custom install? Or can I boot up my Win7 DVD inside Windows 7 to do a custom install? I don't like how I still have old files remaining from Vista and I do not want to waste time installing Vista and then do a clean install of Win7 if I don't need to.

 

This is a stupid question, I know, but anytime I see "format" and "clean install", it conjures up images of sitting at the computer for hours reinstalling every software and updating drivers, etc., so I have to ask the esteemed members here....

For Windows 7, if I have Vista Business 64-bit, assuming I get another 64-bit one (either 7 Home or 7 Professional), can I just "upgrade" to the new OS WITHOUT having to then reinstalling all my software and update drivers, etc.? In other words, I put in the disk, "upgrade" and follow whatever instructions, and viola, everything is upgrades and other programs (include peripherals like wireless mouse, cameras, wireless routers) will continue to function properly under the new OS?

Thanks for indulging my stupid question....

 

It takes hours sometimes to inplace upgrade existing files. I have an SSD and it took 8 minutes to clean install Windows 7 Ultimate x64--and that includes putting my wireless USB device in and being connected to the internet. I briefly tested Windows 7 on my mechanical HDD and it took 38 minutes to clean install.

 

Every peripheral that I have plugged in so far was installed by the OS without issue, digital camera, printer, phone, etc. Even my bluetooth devices worked without installing anything. I had 2 missing drivers and 1 was the Nvidia chipset the other a wireless USB driver.

 

I just bought an upgrade version of W7 Ultimate at Office Depot. I decided to go the upgrade route based on what other members said that it's possible to do a clean install. I'm wiping my HDD now with webroot eraser. So shortly i'll be installing W7 Ultimate.

Will the Upgrade version allow you transfer the key to another computer? I know the OEM version is tied to one computer only.

 

I think the upgrade disk needs to detect an activated version of Windows for the upgrade disk to work--you should have let the disk format and erase the HDD.
Hey...if what you are doing works I'd like to hear about it!

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=427790

 

Yep, looks like if it fails to activate you can do the command line rearm and put your key in and it will activate.

 

That's what I plan on doing.

 

Please post how to do the "command line rearm" what the heck is that?

 

http://community.winsupersite.com/b...-windows-7-with-upgrade-media-the-answer.aspx

 

Just performed a clean install on my laptop via the W7 Ultimate upgrade disk. I haven't activated it yet because I first want to see how it runs first. I may activate it on a different computer.

 

Its not wise to do upgrade over top the existing OS, this can lead to function and use problems right away or later.

The best way is to always to a clean install

I have learned this from years before with upgrades.

 

Confirmed, Did a "upgrade in place" from Windows 98 SE on my old HP to XP home a few years ago because I wasn't sure the setup disk would "accept" HP's proprietary recovery images as a valid previous version of Windows.

It worked, but had some bugs (add/remove programs had a huge blank space in the middle of it for some reason, for example)

Later I did a clean install with the same disc, worked like a charm, and the computer performed a lot better to boot.

 

just finished doing a complete install of Windows 7, It would NOT allow me to do an Upgrade because of 1 .sys file tied to Aver TV TV Tuner. A file which I could not find to delete

how stupid is it that for 1 dumb file the whole OS fails.

 

if you have been using a pirate copy of xp or vista, you cannot upgrade.
hence the full version

has nothing to do with clean install or not,
the word "upgrade" is used in two different ways, hence the confusion
as in

Upgrade vs Full Version
Upgrade vs Clean format install